Biography

Buying neither and getting both free, Jack joined at the same time as new colleague Packham. Part of the Albion Academy too, ‘Batesy’ was a closely-guarded secret while he donned the red and occasionally blue of the Rebels in pre-season. Finally unmasked, this all-action midfield dynamo came off the bench in August’s dramatic draw against Hemel Hempstead Town and played from the beginning in the only slightly less dramatic FA Cup victory over Havant & Waterlooville.

Ran out for *Hastings United during his time at Brighton, earning international recognition with both England Colleges and U18s Schoolboys. Further progression saw him sign for Derby County, where he featured regularly for their U21s. Temping at Hemel Hempstead and Bath City, where he ironically made his debut at Woodside Road in front of the TNT Sport cameras in March ’24, preceded a previous spell under Boss ‘Agi’ at *The Arrows.