Loyalty is a commodity that is often in short supply in football, but in full-back Jack Currie, AFC Wimbledon have a player who is Dons through and through.
Joining the Academy at the age of 10, the now 22-year-old has risen through the ranks to become one of the most important players at the club.
Born in Kingston upon Thames and attending school at neighbouring East Molesey, Wimbledon has been the perfect setting for Currie to hone a skill-set that has seen him become ever-present this season.
“Jack (Currie) has been a credit to the club,” AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson told London Football Scene.
“You can tell how well someone is thought of internally when they play every minute of every game. It shows you the faith we have in him and how valuable he is to this team.
“He’ll go on to bigger and better things in his career, no doubt. I really hope he goes on to play at the top level – and that’s what his ambitions are to do.”
Like Ayoub Assal and Jack Rudoni before him, it’s inevitable Currie will be the next off the production line to earn a big money move away from Plough Lane.
But for now, there’s a clear reciprocal bond of admiration between the club, player and manager that fans are enjoying seeing play out in Currie’s performances.
“The most important thing to my development as a player has been the gaffer,” Jack Currie exclusively told London Football Scene.
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“Johnnie (Jackson), Terry Skiverton and the team all behind the scenes gave me the opportunity to wear this shirt – I’ve had to repay them.
“To do that I have to run, work and play for the badge, the club, and being here for eleven years you have that expectation.
“I know how much this club means to everyone because it means so much to me.”
Scoring on his league debut against Gillingham on the opening day of the 2022-23 campaign, the Wimbledon of now is a far cry from a side that was low on confidence and reeling from relegation.
As part of a makeshift defence with both first-choice centre-backs Joe Lewis and Ryan Johnson currently injured, Wimbledon have registered four clean sheets on the bounce in a four-game unbeaten run.
The purple patch and now a league high of 15 clean sheets has seen Wimbledon’s promotion charge get back on track in recent weeks – form that Currie is adamant will continue into the run-in.
“We cannot drop our standards at all,” Currie said. “This year, the mentality is spot on.
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“Absolutely every person has bought into the process. We all have a goal and we all know what it is because it’s laid out very clearly from the managerial staff.
“At the beginning of the season you want to aim as high as possible and the Play-Offs were the one thing we were striving for.
“Right now, we’re in, but that’s no excuse to take our foot off the gas whatsoever.”
If this does turn out to be Currie’s final season at Wimbledon, this season has provided a memory he will cherish forever.
The defender was part of the sea of Wimbledon players, coaching staff, fans and even ball-boy Noah who swamped Ronan Curtis in the corner of the main stand after the Irishman’s 94th minute winner against MK.
As an academy graduate, Currie needs no introduction on the importance of such a fixture.
“It’s what you dream of. The hatred we have for them, it’s something quite special and something I’ve adopted over the last few years,” Currie said.
“The manner of that result was insane, but we deserved it. We properly worked for it and did what we had to do.”
Curtis’ goal went viral on social media, with Wimbledon’s very own Mike T’s commentary capturing the emotion of such a moment.
Currie, with a smile, admitted he was not the only Don to re-watch the goal in the days after the game.
“I’ll be honest with you, I must have watched the video of the goal 10+ times!,” Currie laughed.
“The commentary, the noise from the supporters and the whole feeling around the ground… I could feel a rumbling out there on the pitch.
“It was a moment to remember. I ran over and got lost in the crowd celebrating, it was very memorable.”
Wimbledon may cross paths with MK in Play-Offs, with the team fans brand as ‘The Franchise’ currently sitting fourth, but nevertheless Currie believes this is a Dons team that is ready for any team in the league.
“Judging by our trajectory and character, we’re a team in which whoever is put in front of us, we’re giving them a right go.
“You want to play in the biggest games against the biggest teams… I’m not saying they’re the biggest team but for us it’s one of the biggest games.
“It would definitely be an experience, but I’m confident we’d get the job done as well.”
A special moment for a special player and one, should Currie depart for pastures new in the future, he could cherish for the rest of his career…