Photo: Mark Avellino
With the European Championships in France entering its latter stages, TCF decided to theorise what an NPL Victoria Best of Britain and Rest of Europe side would look like, and which hypothetical team would prevail in a battle of our league’s best European representatives.
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Best of Britain
GK: Chris May (Avondale and England)
The 30-year-old began his career in the Championship with Brighton Hove and Albion before moving to Melbourne in 2012 where he featured for the relegated Heidelberg United. Three years at the Melbourne Knights saw him establish himself as one of the league’s best goalkeepers, winning the 2015 NPL Goalkeeper of the Year award, before joining Avondale this season.
RCB: Daniel Jones (Green Gully and England)
One of the leagues most experienced defenders, the 33-year-old arrived in Australia well over a decade ago where he had a five-year spell with Heidelberg United. He moved to Gully in 2010 and has won two Championships and a Dockerty Cup with the Keilor East based side, as well as establishing a solid defensive partnership with Rodrigo Vargas.
CB: Jack Webster (Bentleigh Greens and England)
Arrived in the country as an 18-year-old in 2009, featuring for Sunshine George Cross. Moved to Bentleigh a season later and is now considered to be the league’s standout defender, helping the Greens win the 2015 Championship and is on the verge of making his 150th league appearance for the 2015 FFA Cup semi-finalists.
LCB: Luke Byles (Heidelberg United and England)
Hailing from the South-coast of England, the 32-year-old was part of Southampton’s reserves earlier in his career before making the move to the Bergers in 2010. Moved to rivals South in 2012 before returning to Olympic Village in 2013, going onto captain the club. He recently celebrated his 100th league appearance for the 2015 FFA Cup quarter-finalists.
DM: Ben Surey (Melbourne Knights and England)
An apprentice at Crystal Palace in the formative years of his senior career, the 33-year-old moved to Somers Street in 2010 where he has been ever since. A current long-term injury casualty, much of his time at the Knights has been disrupted by injury although he captained the club to the 2014 Dockerty Cup and has made 118 league appearances for the two-time NSL Champions.
CM: Wayne Wallace (Bentleigh Greens and England)
The imposing 32-year-old central midfielder featured in the lower leagues of English football before migrating to Melbourne in 2008 where he featured for Andy O’Dell’s Sunshine George Cross for two seasons. Returned back home in 2010 before joining O’Dell at the Greens in 2011 where he has gone on to captain the club to last year’s Championship and memorable 2014 FFA Cup campaign.
CM: Harry Noon (Heidelberg United and England)
Formerly part of Manchester City’s youth academy, the Mancunian moved to Olympic Village at the beginning of the season from Queensland NPL side Mitchelton FC. The 23-year-old has been in stellar form for George Katsakis’ side this season, netting seven in 17 from midfield and is unmistakable on the pitch where he roams around sporting his golden locks hairdo.
RW: Nick Hegarty (Hume City and England)
The left-footer reverts to the right side of the field but is comfortable across a number of positions in midfield and up forward. Played League One with Grimsby Town as well as featuring in the Scottish Premiership with St Mirren. The Hume skipper celebrated his 30th birthday on the weekend by making his 100th league appearance for the club he joined in 2012.
LW: Sean Ellis (Heidelberg United and Scotland)
The only non-Englishman in the starting eleven, the Scottish forward stormed NPL2 last season following his exploits with the Goulburn Valley Suns where he developed a sound partnership with Craig Carley. Joined the Bergers ahead of this season where he has stood out despite some injury troubles, with his set-piece delivery causing plenty of trouble for opposition defences.
ST: Tom Cahill (Hume City and England)
The ex-Rotherham United marksman found his way to Australia in 2012 where he first featured for Sunshine George Cross. A mid-season move to Richmond followed before departing for Green Gully in 2013. However he returned back to Richmond shortly afterwards where in total he netted 61 goals in 73 games, captaining the club to the 2015 NPL2 Championship.
ST: Craig Carley (Hume City and England)
The 31-year-old forward completes the starting eleven and has been in great form of late – scoring six in his first four games at City. Partnered Shane Smeltz up front for AFC Wimbledon and was capped by England’s C team, he moved to regional Victoria in 2010 where he developed a knack for scoring goals at Cobram Victory, Shepparton South and the Goulburn Valley Suns.
Substitutes:
Shaun Kelly (Port Melbourne Sharks and England)
The 27-year-old Sharks skipper was born in Liverpool and featured professionally for Chester City in League Two before moving to Australia in 2012 where he first played for Shepparton United. A move to South Melbourne followed in 2013 before a lengthy-injury saw him miss the entire 2014 campaign. Has plied his trade at JL Murphy Reserve since, with younger brother James currently at the Moreland Zebras.
Aron Wilford (Oakleigh Cannons and England)
A seasoned veteran, the 34-year-old forward turned centre-back began his career with Middlesbrough in the Premier League at the turn of the millennium. He moved to Melbourne in 2008, initially appearing for the Southern Stars before winning the 2009 VPL Premiership with Dandenong Thunder. Moved to Bentleigh in 2011 before joining rivals Oakleigh three years later.
John Black (Oakleigh Cannons and Northern Ireland)
One of two non-Englishman in the 17-man squad, the 27-year-old versatile defender won the NIFL Premiership with Glentoran which saw him play Champions League football. Joined State League One outfit Malvern City ahead of the 2014 campaign before making a mid-season switch to the Cannons. Can also play in central midfield and recently attended his country’s Euro fixtures in France.
James McGarry (Melbourne Knights and England)
The 27-year-old midfield engine was part of the reserves at Hull City before joining Andy O’Dell’s large expatriate contingent at Bentleigh in 2011. Was at Bulleen the following season before moving back to the top-flight in mid-2013 by joining the Knights. Has played 60 league games under Andrew Marth and galvanised their midfield alongside compatriot Surey.
Matthew Breeze (Green Gully and England)
Currently a long-term injury casualty, he previously piled his trade with Peterborough United and Worchester City before impressing in a year-long stint with Bendigo City in 2014. He moved to Gully last season and was one of the league’s most dangerous wingers. His injury might allow current teammate and fellow English winger Jay Davies a place on the bench instead.
Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United and England)
The 22 year-old has been injury maligned this season but has been one of the league’s standout forwards in the first two years of the NPL where he developed an effective strike partnership with Dan Heffernan. Although born in Australia, he has spent the majority of his life in England where he was a teammate of an on-loan Harry Kane at Leyton Orient.
Manager: Chris Taylor (South Melbourne and England)
The Leicester-born and bred former Sunshine City forward arrived in Melbourne in the early 80s and played in the same school side as Gary Lineker. Has carved up a successful coaching career in the VPL with the likes of Green Gully, Altona East Phoenix, Sunshine George Cross, Melbourne Knights, Dandenong Thunder and is currently at South Melbourne.
Rest of Europe
GK: Chris Oldfield (Hume City and Republic of Ireland)
While we may know Oldfield as an Englishman, the former Liverpool FC junior actually played his youth football in the Republic of Ireland set-up where he was capped at Under 21 level. Liverpool-born and bred, he has made 115 league appearances for Hume since moving to Melbourne in 2012.
RB: Phil Petreski (Heidelberg United and Macedonia)
The new Heidelberg United recruit has been overlooked for Australia at youth level, despite captaining a largely successful Melbourne City side for two years. Instead, he has opted to field the calls of the Republic of Macedonia to represent their U21 side, where he ironically featured in a 3-1 victory against the Olyroos last September.
CB: Geert-Arend Roorda (Richmond SC and Netherlands)
The signing that arguably most piqued the interest of the Victorian footballing pubic in pre-season was that of the former Netherland’s Under-21 utility. He made over 70 Eredivisie appearances turning out for SC Heerenveen, Excelsior and NEC, before moving into the second tier of Dutch football with Sparta Rotterdam and FC Dordrecht.
CB: Michalis Karvouniaris (Northcote City and Greece)
Recruited at the start of the 2016 NPL Victoria season, Northcote secured the services of the promising young centre-half, who had never played club football outside of his native Greece. Spent time with lower league clubs Aris Soudas, Ergotelis FC, Kissamikos FC and finally second-division side Panachaiki FC, a club formerly managed by Ange Postecoglou.
LB: Tim Purcell (Melbourne Knights and Republic of Ireland)
The versatile Melbourne Knights’ midfielder is in his sixth season in Australia, after spending four years with Richmond SC and half a season with Dandenong Thunder in their relegation campaign in 2015. A former Irish youth international, Purcell won an Irish First Division title with University College Dublin A.F.C, earning promotion to the top flight.
CM: Matteo Ballan (Bulleen Lions and Italy)
The charismatic playmaker and reigning NPL2 Gold Medal winner played lower league football in his native Italy before moving to Waikato FC in New Zealand, eventually making his way to Bulleen Lions via a stint with State League 2 club Fawkner Blues, where he won a best and fairest award.
CM: Alan Kearney (Port Melbourne Sharks and Republic of Ireland)
Born in Cork, Ireland, Kearney spent his junior days within the Everton FC set-up, featuring on loan with lower league Chester City and Irish outfits Waterford United – former home of Tim Purcell – and Cobh Ramblers. The midfielder moved to Australia in 2009, where he’s turned out for Southern Stars, South Melbourne, Dandenong Thunder and now Port Melbourne Sharks.
AM: Andreas Govas (Heidelberg United and Greece)
The Melbourne-born playmaker moved to England as a teenager to play with Portsmouth FC’s youth team, where a battle for his national allegiance was struck between Australia and Greece. He was capped for both countries at youth level, but failed to appear at senior level, in a career that’s seen him largely feature in the Greek Second Division and Australia – save for a six-month stint at Ligue 2 side Troyes.
RW: Ryan Paczkowski (Bentleigh Greens and Poland)
The 2015 State League One Golden Boot winner may be the closest man to towing the line between the two sides, but we’re claiming him as Polish for the sake of balance. His Polish roots come courtesy of his grandfather, and it appears he’s well and truly on their bandwagon for Euro 2016; they’re in the final eight after all.
Boring boring England ?? don’t deserve to go through if we can’t beat Russia and Slovakia… #struggling #gladimpolish #morehope ?
— Ryan Paczkowski (@ryanpaczkowski) June 20, 2016
ST: Manuel Padilla Herrero (South Melbourne and Spain)
South Melbourne’s mid-season recruit joined on loan from recently promoted La Liga side Deportivo Leganes in the outskirts of Madrid. Affectionately known as Manolo, the Spaniard will be hoping to prove his worth after a promising first few outings, which included a debut goal in Friday night’s 3-2 win over Richmond SC.
LW: Davey van ‘t Schip (Pascoe Vale and Netherlands)
Son of current Melbourne City coach John van ‘t Schip, the tricky forward moved to Australia in 2010 where he made a big impact on the league in his debut season with Richmond SC. An ACL injury curtailed his progress, before moving to Pascoe Vale in 2013, where he’s been since. Played for various youth teams in the Netherlands before moving Down Under.
Substitutes:
Tony Foglia (Richmond SC and France)
Richmond’s newest mid-season recruit is yet to feature for his new club, but was sat on the bench as South Melbourne triumphed 3-2 on Friday night. The French goalkeeper joined from French Fourth Division side Stade Bordelais, and will have to displace Gian Tapia for a starting berth.
Michele Crazia (Avondale FC and Italy)
The veteran centre-half joined Avondale in 2014, and was a part of their promotion winning squad into the NPL. Spent his junior days in the Italian lower leagues before moving to Australia via Palm Beach Sharks in Queensland.
Oleksiy Khrapko (Avondale FC and Ukraine)
The Lviv-born forward moved across to Australia with his family at the age of 12 and has played his senior football at various levels of the Victorian footballing pyramid, turning out for Western Suburbs, Port Melbourne Sharks, Bulleen Lions and Altona Magic before settling with Avondale, where he’s been since 2014.
Shaun Timmins (Hume City and Republic of Ireland)
Much like Hume City custodian and fellow countryman Chris Oldfield, the English fullback was capped once for the Republic of Ireland Under 21’s, before moving to Australia in 2013. A year-long stint in New Zealand followed, where he made three A-League appearances after signing on with Wellington Phoenix on an injury replacement contract, eventually settling at ABD Stadium via Green Gully and South Melbourne.
Alan Mulcahy (Richmond SC and Republic of Ireland)
The 32-year-old midfielder is the fifth Irishman in this team, and comes with a wealth of experience from the domestic leagues of his home country. Current club Richmond SC is his sixth since moving Down Under in 2009, featuring for Springvale White Eagles, Southern Stars, Hume City, Dandenong Thunder and more recently Port Melbourne Sharks.
Souheil Azagane (Richmond SC and Spain)
Born in Almeira, the 24-year-old forward has played football with Spanish lower league clubs Club Deportivo la Unidad and CD Roquetas, as well as spending time with Liga BBVA club Malaga. Also known as Sergio Msahli, he completes a healthy European contingent at Richmond, having recently exited Hume City, the club he joined last September from Hume United.