Brandon O’Neill – Friday Five | The Football Centre

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Brandon O'Neill - Sydney FC

The reason you started playing football?

The reason I started playing football was I used to watch my cousins play in their local team and straight away there was connection between me and football. I loved the game straight off and wanted to get involved as soon as possible. I went to watch my cousins play one Sunday and the following Tuesday I was training with their team.

Best piece of advice given to you?

Probably from my old man. A lot of coaches and people in the game questioned my weight when I was younger (13,14). He used a quote saying “the cream always rises to the top with the right amount of stirring” pretty much saying you do the work and make the sacrifices and you can get to the top.

Greatest moment in your career?

Winning the Grand Final last year with Sydney FC and scoring a penalty in the shootout.

Biggest impact on your career?

Again, can’t go past the old man, the amount he has sacrificed for me to be where I am today is just mental. Hopefully I’ll be able to pay him back one day. As for coaches, junior days was Willie Herd at ECU Joondalup. Now its Graham Arnold.

Best advice you can give to up and coming youngsters?

Enjoy being young and learning football. To become a professional all you need to do is work as hard as you possibly can, sacrifice things you need to sacrifice and always enjoy what you do, otherwise there is no point in doing it.