Golden Soft Sombrero Moment

with Alistair Edwards

Overseas Clubs:

Millwill (England), Singapore, Johore (Malaysia)

NSL Clubs:

Sydney Olympic, PERTH GLORY

Green & Gold Honors:

Socceroo appearances: 22 Goals: 5

Other: Young Socceroos Under 20's

Diegos Verdict:

Archetypal football journeyman who, like a pre-plucked Chicken Treat Chicken, has come home to roost.

Largely unheralded for his football exploits overseas and with the Socceroos over many years 'Big Al' will go down as a thorough professional and a Sandgroper legend.

 

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Alistair Edwards

Edwards on being the 'Journeyman' of Aussie soccer…

Diegos: " The Diegos describe you as the 'Journeyman' of Aussie soccer. It seems that in the past, wherever you laid down your jockstrap, you called home.

Have you decided that Perth Glory is the place you want to be in the long term?"

Edwards: " I'm actually originally from Perth. I grew up and went to school here. Coming back to play for the Glory is like coming home for me.

Hopefully it's my last stop. I always planned to come back to Perth at some stage during my career. When the club first entered the national league it wasn't the right time for me to return because I was midway through a deal in Malaysia.

Recently though the Asian financial crisis forced all foreigners out of Malaysia so it was a great time to take the opportunity to come home and play. It's been a perfect move. I'm really enjoying it."

Diegos: " Your extensive soccer travels make you ideally placed to compile a book such as 'Alistair Edwards - Traveling Sandgroper - Lonely Planet Guide'.

You've experienced the culture and football in Malaysia, Singapore, Scotland and England.

In which country did you enjoy your football most and have you succeeded in finding a restaurant in Perth that has fish head curry, Singapore noodles, haggis and warm beer on it's menu?"

Edwards: " Out of all the places, I think the best for me was Malaysia and Singapore. We have found a restaurant in Fremantle that has authentic Chinese/ Malay food but unfortunately they don't serve haggis and beer. We have found a dish that my wife and I used to have for breakfast in Malaysia called curry laksa but its not the same so we are still searching."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999


Edwards on Bernd Stange…

Diegos: " You've had more coaches than the Diegos have had gut- rotting shots of home made tequila.

What are your impressions of Glory coach, Bernd Stange and what does he bring to Aussie soccer that has been lacking in the past?"

Edwards: " I think he is very good. He obviously has the credentials. Throughout his career he has coached a lot of very good players in addition to the East German national team.

He is such a likeable kind of guy. He has some very good ideas about the game and makes training very interesting. He treats all the players with the utmost respect and receives that in return.

I think that he has been a breath of fresh air for the game here, even though I believe there are some very good coaches in Australia."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999