EP 09: Zac Sapsford - From Hakoah to Western Sydney Wanderers and Dundee United

Zac Sapsford takes us through his journey from an NPL 2 kid at Hakoah in Sydney to signing his first professional contract with Western Sydney Wanderers, and now scoring goals for Dundee United in Scotland's top division.In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Zac to trace one of the most relatable pathways in Australian football. Zac talks about growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi, spending his youth years at Hakoah without ever being in an A-League academy, and the trial at Huddersfield at 16 where he came face-to-face with Liverpool and Man City academy players and realised how far the gap was.We move through the years that followed. Zac is candid about his time at Chester FC in England during COVID, being unable to play for a full year, and coming back to Australia so disillusioned that he asked Hakoah for a spot in the under 20s. He talks about the breakthrough that followed, the move to Sydney FC and then his first professional contract at Western Sydney Wanderers, and the derby goal against Sydney FC that helped land him on Dundee United's radar.He is honest about the reality of moving to Scotland alone, the mental approach that keeps him relaxed under pressure ("I don't even think about the game until I walk out"), why picking up golf changed how he handles bad games, and what it feels like to walk out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time.He closes with his advice for young players still chasing the dream, and a reminder that a coach not believing in you doesn't have to be the end of your journey.Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is essential listening for anyone in the Australian NPL system.IN THIS EPISODE▸ Growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi in Sydney ▸ Trialing at Huddersfield at 16 and versing Liverpool and Man City academies ▸ A year at Chester where he wasn't allowed to play ▸ Coming back from COVID and breaking into Hakoah first grade ▸ The move to Sydney FC and playing NPL 1 against the best in NSW ▸ Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers ▸ The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down ▸ Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time ▸ Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out ▸ Life away from home and picking up golf as a mental reset ▸ His advice for young NPL players still chasing the dreamCHAPTERS00:00 Intro 01:37 Welcome and meet Zac Sapsford 03:24 First touches with dad and joining Maccabi in Sydney 05:51 Trialing at Huddersfield and versing Liverpool and Man City academies 10:07 Coming back from Chester and breaking into Hakoah first grade 13:13 From Hakoah to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers 16:35 Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers 18:28 The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down 21:09 Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time 23:15 Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out 25:04 Life away from home and picking up golf 26:46 What "professional football" really means beyond the top leagues 31:36 What comes next for him at Dundee United 35:49 Stoppage Time Questions 40:41 His advice for young players chasing the dream🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question.@firsttouchtofirstteamAnd remember: enjoy your football journey.