Image: Graeme Furlong
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be presenting a series of ‘Get to know’ pieces looking at the careers of playing and coaching participants of the four NPL Victoria clubs in the national state of the FFA Cup, who progressed through the state qualifying rounds to reach the Round of 32 onwards. Today we look at Bentleigh Greens, who are hoping to replicate their 2014 heroics in reaching the semis – they start their national campaign in South Australia against MetroStars.
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Goalkeepers
Daniel Neesham Age: 28 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Former Green Gully junior who trialled with West Ham United over a decade ago before featuring for the likes of Richmond and the Oakleigh Cannons in the VPL. He is the club’s goalkeeper coach (succeeding the likes of Dean Anastasiadis and Peter Zois in that role) and is registered as their back-up as regular understudy Kile Kennedy is cup-tied.
Ryan Scott Age: 20 Games: 26 Goals: 0
Made his senior debut with childhood club Monbulk, who also unearthed former Melbourne Victory forward Danny Allsopp. The sports journalism student is rated as one of the state’s most promising young shot-stoppers. Joined Bentleigh at the beginning of 2015 after State League stints with Doveton and Mornington, before serving as Alastair Bray’s back-up and has made the step-up to first-choice this campaign.
Defenders
Nick Apostolopoulos Age: 19 Games: 6 Goals: 0
Teenager who joined the Greens mid-season after spending the last two years with the Adelaide United Youth Team with former Reds manager Josep Gombau, an admirer of the full-back. He captained Victoria to two national futsal championships and began his junior career with the Caulfield Cobras before being selected in the elite state NTC squad in 2012. Also spent a season in Spain in the youth ranks of Real Valladolid before returning to Australia in 2014.
Ross Archibald Age: 21 Games: 21 Goals: 2
Brisbane-born central defender who spent three years with the Brisbane Roar Youth team before moving to Melbourne City (then Heart) in 2013. Made his A-League debut with the club in their 4-0 derby triumph over Victory when he replaced Harry Kewell, but struggled to cement a first-team place and left for Germany where he spent some time with Fortuna Dusseldorf. Re-joined Bentleigh this campaign having previously featured five times for the Greens in 2014.
Josh Brindell-South Age: 23 Games: 16 Goals: 1
Another Brisbane native with A-League experience, he joined the Wellington Phoenix in 2013 from local NPL side Moreton Bay United. Spent two years in the Kiwi capital where, like Archibald, he made a total of four A-League appearances. Returned home where he played for Brisbane Premier League side Lions, featuring for them in the FFA Cup last season. Capable of playing in either full-back positions, he joined Bentleigh last summer.
Naim Delibajric Age: 18 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Local teenager who made his senior debut in 2013 as a 15-year-old for junior club Heatherton United, where he was coached by Kosovo Albanian legend Fadil Muriqi. Moved to Bentleigh mid-season last year and immediately helped the Greens 20s win the Championship, before being elevated to the senior list this campaign after impressing in a friendly against the Newcastle Jets last August.
Marinos Panayi Age: 21 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Yet to make his senior team league debut despite gaining valuable game time during pre-season, where he featured in the Greens 3-2 victory over a second-string Melbourne City outfit. Captained the 20s to the Championship last term despite missing a penalty in his side’s final round victory over the Oakleigh Cannons and has been a mainstay in 20s where he has primarily been utilised as a centre forward.
Luke Pilkington Age: 26 Games: 110 Goals: 5
Left back who has performed well in the centre of defence since Archibald sustained a shoulder-injury in mid-June. A Canberra-native who shot to prominence by winning the second series of reality TV show Football Superstar in 2009 and subsequently earned a contract with Melbourne Victory Youth. Two years at the club yielded three A-League appearances. Released by the club in mid-2011 and promptly joined the Greens whom he helped claim the 2015 NPL Championship.
Jack Webster Age: 26 Games: 151 Goals: 9
No-nonsense English defender who is the club’s longest serving player having arrived at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex in 2010 from Sunshine George Cross. A rock at the back, he has established himself as one of the best defenders outside the A-League and formed effective defensive partnerships with the likes of Aron Wilford, Steven Topalovic in the past and now Archibald. His older brother Byron plays for League One side Milwall, the former home of Socceroo Tim Cahill.
Midfielders
Kieran Dover Age: 19 Games: 4 Goals: 0
Originally hailing from Middlesbrough in the north-east of England, the skilful attacking midfielder was part of the Sunderland youth setup before his father accepted a role with construction company Grocon in 2010, where he helped construct AAMI Park. Made his senior breakthrough with Dandenong Thunder in 2013 before joining Melbourne Victory Youth in 2014, making his A-League debut as a late sub against Sydney. Has spent the last six weeks trialling with League Two outfit Hartlepool United after joining Bentleigh in May.
Tyson Holmes Age: 28 Games: 50 Goals: 10
Moved to Victoria as a teenager in 2005 where he made his senior debut for the Frankston Pines in the VPL. Returned home to Queensland afterwards to dominate all before him with hometown club Sunshine Coast Fire, where he won numerous individual and team honours. Joined Bentleigh last year after spending two years at rivals South Melbourne, winning the 2014 Championship. Has trialled for the likes of North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory in the A-League.
Kamal Ibrahim Age: 24 Games: 9 Goals: 1
Born in Ethiopia, he migrated to Melbourne in 2003 where his football talents earned an AIS scholarship in 2009. Was part of Melbourne Heart’s debut A-League season but was released after making four first-team appearances. Numerous state league stints with the likes of South Melbourne, Heidelberg United and Port Melbourne Sharks followed – winning the NPL Gold Medal with the latter last year. His start to life at Bentleigh has been riddled by injuries but he appears to be back in form at the moment.
Dion Kirk Age: 21 Games: 43 Goals: 0
Diminutive central midfielder who has primarily featured at right-back this season and will make a return to his hometown this evening. Part of the Adelaide United Youth team under Michael Valkanis before joining South Melbourne in mid-2014, where he played a minor role in their Championships success. Moved to Bentleigh the following season and will line up against best friend and Metro Stars defender Tim Henderson tonight, while his younger brother Jayden plays for the Stars’ reserves.
Liam McCormick Age: 24 Games: 90 Goals: 6
Born in Melbourne, he moved to the Gold Coast at a young age where he continued his development and like Pilkington earned fame by winning the third season of Football Superstar. After a spell in the Brisbane Roar Youth team, the versatile midfielder who is also capable of playing at full-back moved to Victoria in 2012 where he first played for the Southern Stars before joining Bentleigh the following season and often flies under the radar.
Troy Ruthven Age: 25 Games: 48 Goals: 7
Like Pilkington and McCormick, the Menai-born midfield enforcer was a finalist on Football Superstar. He later moved to Queensland and was instrumental in the Palm Beach Sharks’ run to the last eight of the 2014 FFA Cup, before joining Bentleigh the following season. Capable of playing anywhere across the centre of defence, he is a free-kick specialist with a knack of scoring crucial goals and likes to dominate the midfield, forming an effective partnership with captain Wallace.
Wayne Wallace Age: 32 Games: 126 Goals: 22
Hull-born talismanic skipper whose styles resembles that of compatriots Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. He first moved to Melbourne in 2008 where he played for Sunshine George Cross for two years before moving back home. Returned in 2011 by joining the Greens, and has scored two of the most memorable goals in the club’s history; a late equaliser against Adelaide City in the quarter-finals of the 2014 FFA Cup and the strike which gave Bentleigh the lead in last year’s Grand Final triumph over South.
Forwards
Chris Lucas Age: 24 Games: 50 Goals: 29
Pint-sized forward known for his pace and prolific strike rate who likes to play off defenders’ shoulders, like McCormick he was raised on the Gold Coast and featured for the now defunct Gold Coast United in their final A-League season. Was teammates with Ruthven as he helped Palm Beach reach the FFA Cup last eight two years back, before joining Bentleigh where he is once more leading the club’s goalscoring race.
John Maclean Age: 20 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Young forward who joined the club just yesterday having spent the better part of the last two years with the Melbourne Victory Youth. Made his senior debut with the Oakleigh Cannons in 2013 before moving to second-tier Kingston City the following season in an attempt to gain greater first-team opportunities. Impressed under Nick Tolios before helping Victory earn promotion in their inaugural NPL2 campaign, scoring 19 goals in 47 league games for the club.
Ryan Paczkowski Age: 26 Games: 22 Goals: 4
Powerful English forward of Polish heritage who played for the likes of non-league sides Gainsborough Trinity and Brigg Town before moving to Melbourne in 2014, where he joined State League One outfit Mornington. Won the league Golden Boot last year as he helped the Peninsula-based side claim the Championship before joining the Greens this season, and is so far impressing. Similar in both stature and style to Melbourne Victory forward Mitch Austin.
Matt Thurtell Age: 23 Games: 32 Goals: 20
The side’s seventh Queenslander, he was part of the same Brisbane Roar Youth team as Archibald and McCormick, while maintaining an incredible 113 goals in 97 games in all competitions for the Brisbane Strikers, which included a goal on the opening night of FFA Cup action in July 2014. Moved to Bentleigh the following season and was on track to win the Golden Boot before being sidelined by his second ACL injury, but is slowing getting back to peak fitness and form this year. His younger brother Jordan is a goalkeeper for Perth Glory Youth.
Manager: John Anastasiadis
Began his playing career with childhood club Heidelberg United before joining Greek giants PAOK Salonika in 1988, spending the next eight years at the club. Returned to Australia the following year, joining South Melbourne and scoring goals in successive Grand Final triumphs under Ange Postecoglou, before becoming the first and only Australian to score a goal at the Maracana. He returned to the club in a coaching capacity, helping it claim the 2006 VPL Championship before repeating that feat with Bentleigh last year after joining the club in mid-2011.
Coach: John Gabrielson
Anastasiadis’ long-time assistant, he carved up a successful club career which featured a spell with Heidelberg during their NSL heydays in the 1980s, as well as plying his trade for numerous state league clubs. A shrewd tactician, he won a VPL title with South in 2006 and linked up with his long-time friend and colleague at the Greens in 2011.
Assistant Coach: Kevin Taylor
English-born 20s coach who has spent some time on the senior team touchline over the course of the club’s FFA Cup qualifying campaign this year. He replaced club Technical Director Frank McGrellis as the Greens 20s boss last year, leading them to a Championship after a sustained period of success in the lower leagues with Seaford United. Affectionately known as ‘Squizzy’, he is a life-long Derby County supporter.