When you combine unmistakable talent with guile, pace, audacity and an eye for goal, there lies the recipe for a brilliant attacking footballer.
Throw in a wealth of English experience and there goes Ryan Paczkowski streaming down the right flank, darting one way then the other, taking defenders on a merry dance as he sprints to the by-line before cutting a low driven cross to the feet of Bentleigh Greens front-man Christopher Lucas.
Born and raised in the Southern Yorkshire town of Doncaster, England, the 25-year-old moved to Australia last year with a plethora of non-league football experience back home.
Stints at Gainsborough Trinity, Harworth Colliery, Frickley Athletic and Brigg Town saw him fit perfectly into State League One club Mornington’s starting 11.
He scored 22 goals in a season that saw Mornington clinch the 2015 title, albeit in thrilling circumstances with an extra-time win over Western Suburbs.
It was only a matter of time before an NPL club snatched him up, and that’s exactly what Bentleigh Greens did when they signed Paczkowski for the 2016 season.
Upon arriving from the UK, he led Mornington’s strike force up front, but has been shifted to the wing at Bentleigh in a role that he feels completely at home in
“I don’t feel out of position at all really,” Paczkowski said.
“It’s a great team and when you’ve got a good team and everyone wants the ball it’s a good thing to be part of.”
The Greens will be thrilled with that decision, Paczkowski starting the season in tremendous form, scoring twice himself and at the forefront of their attacking threat down the right with numerous assists in the first eight games.
He was also instrumental in Bentleigh’s 4-1 drubbing of Pascoe Vale last week with a man-of-the-match performance.
“I’m really enjoying [my football], it’s a bit of a surprise to me as I’m working a lot harder than I used to so that’s the main thing,” he said.
“I had belief in myself that I could do it, it’s just about proving it.”
The reigning NPL Victoria champions are intent on going back-to-back, and Paczkowski says squad depth – he has been keeping the likes of FFV Gold Medallist Kamal Ibrahim and youngster Danny Charalambous waiting in the wings – is the key to a sustained title challenge.
“It’s brilliant we’ve got a great squad and a lot of players have got quite a lot of experience so hopefully we just keep going well and stay up [near the top].”
With the win over Pascoe Vale Bentleigh sit third on 19 points, just three off South Melbourne at the top of the table.
Their good early start is largely down to the form of Paczkowski who says his experience has helped him find his feet quickly in the NPL.
“I’ve played at a good level back home so I’ve felt pretty confident coming into it,” he said.
“I think I’m doing alright so let’s hope I can carry on.”
Bentleigh travel to an in form Green Gully this weekend in a third versus fourth fixture that they will see as a must win to stay in touch with top two sides Heidelberg United and South Melbourne.
Something they’ll have to be wary of is an apparent trend this season to start strongly in first, but drop off in second halves – in part due to amassing early leads.
“It’s quite odd really, once we get two or three up we just seem to take the foot off the gas,” Paczkowski said.
“I don’t think we mean to but that’s just how the game pans out really.
“The opposition’s got to come out and obviously try and get goals back in the game so it’s just up to us boys to dig in and make sure we get through.”
Paczkowski and his team-mates will want to make sure they can change that as they look to secure the title for the second successive season.
Photo: Con Deves