Gold Coast United football (soccer) team has snared one of the hottest properties at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) after securing the signature of young midfield playmaker, Jake Barker-Daish, on his first professional contract.

The 17-year-old and AIS Player of the Year came highly recommended by Australian under-20 Coach Jan Versleijen and has impressed the Gold Coast head coach during his scouting missions. The youngster scored one and set up another in the AIS’s 2–0 victory over Gold Coast United’s championship winning youth team in November last year.

Originally from Melbourne, Barker-Daish has appeared for the Qantas Joeys (Australian under-17) and during his two-year scholarship with the AIS has been a regular goalscorer in the National Youth League.

Gold Coast manager Miron Bleiberg believes Barker-Daish is not only ‘one for the future’, but can make a contribution to the senior team right away.

‘He came to our attention thanks to his technical skills and smart use of the ball. When I spoke to Jan Versleijen he had only great things to say about Jake,’ Bleiberg said.

‘We kept an eye on him and saw that he has the qualities and attributes we are looking for. He also has a good physique for a footballer. He will continue to develop over the next couple of years with us, but we wouldn’t have signed him if we didn’t think he could come in and make an impression next season.’

Excited at signing his first professional deal, Barker-Daish said he was looking forward to continuing his football education at Gold Coast United when he moves to the region in mid-May to prepare for pre-season training.

‘My agent told me that Gold Coast were interested in signing me, then after I played against United for the AIS late last year [Youth Coach] Mike Mulvey had a quick chat with me and said they were keen to bring me to the club,’ Barker-Daish said.

‘I was very excited to hear that and although there were a few clubs who were interested I thought right away that Gold Coast United were the best club to go to. I can continue to learn my trade there and hopefully get an opportunity to break into the first team.

‘I can’t wait to train and play with the likes of Michael Thwaite, Joel Porter and Peter Perchtold. They’ve all played at a high level and they can teach me so much about the game. Their pedigree speaks for itself and for a young player to be surrounded by that is very appealing and exciting.

‘Being around top players can only help me to learn and get better as a footballer, which is what I want to do,’ he said.

In a further boost to the AIS men's football program they have been awarded the National Youth League Fair Play Award for 2011.