Image: Mark Avellino
After a successful campaign in 2016 with league premiers Bentleigh Greens, Liam McCormick is looking for “change to freshen things up” in a search for more silverware.
“At Bentleigh the standards were always high, as well as their ambitions. Once you win silverware, it is a feeling you want again, like an addiction,” McCormick stated.
With such a big year at Bentleigh, it is hard to imagine where one might go from there.
Winning a title and a quarter-final appearance against A-League giants Melbourne Victory in the FFA cup would be a dream come true in many peoples’ eyes, however the versatile fullback says the lure of constant title pushes and great facilities played a major part in his decision to move to South Melbourne for the upcoming 2017 season.
“My time at Bentleigh was very enjoyable and successful. They always looked after me and I take a lot of long-term friends from the club,” McCormick said when asked if a move to a fellow NPL title contender may cause issues on and off the field. “For me it is all mutual respect and I don’t think I will cop any flak.”
A cup run is any club’s dream and Bentleigh strung together a big one, which included notching up a hard-fought win that came down to a penalty shoot-out against Metrostars SC and a 1-0 win over Devonport City.
“We knew what we were playing for in the cup. It was a great feeling winning interstate and advancing to the next rounds.”
McCormick is well known for winning the popular TV show ‘Football Superstar’. His reward was a one-year contract at A-League outfit Brisbane Roar.
However, after the one-year stint was over, he made the move down from Brisbane to Victoria, settling at Southern Stars in 2012. After one season he made the move to Bentleigh, and after three seasons he helped bring a title back to Bentleigh.
McCormick is looking at a role in the middle of the park, but in a well-rounded squad like South Melbourne, he could see time in a few different roles on the park.
He is known for being a versatile and tough player who can play in the midfield or backline, making the acquisition a strong one for South Melbourne.
“Pre-season has been great so far, and after three games we are building nicely. The transition has been easy and the players and coaches have been positive and very respectful,” he stated, also adding: “I wouldn’t have come to South if I didn’t think I could win something. Next year I just hope I can bring something to the table and go on to be successful.”
South Melbourne are looking to push for more silverware, making it clear by adding Francesco Stella, Stefan Zinni, Ajdin Fetahagic, Luke Pavlou and Jesse Daley alongside McCormick for the 2017 season.