Josh Lock had to wait. Four years passed. Only one club. Four loan spells. On a chilly night in Wrexham, the 22-year-old academy product finally earned his breakthrough. He found the back of the net in The New Saints' Champions League qualifier against Sabah. It was his first goal in four years and his first appearance in a European match. A breakthrough moment after years of waiting.
The long wait paid off
The New Saints had faith in Lock before others did. Head coach Craig Harrison remembered the team’s decision to give him more time than usual. "We decided to give him longer because of his technical ability and the physicality he’d develop," Harrison said. That physicality took time to emerge. Lock wasn't the tallest or strongest. Still, he had quick feet and a willingness to take a hit and keep moving. "Technically, he's fantastic," Harrison added. "He's got a great turn of pace and he's a brave footballer."
His growth came with more than just patience. A season and a half at Caernarfon Town made a difference. That club earned its first Welsh Cup ever during his time there. "I feel like I held my own," Lock said. That experience, he added, brought him to this moment — on the bench for the European qualifier, then in the box, scoring late. The late goal was a bright spot for the Saints, even though they lost the match.
What lies ahead for the late bloomer?
The Saints fell 2-1 in the tie to Sabah and now shift their focus to the Conference League. For Lock, the loss matters less than the chance. He will remain with the team for now, and if he continues to play this way — if he keeps putting in the effort — the first team could be next. "All I can do is perform and hope for a chance," Lock said. His journey is just starting, but his confidence is growing.
For Harrison, there's more than just a goal in that moment. "It’s a pivotal point at the football club," the coach said, "because Josh Lock’s come all the way through the system." The kid who wasn’t the strongest but was never the weakest. The player they waited for, and who finally arrived. "We’ve only put him on the road to that, but he's had to do that himself," Harrison added. The patience paid off, and now the focus is on what’s next for Lock and the Saints.