Jai Ingham

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jai Ingham

| fullname = Jai Emile Mau'u Ingham

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|08|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lismore, New South Wales, Australia

| image = Jai Ingham Port Melbourne August 2016.jpg

| caption = Ingham playing for Melbourne Victory in a friendly match against Port Melbourne, 9 August 2016

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}{{cite web|title=Jai Ingham|url=http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/jai-ingham/8linsl7nmh141wg5ohai7y3qr|website=melbournevictory.com.au|publisher=Melbourne Victory FC|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=28 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628124253/http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/jai-ingham/8linsl7nmh141wg5ohai7y3qr|url-status=dead}}

| position = Winger

| currentclub = South Melbourne

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2013–2014

| youthclubs1 = Brisbane Roar

| years1 = 2012–2013

| clubs1 = Olympic FC

| caps1 = 23

| goals1 = 14

| years2 = 2013–2014

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 13

| clubs2 = Brisbane Roar NPL

| years3 = 2014–2015

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| clubs3 = Brisbane Roar

| years4 = 2015–2016

| caps4 = 26

| goals4 = 9

| clubs4 = Hume City

| years5 = 2016–2019

| caps5 = 52

| goals5 = 4

| clubs5 = Melbourne Victory

| years6 = 2019

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| clubs6 = Central Coast Mariners

| years7 = 2019–2021

| caps7 = 12

| goals7 = 0

| clubs7 = Brisbane Roar

| years8 = 2021

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| clubs8 = United City

| years9 = 2021–2022

| caps9 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| clubs9 = Gold Coast Knights

| clubs10 = South Melbourne

| years10 = 2022–

| caps10 = 28

| goals10 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2017–

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalteam1 = New Zealand

| club-update = 3 November 2022

| ntupdate = 24 December 2018

}}

Jai Emile Mau'u Ingham (born 14 August 1993) is a professional footballer who plays a winger for National Premier Leagues club South Melbourne. Born in Australia and of New Zealand and Samoan descent, Ingham has represented the New Zealand internationally.

Career

=Olympic FC=

Ingham started his career with Olympic FC seniors in the National Premier League while training to be an electrician.{{cite news|url=http://quest.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx|title=Gun teen provides spark for Olympic|newspaper=City South News|first=Brayden|last=Heslehurst|date=30 May 2013}} In July 2013, he was picked as one of Australia's top eight players outside the A-League.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-9385-0-0-0&sID=269940&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=24079916|title=Ingham & Carroll Best Outside A-League|publisher=Football Queensland|first=Matt|last=Dorman|date=12 July 2013}} Selected in the QLD NPL football team of the year 2013.

=Brisbane Roar=

At the beginning of the 2013–14 National Youth League, Ingham joined Brisbane Roar's youth side.{{cite web|url=http://olympicfc.net.au/2013/10/23/ingham-set-for-roar-debut/|title=Olympic's Ingham Set For Roar Debut|publisher=Olympic FC|access-date=24 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233056/http://olympicfc.net.au/2013/10/23/ingham-set-for-roar-debut/|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Roar-name-NYL-squad/77520 |title=Roar name NYL squad |publisher=Football Federation Australia |date=24 October 2013 |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193453/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Roar-name-NYL-squad/77520 |url-status=dead }} Scoring 13 goals in 11 appearances. Including a second half hat-trick that secured victory over Adelaide.{{cite web|url=http://www.y-league.com.au/article/brisbane-sink-10-man-adelaide-with-late-winner/zqn48pfc9vb21k08creznv1on|title=Brisbane sink 10-man Adelaide with late winner|work=y-league.com.au|access-date=28 June 2016}}

On 24 January 2014, Ingham debuted for the senior team, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute of a 2–1 victory over Wellington Phoenix.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/01/24/australia/a-league/brisbane-roar-fc/wellington-phoenix/1475241/|title=Brisbane Roar vs. Wellington Phoenix|work=Soccerway|date=24 January 2014}}

=Hume City=

Ingham drew positive reactions while at National Premier Leagues Victoria side Hume City during the 2015 FFA Cup.

=Melbourne Victory=

Ingham trained with Melbourne Victory for a month ahead of the 2016 January transfer window and was signed as the club's first use of the Mature Age Rookie salary cap allowance.[http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/victory-signs-hume-city-winger-jai-ingham/1v8455uia12f61trvhnrcfehmd Victory signs Hume City winger Jai Ingham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809210908/http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/victory-signs-hume-city-winger-jai-ingham/1v8455uia12f61trvhnrcfehmd |date=9 August 2017 }} Melbourne Victory FC Official Website, 6 January 2016 Ingham made his debut for Melbourne Victory against the Central Coast Mariners on 8 January 2016, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Fahid Ben Khalfallah in an eventual 3–3 draw.{{cite web|title=Central Coast Mariners 3–3 Melbourne Victory|url=http://aleaguestats.com/ALeagueStats_27MatchDetails_1593.html|website=ALeague Stats|access-date=6 February 2016}}

Ingham made his first start for Melbourne Victory in their opening 2016 AFC Champions League match against Shanghai SIPG F.C. on 24 February 2016, in what was only his third appearance for the club. During the match, he scored his first goal for the club, scoring in the 31st minute in an eventual 2–1 win. He then went on to make his first A-League starting appearance on 6 March against the Central Coast Mariners, setting up both Besart Berisha and Fahid Ben Khalfallah for goals and was voted best on ground in a 2–0 win at Central Coast Stadium. Ingham scored the equaliser against Juventus FC in a pre-2016–17 A-League season friendly match at the MCG.

Ingham scored his first A-League goal for Melbourne Victory on 12 November 2016, against the Western Sydney Wanderers, in an eventual 3–0 win.

Ingham has an impressive AFC Champions League record for Melbourne Victory with 9 appearances 3 goals and 1 assist. Due to this Fox Sports commentator Andy Harper gave him the nickname "The Asian Specialist," after his third goal in Asian Champions League against Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande, 22 April 2019.

Ingham was released by Melbourne Victory at the conclusion of the 2018–19 A-League season.{{cite web |title=VICTORY SEVER TIES WITH VISA STARS |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/victory-sever-ties-with-visa-stars-525818 |publisher=FourFourTwo |access-date=28 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Michael |title=Baema, Niedermeier and Ingham depart Victory |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/baema-niedermeier-and-ingham-depart-victory-20190528-p51s2u.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 May 2019 |access-date=28 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=Rebuilding Victory shed Baena, Niedermeier, Ingham |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/rebuilding-victory-shed-baena-niedermeier-ingham |website=The World Game |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |access-date=28 May 2019}}

=Central Coast Mariners=

In June 2019, Ingham joined Central Coast Mariners on a two-year contract among a host of signings under new coach Alen Stajcic.{{cite web|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/four-additions-mariners-squad|title=Four additions to the Mariners squad|publisher=Football Federation Australia|work=Central Coast Mariners|date=21 June 2019}}

=Return to Brisbane Roar=

In August 2019, less than 2 months after signing with Central Coast Mariners, Ingham negotiated a mutual contract release with the club and joined Brisbane Roar.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/roar-deal-mariners-recruit-set-to-skip-town-before-season-begins-20190801-p52ctx.html|title=Roar deal: Mariners' recruit set to skip town before season begins|first=Dominic|last=Bossi|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 August 2019}} In March 2021, Ingham departed Brisbane Roar.{{cite web|url=https://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/news/jai-ingham-departs-brisbane-roar|title=Jai Ingham departs Brisbane Roar|website=Brisbane Roar|date=24 March 2020}}

=United City=

Ingham signed a contract with Philippines Football League side United City as one of their foreign players and the final player in a slew of new signings.{{cite web|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/united-city-scores-coup-with-all-whites-standout-jai-ingham/204268|title=United City scores coup with All Whites standout Jai Ingham|first=Lorenzo|last=del Carmen|newspaper=Tiebreaker Times|date=24 March 2021}} This came a few hours after it was announced that Brisbane Roar and Ingham had mutually agreed to terminate the player's contract.

International career

In May 2016, Ingham was named to the Samoan national squad for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup{{cite web|last1=Huckert|first1=Mathias|title=Prepared for P.N.G.|url=http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/24_05_2016/local/6548/Prepared-for-PNG.htm|publisher=Samoa Observer|access-date=27 May 2016}} however he did not travel to Papua New Guinea for the tournament and was listed as an absentee.{{cite web|url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/9c3c7be6-132f-43cb-8a42-6a4c896746a1/language/en-US/Default.aspx|title=SAM 0–8 PNG|publisher=Oceania Football Confederation|access-date=27 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803124430/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/9c3c7be6-132f-43cb-8a42-6a4c896746a1/language/en-US/Default.aspx|archive-date=3 August 2016}}

In March 2017, Ingham was called up to the New Zealand national squad for World Cup qualifiers, along with his brother Dane.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/hudson-names-his-strongest-squad/|title=Hudson names his strongest squad|publisher=New Zealand Football|date=9 March 2017|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310000959/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/hudson-names-his-strongest-squad/|archive-date=10 March 2017|url-status=dead}} He made his debut on 28 March 2017 against Fiji.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11827924|title=Football: All Whites power rankings|first=Jason|last=Pine|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=29 March 2017}}

Personal life

Jai is the cousin of Samoan international Johnny Hall{{cite web|last1=Stamocostas|first1=Con|title=Hume City flyer aims to outgun Cannons|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/hume-city-flyer-aims-outgun-cannons#:zsSboOBAHalQ_A|publisher=Four Four Two|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806141813/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/hume-city-flyer-aims-outgun-cannons#:zsSboOBAHalQ_A|archive-date=6 August 2016|url-status=dead}} and brother of Newcastle Jets player Dane Ingham.{{cite web|title=Ingham strike fires Glory to victory|url=https://www.perthglory.com.au/news/glory-v-mariners-match-report-0|publisher=Perth Glory FC|author=Gareth Morgan|date=18 July 2020|access-date=18 July 2020}} In addition to holding an Australian passport, Ingham also holds Samoan and New Zealand passports,{{cite web|title=Melbourne Victory attacker could play for New Zealand in Confederations Cup|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/melbourne-victory-jai-ingham-new-zealand/16tekx56fgnfc1nncxct53oodw|publisher=Sporting News|access-date=24 February 2017|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224132356/http://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/melbourne-victory-jai-ingham-new-zealand/16tekx56fgnfc1nncxct53oodw|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Huguenin|first1=Michael|title=Victory's Ingham eligible for New Zealand|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2017/02/10/32519772/victorys-ingham-eligible-for-new-zealand|publisher=Goal|access-date=24 February 2017}} as he has a Samoan-New Zealand mother and an Australian father.