IT'S A FAMILY OF FLAIR
My dad is flying high as National League boss… but I’m making my own way in the Premier League and England’s Under-21s
Teen hero is rated a future skipper at the top level, while his father is on the up in management
JACK HINSHELWOOD is enjoying a “family feel-good factor” as an ever-present in his unbeaten Brighton side — while dad Adam is flying high in the National League as manager of York.
The 19-year-old, who netted a thumping header in Sunday's 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest, represents the fourth generation of his clan to play professionally.
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He revealed: “It’s a good feeling in my family at the moment with my dad doing so well.
“There was a point last season where I was injured and he’d just got the job and we were having a bit of a tough moment.
“But we’ve come through it together as a family.
“To see him flying now, I am really happy — and I hope it carries on because it brings that family feel-good factor.”
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Add in Jack’s recent debut for the England Under-21 side that beat Austria 4-1 at Kenilworth Road and the Hinshelwoods — including his uncle Martin, a former Brighton boss — are on a roll.
Jack said: “I had to get about 12, 13 tickets for them to come and watch — which is usual for most home games as well.
“It’s always nice to have them in the crowd — especially when it’s a landmark moment and you get a good result.
“Having them there to talk to is really helpful, I think — something other people might not have.
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“But at the same time they let me just crack on.
“They know I know what I need to do to be successful.
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“And I have to listen to people at this club and not be satisfied with where I am at but keep working hard to improve.”
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has talked of the academy graduate as a “future leader” of the team and praised his “unbelievable” attitude and mindset.
That has helped him adjust to playing at left-back this season after making most of his 17 Prem appearances on the right.
He insisted: “To be honest, I’m not really bothered where I play. Whatever gets me in the team, I am happy.
“I just want to be out there playing football, as simple as it sounds.”
One of his most testing afternoons came against Bukayo Saka in last month’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates.
He admitted: “I can more than acknowledge that the first ten to 15 minutes was tough.
“It was what I was expecting but to get through that and not concede early, which helped, enabled me to really grow into the game.
“I am young and learning — it was a great experience for me.
"“It’s what I’ve been working towards my whole life — to be in these moments.
“I am just really enjoying the challenges that I am coming up against and I don’t fear anything, to be honest.”
Sunday's dramatic stalemate left Brighton both unbeaten on nine points from five games.
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Both managers saw red in an ugly flare-up after Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off for his second yellow card - a reckless lunge.
But even that exchange couldn't overshadow Danny Welbeck's glorious free-kick goal for the Seagulls.
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