Melbourne Heart Youth team captain Ross Archibald has praised his former NPL Queensland club, Olympic FC, after returning to Goodwin Park on Saturday in the National Youth League against Brisbane Roar.

Archibald scored the opening goal at his old stomping ground to help lead his side to a last-gasp 2-1 win over a Roar side that featured Archibald’s former Olympic teammates Jai Ingham and Costa Psaros.

Following two years in the Roar youth programme, Archibald was recognised as the club’s National Youth League Player of the Year last season, however he was overlooked for this year’s squad, meaning he had to seek other opportunities.

Speaking after the match, Archibald said it was a happy homecoming after he departed Olympic to link up with A-League club Heart midway through the NPL Queensland season.

“It’s good to come back to Brisbane where I trained and played for three years and I really enjoyed being back at Goodwin Park where I played my football not long ago,” Archibald said.

Archibald’s goal came in the first half for the visitors amidst a crowded penalty area, however the centre half compared it unfavourably to his previous goal at Goodwin Park – a spectacular long range effort against Sunshine Coast Fire.

“It was a bit of a tap-in, so I wouldn’t say it was the same standard,” Archibald said comparing the two strikes.

“It’s good to get a goal though, especially playing at the back. Every defender loves to get a goal when they can, so it was good.”

Archibald said he had no regrets about the path his career has taken, saying he was happy to be back in Victorian capital after spending time there as a youngster with junior club Waverley.

“Some things work out and some don’t. I loved my time at Brisbane but I’m equally enjoying my time at Melbourne Heart.”

“It’s a great coaching staff down there with John Aloisi, Hayden Foxe and John Palatsides, who is the youth team coach. He’s got the boys playing a good brand of football and two wins from two we can’t complain at the start of the season.”

Asked how he came to Heart’s attention, Archibald was quick to point out that A-League clubs are regularly on the look out for new talent and that the National Premier Leagues and National Youth League offers a shop window for aspiring footballers.

“There’s always people watching. That’s the good thing about the leagues in Australia now, you don’t know who is watching so each game you’ve got to go out and perform.”

“Luckily I got picked up and the rest is history now I’m down in Melbourne,” he said contentedly.

Ever the club man, Archibald answered an SOS from Olympic during the National Premier Leagues season, returning from Melbourne to play against Sunshine Coast Fire when the Olympic squad was depleted with injury and suspension.

“(I had) no hesitations in coming to help the team out against Sunshine Coast Fire. We managed to get a win that day and the boys took it all the way and went to win the title.”

“I would’ve loved to have been there to celebrate with them all but, you know, that’s football and sometimes you miss out on stuff like that. But I love this club and they’ve done a lot for me.”

While deployed mainly as a holding midfielder in his time at Olympic, Archibald has been crafted into a composed and efficient centre half at Heart. It’s a role Archibald is relishing.

“It’s good to be versatile. You see a lot of good players that can play both roles, you’ve got to be versatile in this day and age in football and it’s good to get both positions under my belt when I can,” he explained.

The match also offered an opportunity for Archibald to test himself against his former teammate, and now Brisbane Roar youth player, Jai Ingham, in a competitive match setting.

“He’s a great bloke, he’s a great player as well. He had another fantastic season, and to be picked up by Roar, he definitely deserves that.”

“He’s pacey and he’s got some attributes that I’d love to have. It was a good battle you know, he’s a great player and he’s an even better person,” he gushed.

 

Words and Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)