Jade North
Jade Bronson North (born 7 January 1982) is a former professional Aboriginal Australian footballer. North has been a member of the Australian national football team, and is co-chair of Football Australia's inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group. Early life. Jade Bronson North was born in Taree, of Biripi descent. He lived in New Zealand until the age of 11, then moved back to Australia, taking up residence in the suburb of Sunnybank in Brisbane, with his brother Brook North and parents. He attended Sunnybank High School until he was offered a place with the AIS in Canberra  at the age of 15. Club career. North joined the Brisbane Strikers as one of the youngest players to join the National Soccer League and then later moving to the Perth Glory. He was named as the captain of the Newcastle Jets for the 2007–08 A-League season following the departure of Paul Okon. On 9 June 2008, Australian newspapers suggested that North was due to sign with Belgian club, Club Brugge, or with Armenian club Mika F.C. However any rumours of offers proved to purely speculative, with North admitting no concrete offers had materialised. On 3 November 2008, he  was announced as the inaugural North Queensland Fury marquee player for the 2009–10 A-League season, however, after a week of rumours surrounding North's future, on 12 December 2008 it was publicised that North Queensland Fury would be releasing him from contract as he signed with South Korean K-League club Incheon United on a rumoured $2 million contract. North trialled with Swedish side Trelleborg but on 26 February 2010, Norwegian side Tromsø IL signed the Australian defender from Incheon United. He spent four months in Norway before joining Wellington Phoenix on 30 July 2010 on a one -year deal. On 2 April 2011, he moved from Wellington to Japanese second-tier club FC Tokyo. On 8 January 2013, he signed a three and a half-year deal to play with Brisbane Roar in the A-League, leaving after five years in April 2018. On 15 May 2019, North signed for National Premier League Victoria 2 side Murray United for the remainder of the season. International career. North's breakthrough came when he played every game of Australia's runner's up side at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship where his country lost the final to Brazil  on penalties. He was also a member of Australia's quarter-final effort at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, five years later. In 2008, prior to the 2010 World Cup Qualifier against China, North became the first ever Aboriginal Socceroos captain for the 0–0 Draw with Singapore. He participated in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Other roles. In 2017, North launched a non-for-profit football program called "Kickin' With A Cuz" which was designed to reach young boys and girls through football, with a vision to create sustainable pathways and outcomes for kids to make better  life choices. In November 2021 North was appointed as co-chair of the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group of Football Australia. The group aims at supporting and increasing Indigenous participation in the game. Honours. With Australia: With Newcastle Jets: With Perth Glory: With Sydney Olympic: With Brisbane Roar: Individual