Tara Murray
Marcus Day’s first season playing soccer in Australia couldn’t have gone any better than it did.
The Englishman played a key role in Whittlesea United earning promotion and then the title in FV state league 1 north-west.
He led the competition’s goal scoring before capping it off as he was named the most valuable player.
Day said he couldn’t have imagined the season he was going to have when he came out to Australia.
“Off the back of a good year, little bonus on the top,” he said.
“I didn’t know the whole situation with it all. To get voted for, especially by the referees I think it is, I’m buzzing with it all.”
Day said he was happy with how he played as he continued on his form from back home where he’d had a couple of good seasons after a long term knee injury.
He said he was confident coming to Australia, but didn’t really know what to expect at Whittlesea United.
“They really helped me,” he said. “They put together a good team and I don’t think I could have asked for much more out of Whittlesea and myself.
“Combination like that, that is what you get. It was more than I could have asked for.”
Day said he had always wanted to travel overseas and the opportunity to play soccer at the same time was a bonus.
It was a conversation with the workmate that got it all underway.
“He was over in the UK playing cricket,” he said. “He is from Melbourne and he’s like you’ve got to come to Melbourne and try football over in Melbourne.
“One day he was like I’m going back home, it’s time for you to come to Melbourne and play football.
“I knew someone at Caroline Springs George Cross and I messaged him and he put me onto Andy O’Dell, who was Whittlesea’s manager at the start of the season.
“Got the ball rolling with him and the rest is history. It was a no-brainer.”
Day and he and his partner fell in love with Melbourne and are itching to come back.
He’s already re-signed with Whittlesea United as it moves in the Victorian Premier League 2 competition.
It’s the highest level that the club has competed in.
“Seeing the club was really excited, that was the best thing about it,” Day said. “It’s something new for them and something new for me.
“I think we will give it a good go. With the squad that we have, I don’t think we’ll be that far off.”
In other awards, Uni Hill Eagles’ Danny Barakat won the most valuable player award for state league 2 north-west.
Uni Hill Eagles’ Karen Mae Alora won both the best and fairest award and leading goalscorer in the women’s state league 3 north.
In state league 4 north, Lalor United’s Sara Mickoska won both the best and fairest award and leading goalscorer.
