Socceroo Lucas Neill's Days As A Newbie

EXCLUSIVE: It’s hard to believe but Lucas Neill started out his illustrious Socceroo career in the green and gold forward line, as the Socceroo central defender and captain explained.

At the announcement of the Lucas Neill Scholarship Award winner, Neill, 33, recalled a time when he wasn’t a household name in Australia.

Back in 1996 when the national team faced Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on October 9, Neill - along with Harry Kewell - was one of the new kids on the Socceroo block.

The starting line-up that day was: Kalac, Muscat, Kulscar, Edwards, Popovic, Kewell, Moore, Okon (capt), Corica, Veart and Agostino.

Neill, then just 18, came on as a sub for Alistair Edwards.

Other substitutions included Schwarzer for Kalac and Lorenz Kindtner for Agostino.

Neill has fond memories of the game and a time when he was part of the new generation of stars.

“I remember rooming with Harry Kewell and coming on as a substitute and playing left wing!” he told au.fourfourtwo.com with a laugh.

At the time, Neill was already into his second year at Millwall after breaking into the first team a year earlier.

The Socceroos drew 0-0 and while it heralded a new era for Neill, it was the final game in charge for the late Eddie Thomson, who took up an offer to manage a J-League side shortly after.

“I was really quiet and would speak when spoken to,” added Neill.

“I’d just sit back and watch the way these guys who you’d watched on the TV how they act, how they train, behave, their attitudes and what makes them tick. Then to be able to train with them every day…

“Certainly when you’re young it’s a step up and you learn quickly you have to get stronger physically, stronger mentally and play quicker and train harder.

“And you just naturally get that from being that sort of environment.”

In that 1996-97 season Neill scored three goals for the London club and ended his seven year career at the Den with 13 goals to his name.

However by the time he moved to his next club Blackburn he was a fully fledged defender and he’s been a rock at the back for club and country ever since.

Neill hoped that this type of learning curve would benefit the latest recipient of his scholarship.

Manly United youth team striker Jack Green was scouted by Neill’s team and he hoped the 16-year-old would take on board some of the lessons he’s learnt.

“This is something I’m big on,” Neill said. “Not forgetting where I came from and giving people the sort of opportunity that came a little harder for me but making it a little easier for them."