Wanderers’ local boy Scott Jamieson fired up for Sydney derby in Parramatta

SCOTT Jamieson has dreamt of playing in a home derby for years and finally will get his chance — just a few kilometres from the ground where he played as a kid.

SCOTT Jamieson has dreamt of playing in a home derby for years and the 27-year-old will finally get the chance to do so this weekend — just a few kilometres from the ground where he played as a kid.

The Wanderers defender grew up playing at Kings Langley Soccer Club in Sydney’s west and described returning to the ground for the first time in almost 20 years as a “surreal experience”.

“It all started here,” Jamieson said. “I would have been about 4 years old and my brother was Under-7, so I played with them — being cheeky enough to play with the older boys. I played at Kings Langley Soccer Club until I was about 10.”

Jamieson played in the first Sydney derby of the season at Allianz Stadium, but he expects Saturday’s experience in Parramatta to go up a notch — at least in terms of atmosphere.

It’s an occasion he is relishing having wanted to be part of it for so long.

“Having seen the hype and everything that comes with this derby, I was always watching from afar wishing I could get the opportunity to play in such a massive fixture,” he said.

“The first one was quite an experience, unfortunately we didn’t get the right result, but it was one of those occasions where it had a grand final feel about it.

“This one will be different in the sense that Allianz is bigger, but when any team comes to Pirtek Stadium, let alone Sydney FC, the atmosphere is unbelievable and loud. I’d like to think it will go up another notch and I’m looking forward to it. At Pirtek you’ve got the fans closer to you and the atmosphere is a lot louder than at other grounds.”

Not that Western Sydney need any added motivation, but the derby match comes at a good time following their first defeat in nearly three months against Melbourne City last weekend.

It’s a result Jamieson says they’re aiming to rectify on Saturday.

Wanderers’ Scott Jamieson at Lynwood Park Blacktown where he played as a kid.

“Having gone on a very good run of 10 games unbeaten then losing at the weekend was disappointing because we played really well,” he said. “These games are special in that sense — they’re not the most talked about games in the league for no reason. But I don’t think it would be any different had we won on the weekend because it’s a special game in itself.”

There’s been no change to the Wanderers’ preparation this week because, aside from last weekend’s result, the team have been playing excellent football. It’s a contrast to where they were at heading into the first derby.

“The first derby early in the season was different in the lead up and build up due to the fact that we hadn’t won a game yet, so that’s why it was a bit different,” Jamieson said. “But this one has been normal — game day won’t be normal — but inside the camp nothing’s changed.”

Originally published as Wanderers’ local boy Scott Jamieson fired up for Sydney derby in Parramatta