Think of a 21-year-old Englishman in Melbourne and you might picture a backpacker enjoying himself at St. Kilda beach or some cheap watering hole.
Think of Kaine Sheppard and you get a hard-working 21-year-old Englishman in Melbourne making his name as a footballer at Heidelberg United whilst studying Sport and Exercise Science at Victoria University.
The left-footed forward is now in his second season at Heidelberg, having spent his formative years at lower league English clubs Histon, Braintree and Leyton Orient – training alongside a young Harry Kane at the latter.
“My soccer experiences in England with Leyton Orient were playing football everyday, most days 9am-3pm, and doing jobs for the senior team [such as] washing, cleaning, pumping balls, putting out the goals, making drinks or taking out the equipment,” Sheppard said.
“I also got to train with Harry Kane on a regular basis when he was on loan there. I remember we were watching the Leyton Orient first team and the old Spurs first team coach was sitting with my youth team manager, and he said to him, ‘Harry Kane will play in the premiership one day,’ and I think he scored two goals that day.
“Histon was great for playing against men and being competitive and fighting against relegation, and Braintree was good playing in a good league, competitive again with good crowds and playing on TV in the first round of the FA Cup which we lost – this was all done at a young age.”
However, with last parent club Histon in deep financial trouble and forced to release a number of players, Sheppard made the decision to try a new experience and head to Australia to join Heidelberg United in the newly formed NPL – a significant life choice for the then 20-year-old.
“I was tempted by the move because I fancied a change and a new adventure,” he said.
“I used to watch the A-League highlights on Sky Sports back at home and they use to say how Australian football was improving and it’s also a beautiful place to live.
“With regards to Heidelberg, I had a contact who spoke to a few clubs and Heidelberg were looking for another striker, so after I received the phone call, five days later I arrived in Melbourne and been here just over one year now.
“Moving to Australia was exciting. Very daunting, but exciting. Heidelberg looked after me very well and made sure I was well looked after. As soon as I arrived I started training with the team so I didn’t have much time to settle in, but now that I’m settled in it feels like I’ve been here a lot longer than a year and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
The youngster impressed in his first season, racking up a goal tally in double figures whilst forging one of the competition’s most formidable strike partnerships with Dan Heffernan.
It helped propel George Katsakis’ side to third place in the inaugural NPL, good enough for finals football and a title push had such a format existed last season.
Despite Heffernan’s lengthy absence early this campaign, Sheppard has linked well with the likes of new recruits Kenny Athiu and Kosta Kanakaris to score a couple of goals in Heidelberg’s tilt towards the top this time around.
“I would say I had a great start to life at Heidelberg when I first arrived, making a great partnership with Heff [Dan Heffernan] who is also now a great friend. He’s a top player and hopefully he returns to the team soon,” he said.
“I felt a little slump in form towards the end of the season but I went away, explored Australia, worked hard during pre-season and came back a lot fitter and stronger.
“It was great to get a great result first game of the season, the setback of a little injury held me back for a game, but I’ve started the season with a few goals so hopefully that continues and as a team we look great, strong, sharp and up for the fight, so if we can stay consistent for the remainder of the season hopefully we have a chance to challenge for top spot.
“I thought last year the standard was good with some strong teams, some really like to knock the ball around which is good, and I think this season teams have gotten even stronger and it could be tight at the top for final series and the Championship, which makes it more interesting for the whole league and the players.”
Away from the pitch, Sheppard is much like any other state league player, perpetually trying to balance football with study to prepare for a life beyond a playing career.
“I’m at Victoria University studying sport and exercise science as my other passion is strength and conditioning for athletes,” he says.
“I got interested in when I was in England from a strength coach I had named Steve Linger – he’s a great guy and one of the best guys I have met at doing his job.
“It’s keeps me busy and I like to study something I enjoy. As I only have to go a few times a week it’s easy to balance with my football as I can still train and go to the gym but have time to recover and rest so I can still concentrate on my football, which is perfect.”
That’s not to say Sheppard isn’t focused on his more immediate objective of winning silverware at Heidelberg United and pushing himself as far as he can as a player.
One thing’s for sure though, he has no immediate thoughts about returning to the motherland, well and truly calling Australia home.
“My future plans, to be honest I haven’t given it much thought, at the minute I’m loving my life that I now have in Australia,” he says.
“I don’t have too many thoughts on going home right now. It’d be nice to see how this season goes and how far we can push this season as a team for the final series and hopefully challenge for the Championship.
“Hopefully I can score a few more goals to help us out and just push myself as high up the ladder as possible, hopefully one day achieving the A-league as its always improving, and there is nothing better than playing football every day.
“But we will see, it’s all one step at a time.”