The second group of inductees into the Australian Legends is larger than I had intended, but as I went through the players I thought why not. They all deserve to make it. They’re induction is also a reaction to the first legends league, identifying our weaknesses and strengthening the squad.
So we have 10 new players, a mixture of those recently retired to those in their 50’s. Some inductees are symbolic and are won’t make the starting team, but thoroughly deserve their place through long term club and national team service.
Others are less well known or had limited opportunities with the national team when wings became the dominant tactic, leaving the short passing specialists to knock it around in the reserves while watching on from the stands.
So far wings has been avoided by all managers of their respective legends sides, it’s a silent collective agreement for the good of the game. It’s really given these games an old school feel, bringing variety and fun back to the matches. In a recent forum post gave an update as to how we performed
The current squad with their death or glory, attack and entertainment style had some good results and a few big losses.
Early on our subs weren’t coming off the bench and we got crunched hard, but once they came on things evened out. Fitting all our great strikers into that team was fun, but we need a bit more down back and in the midfield. So yes, some strikers will miss out in the next legends league.
Ivan Hogan has suggested his spot be given to someone else, as other teams are taking these legends leagues to seriously, so before he gets a long term injury he’ll move into an assistant coaching role for the Aussie legends.
Since this post Hal Guy has called and ask for the same deal, I’ve a feeling Ivan spoke with him about retiring for a second time together. I’ve accepted both their offers, as having our all time great keeper and the all time leading scorer in a single world cup on the coaching panel will only bolster the squad further.
| 20 |
Paz Beattie |
1 588 672 AUD |
21 560 AUD |
41 |
15 |
| 21 |
Fabrizio Whitmore |
1 842 785 AUD |
23 447 AUD |
56 |
-1 |
| 22 |
Roger Miller |
2 018 867 AUD |
25 780 AUD |
37 |
19 |
| 23 |
Neale Christini |
2 061 329 AUD |
26 072 AUD |
42 |
14 |
| 24 |
Amos Fazey |
2 128 183 AUD |
26 984 AUD |
39 |
17 |
| 25 |
Zackery Forrest |
1 904 564 AUD |
22 859 AUD |
54 |
2 |
| 26 |
Brandon Pickhills |
2 070 427 AUD |
24 416 AUD |
42 |
14 |
| 27 |
Elliot Cuddihy |
1 593 351 AUD |
20 597 AUD |
40 |
16 |
| 28 |
Connor Limmer |
1 832 194 AUD |
25 185 AUD |
44 |
12 |
| 29 |
Belton Fordham |
1 736 829 AUD |
29 953 AUD |
36 |
20 |
| 20 |
Paz Beattie |
1 588 672 AUD |
21 560 AUD |
41 |
15 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
29 |
168 |
| Goals |
0 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
1 |
After Hal Guy left the national team a few keepers came and went without much fanfare, none of them are remembered in the public imagination. Even Paz Beattie can be easily forgotten, as after an initial sale for just $50 000 as a 19 year old, he spent most of playing career in the Chinese lower divisions 2, 3. The team is inactive now, but Paz spent 12 years of his life there, he speaks fluent mandarin as a result and has a Chinese wife.
After brief stint with Wings on Ice in the Dutch Eredivise before they sold up, he spent the rest of his career in Turkey’s lower divisions, spending a couple of seasons with three sides before retiring with Abideturk JK in division 5.
He didn’t win any premier division titles or have any cup success and the end of his career with the national team coincided with the rise of Elliot Cuddihy who pushed him on to the bench during the successful 2013 Conferations Cup run. But still this was the crowning glory of his career, mentoring the younger Cuddihy through his first international tournament while he was in his last was as rewarding as being on the pitch for the final whistle.
So where do you live now?
In Turkey, the political climate is tenuous right now but life in general keeps on going. My eldest is entering the Aussie equivalent of High School, so I don’t move around much beyond short business trips or special occasions. But I’ll have to clear some time for the legends squad, half the games are in Europe though so I’ll be able to fly in and out quite easily. The longest hauls will be going back to Australia for our home games.
You played in a lot of lower leagues, how do they compare to your stint with Wings on Ice?
It really depends, the lower leagues of China and Turkey are tough. The main difference is the standard of players in front of you, Wings on Ice had a great squad, my time there was the most challenging and rewarding of my career.
Any favourite memories of the 2013 confed cup run?
It was clear from the management that Toss was giving his keeper the starting spot, but Elliot deserved it. He was good, we roomed together throughout that competition, with a lot time to chat things over both on the training park and in the evenings. It was his first international tournament, so I took him out for dinner a few times, introduced him to the family and showed him the healthy way to travel with the national team. Good times, a great way to go out of the international spotlight.
| 27 |
Elliot Cuddihy |
1 593 351 AUD |
20 597 AUD |
40 |
16 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
15 |
30 |
| Goals |
0 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
0 |
The contrast between the careers outside of the national team football couldn’t be more different for Cuddihy and Beattie. Cuddihy never left Australia only playing for two clubs, the second of which was Arrested Developers.
Their Cuddihy won 5 A-League titles and 4 National Cups. Including 3 League/Cup doubles and a run of 4 consecutive A-League title, both achievements occurred between season 47 and 50. Throw in a Bessie A League for the Lemon Turd, his National Team success in the Confederation Cup and he’s led a full career.
During the season I took over writing about the A-League I began running the A-Leagues keeping award for clean sheets in a season. It was a keeping competition to rival the top scorers award for strikers. The idea began while writing about Division 1 and in honour of the inaugural running the winner would have the competition named after them.
Nick Hanlen won Division 1 inaugural keeping award, so it was called Hanlen’s Hand Warmer’s. Cuddihy won the A-Leagues inaugural season and thus the Cuddly Sheet was born. A traditionally handwoven warm blanket made from farm raised Nepalese Mountain Yak fur has been given to each winner since. Current Shrewsbury Biscuits and national team keeper Bleyd Renney has won 3 of them.
But this is about Elliot, so our questions began with the Confed Cup. How was it being a part our only international tournament trophy in your first tournament as a starting player?
Surreal, I was somewhat of a captain’s pick by my Tosspot, but with the guidance of Paz I learnt on the job, he gave me advice and remains a great friend. We got extremely lucky when Uruguay upset Brazil in the other Semi-final, they dominated that game but came up short.
That was the beginning of people using wings and throughout the tournament we took full advantage of the benefits it gave us, in the end we won the final comfortably thanks to 4 goals from Rizzardo. I don’t know anyone else who has scored 4 goals in the final of any international competition. His performance guaranteed that we won.
There was a big Arrested Developers connection with that side?
Yeah, we had a great squad that won 4 consecutive A-League titles. I think 6 of the starting players in the final came from our domestic side. Hess in defensive, Miller and Wharton in Midfield, Rizzardo up front, Pincini on the wing, myself in goals and Alcock came off the bench. A couple more became Arrested Developers player soon after the tournament ended through transfers. Too bad they are inactive now.
You know, there aren’t any player functions for an inactive club, the only time we see each other is at the Rowdon Medal count.
How do you feel about the Cuddly Sheet?
Well I got the first one, they originally made two, one for the winner and the other to go on display. The second gets passed between the winner club to hang in the trophy room and a new one get commission each year for the player that wins. Renney’s got 3 now, I’ve got 2, but the first was a special moment, we never had a keeping award before.
Any input into the design, why Yak fur?
It doesn’t itch and retains heat.
The Defenders
| 21 |
Fabrizio Whitmore |
1 842 785 AUD |
23 447 AUD |
56 |
-1 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
30 |
102 |
| Goals |
0 |
7 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
2 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
6 |
Amazingly these clubs are all still around, Crimson Eagles took an extended break, but I’ve not been able to say that about any other player of this age to be inducted in the Legends hall of fame. Their manager Senile Old Men had this to say about his now retired player.
Whitmore played Welsh Premier League in one of the great teams of the era, and finished up playing in my mob for a while so had a successful run.
Despite only having 8 speed, Whitmore was sold for 9 million AUD or more twice. A fortune back in the day. His first sale occurred when he was 22-23 from The Smoking Tree to Mighty Morphing Sheep. With them he won 3 Welsh Premier League titles in 5 seasons before returning home to the Crimson Eagles and play out the rest of his career. Winning an A-League title, 3 national cups and a season 9 cup.
With only 8 speed and 5 ball control you’d struggle to sell for million these days?
I know right, but back then having 8 shooting and 9 tackling meant I could play forward and back. Ideal to be a supporting striker, the shooting came later but it was nice to have.
| 22 |
Roger Miller |
2 018 867 AUD |
25 780 AUD |
37 |
19 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
27 |
132 |
| Goals |
0 |
3 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
2 |
The boy from the Wodonga came a long way from his roots. Inter Wodonga have been a youth team for a long time. Winning one domestic U/18 title in season 37, then continuing on to this day as an active member while never achieving anything else. Grantow as well were getting better and almost made the A-League before selling Miller to Arrested Developers in season 46.
In 5 season at the club he won 4 national cup and 5 A-League titles, with 3 of them being league cup doubles. During this time he also won the Confed cup with the National team. This stunning period of success for Miller came between the ages of 26-30. Then it was off for a season in China, before retiring at his final club Trakia FC in Bulgaria.
But before anything else Miller was a player famed for succeeding with only 5 play intelligence, so our question to him was how do rate your own intelligence?
I was never going to be an academic, but I’m not an idiot if that’s what you’re getting at. Low Play Intelligence doesn’t affect how fast you train, just on the pitch. Football intelligence and general intelligence are different thing.
Should you ever write a biography, we came with a title from Wodonga to Bulgaria, what do you think?
Haha, if it stopped when my playing career ended then it would be spot on. Perhaps there should be a post career section, coming home without leaving.
How so?
In Bulgaria, I run a chain of car repair outlets. It’s a never ending supply of income. Do a good job for a reasonable price and the customers return. Though that doesn’t say much for their driving skills.
The Midfielders
| 23 |
Neale Christini |
2 061 329 AUD |
26 072 AUD |
42 |
14 |
Transfer History
| Date |
Team/Action |
|
Team |
Price (AUD) |
| 25-04-2009 |
Youth Joined |
|
Glasston |
|
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
9 |
120 |
| Goals |
0 |
1 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
2 |
A great player condemned to the bench and reserves of the national team because he was a short passing specialist in an era of wing play. He may have only had 8 speed, but passing, stamina, ball control and tackling were all 9’s and 10’s. We already have 2 other Glasston greats in the squad with Rowdon and Howard, Christini’s addition to the squad completes the trifecta of Glasston’s truly great players.
Rowdon is the only other one club player to make the squad, Christini is the second and they both come from the same club. That alone tells about the Glasston system of player development, think long term and let your squad play out their full careers.
At Glasston if you’re good enough you’ll retire there. Over the span of his Glasston career he won 2 A-League titles and 3 National Cups.
You were introduce into the National team setup just before the wings craze began, then relegated to the reserves and a few friendlies after the 2012 Confed Cup and 2013 World Cup qualifiers?
You can’t stop progress or someone finding a way to exploit the system that makes you go from an integral part of the first team, to a redundant player within a season.
You watched on from the stands as they Confed Cup was lifted, does that sour the achievement?
Well in some way it does, but the guys that played did a great job. I mean Australia winning the Confed Cup, the chances of it happening are so slim, you need a combination of tactical nouse, a good draw in the group stage, then luck to avoid the strongest sides in the playoffs and a terminal red card during matches. We had all of that come together. With the size of our club based, it’s unlikely to ever happen again.
Plus even though I didn’t play, I still have a medal as the whole squad received them regardless of who played the games. So I’m happy for them, but I would have loved being on the pitch.
| 28 |
Connor Limmer |
1 832 194 AUD |
25 185 AUD |
44 |
12 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
16 |
167 |
| Goals |
1 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
1 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
11 |
For a player many won’t remember Connor Limmer won more than you’d expect, he was a solid midfielder you could rely on to make the tackle, hit the pass and run out the game. His 8 speed and 6 aerial passing prevented him from being an elite player when the game changed, but with 9 stamina, passing, tackling and ball control he was a formidable midfielders at local club level.
Duffield United was his original club and thankfully he was a youth before name changes came along, or I’m sure Grinner would’ve changed it to Duffield Duffield. Before his first sale to Dribbler FC nothing really happened, but while there they won 3 A-League titles, 3 national up, 2 league/cup doubles and a season 7 cup.
A quick glance at the Dribblers current list shows they began a rebuild, but gave up soon after and have remained inactive for several seasons. His next sale took him back to Duffield United and won an A-League title with them, before being sold on again as another side went into a prolonged period of trying to rebuild and losing interest multiple times, only being completely inactive last season for the first time.
His season in Division 1 with Grantow was uneventful, then he came to my club, Amputees FC. He only spent one season with me before retiring, which after spending 2 million AUD was slightly frustrating, and this was before the new retirement, so his career simply ended.
Connor Limmer showed me the quality of player I needed to develop in order win the A-League and become a competitive club. Before I bought him I’d never got above Div 1, in his season with me we achieved promotion to the A-League.
You work as a coach for me now, would you say you’ve retired?
No, but I can’t complain, training the youngsters is thoroughly rewarding.
Any players kids that I should especially keep my eye on?
Well Graham maxed in AP at 6, a shame given his talent elsewhere, he’s a wait and what his tackling will be. Our graduating keeper Phillip Ludwick sent everyone into a what the… moment when he decided to become a striker, but maybe we can change his mind yet yet.
Other than that Dalton Finden looks good, cross the finger with that one, so far so good and I don’t want to jinx it, maybe we already have by discussing him.
The Strikers
| 25 |
Zackery Forrest |
1 904 564 AUD |
22 859 AUD |
54 |
2 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
30 |
110 |
| Goals |
34 |
86 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
3 |
Another Gods Eleven player makes the list, along with Brian Beattie. I wasn’t around back then and neither Beattie or Forrest played in side at the same time as each other. Which is crazy! Having 2 players of this quality come through your club and sell them on for the cash is ridiculous. These are once in a generation players, sell them and your club goes no where.
But I need to move on, he was sold to Crimson Eagles during their initial period of the game and retired there. This period time including his entire national team career in which he’s the 2nd highest scorer for Australia in World Cup and Confed Cup games. His career at Crimson Eagles mirrored Whitmore for success with 1 A-League Title, 3 national cups and a season 9 cup.
Not many players for Australia have scored more goals than cup games played?
It could’ve been more had I not been subject to bouts of clumsiness, don’t get me wrong I was great at individual skills and touch. But I got reading the play and anticipating where to be before the ball was played horribly wrong at times.
Do you play much these days?
No, but I’ll have to now. Finden played in the first league, any chance at lining up alongside him?
I’ll keep it in mind.
The Utilities
| 24 |
Amos Fazey |
2 128 183 AUD |
26 984 AUD |
39 |
17 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
1 |
36 |
| Goals |
0 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
0 |
I’ve no idea who Bye were before they changed their name as a farewell, but Bluedean was the username.
Fazey was young while at Bye, yet he was there when they won the A-League in season 37. His first sale was his last, spending the rest of his career at Shrewsbury Biscuits FC. Including all his national team career, which was cruelly spent in the reserves and friendly experimentation pre-qualifying matches.
At the end of his career his overall ability was almost on par with Murdock Rizzardo skills wise, yet because he was in the national team at the same time and played the same position he didn’t even make the bench because Pickhills was the preferred utility option.
At Shrewsbury Fazey won an A-League title in Season 51 and Season 15 Cup Season 46. Missing out on the National Cup season 53 and both Division Cup Season 52 & 53 – AU-CA-US Top League-Div1 because of retirement.
How do you feel about the lack of opportunities you had with the National Team?
Not much you can do at it. I would have loved to play more but I had to contend myself with a few friendlies. So I learnt to forget about it, focusing on my club form and the side was just coming good when I was on the way out. Ahhh, unfortunate really, but again there was little you can do when age starts to catch up.
| 26 |
Brandon Pickhills |
2 070 427 AUD |
24 416 AUD |
42 |
14 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
7 |
59 |
| Goals |
0 |
15 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
1 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
0 |
Pickhills lead the Australian Youth Academy from the Div 3 into the A-League for two seasons of 5th place finishes. With a best A-League haul of 36 goals in their final competitive season before a brief sale to Woodbury for a month while they were still in Division 1. I’m not sure why you would buy a player only to sell them on a month later with the high taxes reducing the profit margin, but we’ll never know why as Mylanta has left the game.
It was then on to Poland where his goals led Victoria Torun from division 5 to 3 before being sold mid-season 44 on to his final club Virao Extreme in Chile for another 4 seasons before retiring in season 48. 3 of those season were spent in the Campeonato Chileno, being relegated in the 3rd and the last in Division 1.
During this time he played a key role in taking Virao Extreme to their only ever National Cup title season 46. Coincidently this was Pickhills only Domestic Cup success with any club he played for and the period in which the 2013 Confederations Cup took place.
In the final years of your career everything came together?
I’m not sure why, some players go through their careers continuously helping out lower league teams to improve before being transferred to another one. I was lucky being a striker and could make a tangible difference to game results through scoring. Every club I played more than a season with was promoted, Virao Extreme eventually got demoted, but before that we won a national cup, the only one I’ve ever won.
This was happening at the same time as Australia won the Confed Cup?
Strange how after years of hard toil, it all happens at the same time. That was the only national team cup I was actively involved in from start to finish. Even as a sub I played most games. There wasn’t much left in me after that though. Perhaps one season more but it’s better to go out on a high.
Winger
| 29 |
Belton Fordham |
1 736 829 AUD |
29 953 AUD |
36 |
20 |
Transfer History
| National Team Stats Available |
Cup |
Friendlies |
| Matches |
17 |
91 |
| Goals |
1 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
2 |
Belton Fordham was there for all of Crystal Phallus’s high’s and low’s. Reaching the A-League, then selling up without realising the dream of winning the A-League, because of the Arrested Developers dominance. From youth to his first transfer he spent 15 seasons at Crystal Phallus, in other words he was 30 when he left for the first of 2 teams and 3 seasons in the Polish 2nd division.
His final transfer was listed in the knowledge that he had started to plan his retirement. Eric from Shrewsbury Biscuits and myself were interested in his services, but the price for a player who had 1 or 2 season left in him was too high and we both pulled out before SC Sardaukar put in the final bid. As things turned out his SC Sardaukar released him at the end of that season, a sad end for a player who could have retired with an Australian team.
Fordham won no national cups or premier league titles. His entrance into the national team came when Pincini began to deteriorate, replacing him as the starting winger. Belton was quick, his 10 speed made him a handful for any defender, deteriorations got to him in the end but still he deserves a spot in the legends team.
You were part of teams that were building towards something, but never achieved what they set out to do?
That’s true, at Crystal Phallus the results didn’t come and we finished mid table in all our A-League seasons. This led Damo to getting very frustrated with the game, as when he looked at the side on paper he thought he had a title contender, so he went into each of our 3 A-League seasons with high hope only to be let down. It eventually got to him and we were all sold.
Eric and I were bidding in your last transfer but it went to high, do players track who’s bidding on them?
Actually no, we’re blind from who is bidding on us. But we couldn’t influence the outcome anyway, you simply go to the highest bidder and hope it’s a decent club. Unfortunately no premier league contenders bought me and well, I was released. Though it happens to even the best as Rizzardo got the same raw deal.
Aussie Legends Original Youth Teams
Plainland – Ryan Pincini
Rutgers Utd – Donovan Kuch, Murdoch Rizzardo
Australian Youth Academy – Russ Colling, Brandon Pickhills
Hasslehoff Babes – Martin Cusbert
Milang – Jessop Howard
Katanning – Munroe Waterland
Chard City – Irwin Finden
Skoolage United – Bickford Bundy
Glasston – Cullen Rowdon, Neale Christini
The GunnerZ – Berke Kean
Crimson Eagles FC – Bo Boylin
Craven Cottagers FC – Berry Beverley
GoDs Eleven – Brain Beattie, Zackery Forrest
Telstra Utd – Bishop Lawrence
Hakea – Downing Beer
Manfred – Hal Guy
A Joke – Paz Beattie
Panthers – Elliot Cuddihy
The Smoking Tree – Fabrizio Whitmore
Inter Wodonga – Roger Miller
Duffield United – Connor Limmer
Bye – Amos Fazey
Crystal Phallus FC – Belton Fordham
Written by Scruttino
aussiezone 