Elijah Just remembers getting up as a kid in the early hours of the morning to see New Zealand play at the World Cup and to watch Premier League football. Sixteen years after the All Whites went to South Africa 2010, Just fulfilled one boyhood dream this summer by starring for New Zealand as they returned to the World Cup. Now comes the challenge of reaching the Premier League.
Not so long ago, the idea of the 26-year-old playing in England's top flight may have appeared a little fanciful. Just is a regular in the midfield of a Swansea City side who sit second in the second tier before their trip to Lincoln City this Saturday ( ). These are early days in the Championship season, and it remains to be seen whether Swansea can maintain their eye-catching form across the long campaign ahead.
But for the moment at least, the Premier League is within sight. Should Just get there, it would be some achievement given his story so far. "I've had some up and downs throughout my career and yeah, getting to this stage has been quite the journey," the attacking midfielder says.
"In New Zealand, everyone that follows football watches the Premier League - you wake up in the morning to catch the game. "Of course it's a long season, but you always hope that you can get there. I think that's everyone's dream." Just's footballing journey began when he left home at the age of 14 to join the Ole Football Academy, which has produced numerous New Zealand internationals.
It was at the academy, based in the city of Porirua, that Just first met Marko Stamenic – who is now a team-mate at Swansea – as well as "quite a few other boys who are now playing professionally around the world". Thanks to a link between the academy and the American owners of Danish club Helsingor, Just was one of three players invited to spend a month on trial in Denmark. The result, shortly after Just's 19th birthday, was the first professional contract of his career.
Just's first year with Helsingor was spent in Danish football's third tier, though he helped them win promotion to the level below the top flight Superliga. Just's journey from New Zealand to Swansea, via Denmark and Scotland Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views Listen to the latest Swansea City interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds Just moved on to Horsens in 2022, spending one season in the Danish top division before relegation. He moved to the Austrian second tier with SKN St Polten, on loan in 2024-25, before signing for Motherwell 14 months ago.
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