Setting the benchmark: James Nieuwenhuizen’s City dream edges closer

Even if that step has landed him on the bench.

Bar a one-off appearance warming the pine for City at the height of COVID-19, Nieuwenhuizen has come in leaps in bounds the past few weeks after being named in the match day squad for the club’s A-League Men’s games against Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory.

Reflecting on the experience, Nieuwenhuizen said his recent jaunt to the AFC under-20 Asian Cup had him ready in the event he’d be called upon to guard the net in the elite domestic competition.

“It wasn’t anything really weird ― because I’d gone to Uzbekistan earlier with the under-20s, sitting on the bench there ― I was probably more nervous for that just because the last game was in front of 30,000 people, all against us,” he said.

“I was probably a bit more scared for that than I was the other day because I’ve done it before and I’m around the best players in the A-League every day. It was like, okay, I can come on, I’m ready.

“Overseas it was more like, I don’t even know what I’m going to walk into.

“Then again, the first couple of minutes I was thinking don’t get injured Tommy (Melbourne City starting goalkeeper Thomas Glover), I’m sh*tting bricks over here.

“Once you start watching the game and warming up, you just realise it’s just another game.

“And if you come on, you’re ready, so it doesn’t really bother me.”

Nieuwenhuizen’s involvement with Melbourne City stretches back more than two years.

Departing Shepparton for the big smoke when he was in Year 11, the former Goulburn Valley Sun left on a partial scholarship, but was forced to complete most of his schooling back at home due to COVID-19.

Since then, the promising gloveman has trained full time with City’s A-League Men’s side as well as starting for the club’s under-23 outfit in the National Premier League.

Juggling the lifestyle of a sporting professional with study at Monash University has kept Nieuwenhuizen’s diary full, and though it hardly leaves much room for visits home, his mum Lindy beams bright when speaking of her son’s achievements.

“It’s kind of every parent’s dream that when they tell you what their aspirations are, to see them succeed is really impressive,” she said.

“We don’t see him home all that often, and when we do it’s pretty special. I guess we go visit him more than he visits us these days.

“Fortunately, he’s sharing a house with quite a few Shepp boys and that keeps him grounded.”

It’s not just his mates who keep Niuewenhuizen on his toes.

“It was a big change last year when I moved out, going from living at home and living at boarding school where you’ve got your parents or you’ve got people doing everything for you,” he said.

“All of a sudden I moved out of home and I went grocery shopping for the first time, and geez, everything is way more expensive than I thought it was going to be.

“It’s been a learning curve, but it’s been a lot of fun too.”

Nieuwenhuizen’s learning curve will continue as Melbourne City’s regular second choice goalkeeper, Matt Sutton, returns to the team sheet.

It means Nieuwenhuizen will likely throw on the gloves for the club’s youth side while training with the senior squad, waiting for his next opening.

That’s where patience comes back into play.

But now, after creeping ever so close to the promised land, he has the bit between his teeth, the ball between his hands and a dream to chase – one step at a time.

“I think it’d be awesome to make my debut, and obviously the big goal is to become number one at Melbourne City,” he said.

“Maybe that’s not always that realistic, but if I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen then there’s no reason why it can’t be.

“All I can really do is stay ready and wait for an opportunity and be ready to take that opportunity when it comes to me.”