We spoke to Jake Allan, after he signed his first professional contract with the club.
Speaking to CUTV, Jake began by speaking of the pride he felt:
“I feel very good. It's a dream for everyone, really, but especially for me. It's about time I've signed it, I think.
“It was tough waiting, especially coming in, doing my rehab and stuff. But at the end of the day, I've got it signed, got it sorted, so it doesn't really matter. I'm just happy to have been offered it and signed it.”
We asked about his family and friends, and how they felt upon hearing the news. Jake answered:
“Chuffed, absolutely chuffed, especially my parents, friends as well. There's a big group of us who are all fans of the club as well, so yeah, they're chuffed, but they're also proud as well, and I'm proud to have signed it for them as well.”
Jake spoke a little more on his parents, and the effort they had put in throughout his journey:
“Since I signed when I was seven and they've been up and down the country a ridiculous amount of times, ridiculous places. Even when they've already got plans, they'll change their plans every game.
"I think this season I was on loan at Workington, I think my dad's come to every away game, he could be down past Macclesfield. They’re good three or four-hour journeys, but he'll be there.”
Jake is a born and bred Carlisle fan as well, and spoke more on the feeling of securing a deal with his club:
“It kind of hits a different place. A first professional contract, it's amazing, but especially here. I live ten minutes away, and my family's all from here, so it's very good. I can't really describe it, but it’s a very good feeling.”
Jake even has a Carlisle United tattoo, which depicts him walking out on to Brunton Park with his Dad, which he shows us in the video on CUTV.
He then chatted about his journey in the academy, and the coaches who’ve helped him:
“All of them standout, really. I think Ruddy [Steven Rudd] throughout the whole academy, he's helped a lot, and for him to come back full-time in the past year or so has helped a lot.
“Jamie Devitt's helped massively, having him with me on my first loan spell at Workington, then him coming and helping with the youth team and then first team, he's helped a lot.
“He's young, just came out of the game, so he knows, but he's just a good laugh as well and helps massively. And then, obviously, Birchy [Mark Birch] throughout my three years with them, helped me to go from a young boy in the academy to men's football.”
Jake also netted his first United goal this season. A very well taken left-footed finish against Nottingham Forest U21’s. He explained the feeling around that:
“Again, probably a similar feeling to getting offered the contract, especially having my family, girlfriend, friends in the crowd.
“I don't even know what happened, I didn't know what to do after I scored as well.
“Then I had messages from everyone, everyone was chuffed, I was chuffed, I think I had a smile on my face for a good few weeks after it.”
We asked Jake who had really stood out to him since training with the first team, and who had been key to helping him bed into the squad. He said:
“You know what, all of them, all of them are good for it. If you're doing something you shouldn't be, they'll let you know.
“Sam Lavelle as well, if there's anything going on, he'll try and help everyone.
“And then in football, even just little things, if you're not knowing where to be on the pitch, go and ask them and they'll talk you through it.
“So, every single one of them have been a big help.”
Jake also spoke on the importance of his loan spell at Workington:
“It's helped a lot. So, the first one was in my second year scholarship, that was more just to get a taste of men's football and go and experience it. But this year, I wanted to play every game, and I've played most games, to be fair, but I absolutely loved playing in the men's environment.
“It's completely different to boys in the scholarship and the Youth Alliance League. So, it is a big difference, but I've absolutely loved it.”
On his key learnings from that experience, Jake said:
“It's probably holding your own against men, coming up playing against boys. It is different, because it's fully grown blokes who do it for their living.
“But also, three points matters a lot more. This season we were in a little relegation battle with Workington, so the last few games were must wins, must perform.
“You've also got fans as well, who you can hear when playing, and then even when you're not playing, the comments and stuff you see or hear.
“So, it is a lot different, but I've loved it. I've really enjoyed it.”
On his aims for next season, Jake said:
“Everyone comes back in pre-season trying to be as fit as they can, get as fit as they can, and everyone is trying to fight for a spot in the starting XI, or even the squad. So, hopefully, try and push my way in the squad, starting XI.
“That's the aim, really, to try and get playing.”
