The son of Albury professional squash player Greg Pollard, James Meredith’s journey has gone full circle from being released by Derby as a 16-year-old when he made his national team debut against Kyrgyzstan in a World Cup qualifier last October.
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Twelve long years of battling through the ranks of English soccer’s lower tiers finally paid off for the Box Hill product.
He slotted in seamlessly at left back during a 3-0 win in Canberra for Ange Postecoglou’s side and earned rave reviews for his impressive display.
“I was really grateful and appreciative of Ange to give me the call up because I’d been working hard and I hadn’t had it easy since leaving Derby,” the 28-year-old said.
“I had to work my way up through the Conference North, the Conference, League Two and now I’m in League One – it felt deserved and it was quite a proud moment.
“The set-up at the Socceroos at the moment is fantastic, everything is first-class, and everyone has a lot of respect for Ange as well.
“He carries a real presence and that’s why he’s been successful so far.”
Training with the likes of Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill opened Meredith’s eyes to the high standards required of elite performers, which he described as a “step up”.
Mixing with players plying their trade across Asia and Europe, and learning more of their styles of play and philosophies, was also a big benefit.
“It’s funny (the competition) because a few years ago there wasn’t really anyone that had been able to fill that spot but now there’s good players like Jason Davidson (Huddersfield), Brad Smith (Bournemouth) and Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg) is up and coming too,” he said.
“It’s a spot where there’s a lot of competition and you’ve got to work even harder – be even more competitive to win that spot.
“I think as the years have gone on my attacking play has improved.
“It’s almost as though it’s required now for full-backs to be as far up as possible, attacking and supporting the wingers.
“As you get more experience as a player, you become more comfortable with knowing when to move forward and exploit those opportunities, without leaving those holes in the defence.”
Lining out for Sligo Rovers in the Irish national soccer league in November 2007 would never have entered Meredith’s mind when he first moved to the UK.
Spending a year under now Portsmouth boss Paul Cook, Meredith only made four appearances in Ireland’s rugged North West before eventually getting his career on track.
A slightly-built fullback, grappling with the demands of professional sport, on the opposite wing to him made a lasting impression.
He was, however, none other than EPL star Seamus Coleman - who captained Ireland during their shock Euro 2016 victory over Italy and has racked up more than 200 games for Everton in the top flight.
“He (Coleman) had very good attributes but I didn’t think he would do as well as he has,” Meredith said.
“I think he’s done exceptionally well
“He got given a good chance and he’s really taken upon that chance and has become a star.
“It just goes to show, if you get the right opportunity and you’re looked after that’s what you’re capable of because he had those great attributes.”
From Sligo, he went on to make more than 130 appearances with York City before signing for Bradford in 2012.
The Bantams, and Meredith, hit the spotlight when they defeated Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side 4-2 in an FA Cup tie in January 2015.
Subsequently downing Sunderland 2-0, the giant-killing Yorkshire side was finally defeated by Reading in the quarter-final.
Meredith’s goal of achieving a long-held dream of promotion to the Championship, and facing up to the club that released him as a teenager, was dashed last season with a play-off semi-final defeat to Millwall.
“The way I see it, the path I went down after being released by Derby and having to start back in the Conference North, I wanted to work my way back up to the top,” he said.
“I’ve been promoted through the league and I want to do the final tour if I can, but if it’s only to the Championship then I think four promotions is a good effort but my aim is to get promoted through every league in England.
“It would show that I was able to play at that level and I should have.
“I think the club was going through a period of change and (manager) Billy Davies wanted good, experienced players so he didn’t want to take a chance on a youngster who hadn’t played any games.
“I think for me these next three years will be my prime years, where I get better as a footballer.
“My ambition is to get into the Championship and the best way to do that is get promoted with Bradford.
“I’d like to earn my spot again with the Socceroos and hopefully be involved in the upcoming competitions – that would be the dream.”
Despite spending his youth and 20s in the UK, Meredith still retains ties to the region.
While his father moved the family to Melbourne when he was seven, the 28-year-old still has a number of relatives in Albury and Wagga – notably his grandmother – who he tries to visit when back in Australia.
His familial ties are almost as strong as his passion for Melbourne – and he’s got one other burning ambition as an expat which has become an increasingly well-trodden path for players in recent years.
“What I like about the A-League is it improves every year – it seems like it’s competitive and growing,” he The Border Mail.
“They’re playing good football and players are getting selected (for the Socceroos) and developed.
“It’s really good to see because when I left to come to England there was no league at that stage, it was during that transitional period.
“One day, I’d love to come back and play for Melbourne, my dream was always to play for South Melbourne as I was growing up as a kid.
“I really like the A-League, so when I feel like I’ve achieved what I’ve wanted to achieve in England, even though it’s taken as long as it has, I’d love to come back home and play for Melbourne City or Victory.
When pushed on a preference of the two bitter rivals, Meredith replied wryly: “Melbourne City”.