Image: Matt Johnson
Newly-signed Avondale FC goalkeeper Chris Oldfield has joined A-League ladder leaders Sydney FC on an eight-week injury replacement contract.
The reigning NPL Goalkeeper of the Year will replace the injured Vedran Janjetovic in the senior squad as Graham Arnold’s men look to continue their undefeated start to the 2016-17 campaign.
Born in Liverpool, the former Republic of Ireland youth international began his career at Anfield where he progressed through the Reds junior set up before spending time with the senior team in 2009/10 under Rafael Benitez.
Spells at Chester City and Welsh Premier League club Bangor City followed, with Oldfield helping The Citizens claim league honours in 2010/11.
He moved to Melbourne in 2012 by joining Hume City and spent the next five seasons plying his trade at ABD Stadium where he made 121 league appearances.
The 25 year-old was a major part of City’s run to the FFA Cup semi-finals in 2015 where he made a number of telling contributions as Lou Acevski’s side earned plenty of plaudits for their never-say-die attitude before losing 3-0 to eventual Champions Victory in the last four.
His impressive all round performances saw him earn a trail with the Central Coast Mariners in November of last year alongside former Bentleigh Greens shot-stopper Alastair Bray, with the latter getting the nod for a prized first-team senior contract.
Another outstanding year in 2016 saw Oldfield collect his second NPL Goalkeeper of the Year award having previously won the same honour in 2014 in addition to being named TCF’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015.
He recently departed Hume City to pursue a new opportunity and promptly joined the ambitious Avondale, with his permanent residency coming through last week, making him eligible as a non-visa.
Oldfield is expected to sit on the bench in tomorrow’s night fixture against the last-placed Adelaide United at the Sydney Football Stadium.
In other goalkeeping news, Melbourne Victory have signed Matt Acton as a replacement for Alastair Bray, after news surfaced that he’d undergone a shoulder reconstruction.
The former Brisbane Roar man signs on from the Pilipino top-flight, where the 24-year-old last featured for Kaya FC, spending just under a year with the club and making 26 appearances.
Acton made his debut and appeared twice for Brisbane Roar in the 2013-2014 A-League season, and spent two stints at the club before making the move to South-East Asia, via a spell at NPL QLD club Olympic FC.
The Townsville-born shot-stopper has also made two appearances for the Young Socceroos.