To celebrate Australia Day, MM has looked though the archives to see how many Aussies have represented our Football League clubs.
Although Ray Baartz (Manchester United), Scott Jamieson, Aaron Mooy, Con Boutsianis (all Bolton Wanderers),David Carney, Liam Jacob and Alexandros Kyratzoglou (all Oldham Athletic) failed to make any impact plus Wigan Athletic’s summer signing Patrick Antelmi yet to feature a number of Australians have enjoyed success.
Stanley ‘Stan’ Ackerley: Full-back (United July 1957-June 1961, Oldham June 1961- August 1962)
Although born in Manchester, he made his debut for Australia in 1965. He began his career in United’s youth team before making the short journey to Boundary Park. He spent one season with Oldham and made just two appearances in the 1962 Easter period. The following season he played 17 times for Altrincham. He coached a number of Australian teams once his playing days ended.
Danny Allsopp: Striker (Manchester City August 1998-December 2000)
City decided to take Allsopp on trial and then paid £10,000 as they prepared for Second Division (League One) football in 1998. He scored four goals that season as City won promotion back to the First Division (Championship) at the first attempt. After numerous loan spells he was sold for a profit, moving to Notts County for £300,000. After success with Hull City between 2003 and 2005 he played back in Australia and Qatar. He retired from professional football in October 2012 but continues to play for his boyhood club Croydon City Arrows.
Mark Bosnich: Goalkeeper (United June 1989-June 1991 & June 1999-January 2001)
He moved to England as a teenager in 1989 after playing for Sydney Croatia youth team. He signed non-contract forms at Old Trafford and made his debut as an 18-year-old. He made two further appearances before being released in June 1991. He spent a season with Sydney United before returning to England with Aston Villa. After the Reds won the treble in 1999 they needed a replacement for Peter Schmeichel and Bosnich was chosen as his successor. In the first season of his second spell at Old Trafford he won the Premier League and the Intercontinental Cup. However World Cup-winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez joined in 2000 and Bosnich never played for United again. He moved to Chelsea in 2001 but was sacked a year later for failing a drugs test. Spells at Central Coast Mariners and Sydney Olympic followed before retirement in 2009. Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him a ‘terrible professional’ in his latest autobiography but was the only player to be signed twice by the Scot for United.
Dean Bouzanis: Goalkeeper (Oldham November 2011-May 2013)
Having spent the majority of his youth career in Australia, Bouzanis moved to Liverpool in January 2007. Their manager at the time Rafa Benitez pronounced him ‘the best young goalkeeper in the world for his age.’ He signed for Oldham in 2011 to provide cover – this meant being an unused substitute at Anfield in an FA Cup tie against his former team. In February 2012 he signed a contract until the end of the season and later extended it for another season. He started as Latics defeated Liverpool in a reverse of the previous season’s FA Cup tie in January 2013. He gained notoriety in the next round against Everton for jumping with his hands while going for a corner as Matt Smith equalised. He currently plays for Greek side Aris FC and has represented both Australia and Greece at youth level.
Shane Cansdell-Sheriff: Left-back/Centre-back (Rochdale November 2002-December 2002 & January 2013-April 2013)
His first spell at Spotland was on loan from Leeds United and was four games long. He returned for another loan spell more than a decade later, this time from Preston North End. He made 17 appearances in his second term.
Alex Cisak: Goalkeeper (Oldham July 2011-June 2013)
Born in Poland, he moved to Australia aged two. Cisak was a product of Leicester City’s youth academy and moved to Boundary Park in 2011 after a season with Accrington Stanley. After spending his first season as number one he was replaced by compatriot Bouzanis due to a contract dispute. He left last summer having played 59 times and is now at Burnley.
Simon Colosimo: Centre-back (City July 2001-January 2002)
He decided to join City after seeking a move from Australia to Europe. He made his debut against West Bromwich Albion in September 2001 but only made six substitute appearances in the league and a solitary start in the League Cup. During his career he also played in Belgium, Malaysia and Turkey. The 26-time Australia international is currently playing for Dempo of the Indian I-League.
John Filan: Goalkeeper (Wigan December 2001-July 2007)
Wigan paid £600,000 for his services after impressing at Blackburn Rovers. He had to wait until September 2005 to play for them in their debut Premier League season because of injury but had previously just missed one game. That same season he played in the League Cup final against United. The two-time Australian international made his last Wigan appearance in April 2007 just before his release.
Doug Hodgson: Centre-back (Oldham February 1997-October 1998)
Originally a forward in his native Australia he played both up front and in defence for Oldham. The after-effects of a serious car crash at the age of 15 forced him to retire early, in 2000. He made 41 appearances for Latics, scoring four goals, after crossing the Pennines from Sheffield United.
Neil Kilkenny: Midfielder (Oldham November 2004-May 2005 &July 2007- January 2008)
Born in London but raised in Australia, Kilkenny chose to represent Australia despite playing for England at youth level. He arrived to Boundary Park alongside Lee Croft and Mark Hughes on loan to help bolster Oldham’s survival chances in November 2004. His first spell included two goals on full debut, taking the free kick which led to the goal that knocked City out of the FA Cup and claiming Oldham’s Players’ Young Player of the Season award. He returned two years later, again on loan, and was almost signed permanently as a fee was agreed with Birmingham City. However, he opted for Leeds having played a key role in Oldham becoming the first team that season to win a League game at Elland Road just a few days earlier, in his last appearance. He has 14 international caps and is currently with Preston.
Leslie ‘Les’ Pogliacomi: Goalkeeper (Oldham July 2002-August 2005 & June 2006-February 2008)
Of Argentinian descent, Pogliacomi was born in Australia and moved to England aged 18 with the aim of becoming a professional footballer. Oldham signed him after unsuccessful trials elsewhere and he helped the team reach the play-offs in his first season by claiming a record 19 clean sheets. He made 141 appearances in his first spell and returned in 2006 after a season with Blackpool. He once again qualified for the play-offs but was injured in the semi-final first leg against his former club – Blackpool. This injury meant he never played for Latics again, forcing him to return home.
Josip Skoko: Centre midfield (Wigan June 2005-May 2008)
Ahead of their debut Premier League campaign, Wigan paid the equivalent to 1million Euros to buy Skoko from Turkish club Gençlerbirliği. He made just five appearances during his first season and was loaned out to Stoke City in January 2006. He returned to Wigan and made a further 30 appearances before his release because his international retirement left him unable to renew his visa and he had not play enough games to trigger a clause in his contract. He retired in 2011 after spells at Hajduk Split and Melbourne Heart.
Danny Tiatto: Left-back/Midfield (City July 1998- July 2004)
After a spell loan at Stoke City, the Citizens paid Swiss side Baden £300,000 for Tiatto. He won promotion to the Premier League in his second season with City. The following year the Blues were relegated but he won their Player of the Year gong. The 2001-02 campaign saw promotion back to the top-flight. Injuries and ill-discipline restricted playing time in his last two seasons with City so he was released once his contract expired.
Jason van Blerk: Midfield (City August 1997-March 1998, Stockport County August 2001-January 2002)
City became the eighth club of a much-travelled career in 1997 when he signed on a free. The midfielder could also play in defence but only played 19 times for the Citizens. After three years with West Brom he moved to Edgeley Park. He made 13 appearances for County.
James Wesolowski: Centre midfield (Oldham Athletic August 2011-present)
His ambition was to play football in England and after his team Northern Spirit folded he moved, aged just 14. Highly-rated as a youngster, injuries curtailed his progress at Leicester where he spent eight years. He moved to Peterborough United for an undisclosed sum and won the League One Play-off Final in 2011. He remained in the division however as he linked up with former teammate Paul Dickov at Oldham. He is fast approaching 100 appearances for the club, three of which have been against Liverpool – the team he supported when he was younger. Having fractured his cheekbone against Mansfield Town he is currently playing with a protective mask leading to manager Lee Johnson calling him a ‘real winner’.
Image courtesy of ALeagueHD via YouTube, with thanks.
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