Josh jetted out to Germany last Friday to extend is soccer tutelage with some of the game’s best.

In recent years the Germans have become synonymous with churning out some of the best young footballers in the world and Josh is hoping his experience will rub off similarly.

“I expect I’ll get a lot out of it and hopefully improve,” Josh said before jumping on a plane.

“The playing style over there is so much different. I want to see how they play and learn from it.

“They’re playing style is really fluent and a lot more technical – I’m really excited but nervous,” he said.

Each week Josh is carted to Toowoomba Grammar School by his parents where he trains with another batch of burgeoning youth players.

Through that he was invited to partake in the German adventure.

He’s joined up with 50 other players from Toowoomba Grammar and the Inverell-based Joeys FC for the three week trip.

While the trip is focused around football progression there is also time for day trips as well as language lessons.

Later today (Wednesday, June 24) Josh will take the field against a youth side from SV Elversberg.

He’ll play a number of other games and will get the opportunity to visit FC Kaiserslautern, one of Germany’s biggest clubs.

 Josh started his career in the Tenterfield junior ranks before progressing into the Tenterfield Thunder’s setup.

He’s now a key player for the senior colts and this season has begun making a number of appearances for the A-grade side at just 16-years-old.

Toowoomba Grammar offer one of the most highly regarded school soccer programs in Queensland and Josh is looking at making the move more permanent next year.

He and his family have begun exploring the option of Josh boarding there next year.

He’s of the belief that the move will help his progression into the Toowoomba-based South West Thunder’s National Premier League side.

The club compete semi-professionally in a competition against teams from Far North Queensland right down to Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.

Mum, Lyn Gower, is his number one supporter and believes he has what it takes.

“I’m extremely proud of the way he has worked to improve his football and the way he conducts himself on and off the field. 

“When he decided he wanted to go to Germany, he got himself a casual job washing dishes at the Commercial Hotel to help pay for it. 

“While he is learning and improving and enjoying his sport we will continue to support - and be his taxi - in whatever way we can.  

“We are extremely lucky to have him in our lives,” Lyn said. 

The self-confessed Chelsea FC supporter says he’s hopeful of one day playing in the nation’s A-League competition.

“I want to follow this as a career… it’s why I’m doing all this,” he said.