What a 19th birthday for Jackson Conway.
First, he signed a Homegrown contract Thursday with Atlanta United. Then, to celebrate perhaps for dinner a 10-piece dinner of wings: five lemon pepper and five honey barbecue.
The contract was a reward for Conway’s work first with Atlanta United’s academy, of which he was a member of the team’s inaugural 2016 class, and then his results with Atlanta United 2, of which he has scored 11 goals the past two seasons, including six in 10 games this season.
“It feels like a dream come true,” he said. “I tried to put all the work into last season in a span of 10 games. I knew what I had to work. I put my mind to it: If this is what I want to do, I want to make it happen. For it to be on my birthday is even cooler.”
Conway joins midfielder Andrew Carleton, midfielder Chris Goslin, fullback George Bello, striker Patrick Okonkwo, striker Lagos Kunga, centerback George Campbell and striker Tyler Wolff as Homegrown signings. Of that group, only Campbell, Bello and Wolff remain with the club. Efrain Morales is scheduled to sign as a Homegrown in 2021.
Conway signed with Atlanta United 2 in December 2018. He came up through the Georgia United system before joining Atlanta United’s first class of academy players in 2016.
“We’re happy to see Jackson’s continued development and it’s a complement to his hard work that he’s earned a First Team contract,” club vice president Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement. “Jackson is a great example of our club’s pathway to the professional level as he joined our Academy program prior to its first season with the dream of becoming an MLS player. He worked his way through our system and after excelling in the USL Championship last season, he deserves an opportunity at the next level.”
With the goal of signing a contract with the first team accomplished, Conway said the next goal is to get into a game with the first team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He recognizes that he’s more likely to play with Atlanta United 2 next season than with the first team, which also has Josef Martinez, Adam Jahn, Erik Lopez and fellow Homegrown signing Tyler Wolff as strikers.
Conway is training with the first team as it prepares to play Club America in the second leg of the Champions League in Orlando on Dec. 16. Conway said it’s important for him to take shots against goalkeeper Brad Guzan and to see the training habits of the other first-team players.
“I need to learn around them first before I get over myself, like I’m the next Josef Martinez,” he said.
Conway said he tries to model himself after Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane. Conway said his bedroom at home was covered in posters of Rooney from his days at Manchester United. He said he sees a bit of himself in Kane, a striker who isn’t that fast but can score from anywhere.
Conway has shown that with his long-range strikes each of the past two seasons. One, a goal scored from beyond midfield when he was 15 playing for one of Atlanta United’s academy teams, made ESPN SportsCenter’s “Top 10 plays.” He scored another from more than 30 yards last season for Atlanta United. Like both Rooney and Kane, Conway can also score from free kicks.
If he plays with Atlanta United 2, because he has played a lot of different positions – he started as a centerback – Conway said he thinks he will be able to help the team. He referenced how last season he worked on dropping back to receive the ball and then turning to drive at defenders because it can help the team when it’s in trouble.
“I want to stick to that confidence I had last season,” he said. “I still see myself as an academy player, still working to be a first-team player. Once you get here, it doesn’t just stop. You have to keep it going. I have to prove I’m the next big thing.”
About the Author
