DEPARTING Sydney FC trio Jacob Timpano, Iain Fyfe and Robbie Middleby believe the club's flourishing youth set up bodes well for the future as they prepare to bring the curtain down on their respective spells at Moore Park.
The three players have accrued more than 180 Hyundai A-League appearances between them, and played a big part in helping Sydney FC claim the championship in the league’s inaugural season.
Timpano, who will be part of North Queensland Fury's set up next season alongside Middleby, said: "It's been great. I've been here from day one and was fortunate to be part of the team that won the first ever A-League title and that will always be a highlight for me. I will take a lot away from the club.
“For me personally it’s disappointing that I haven’t been able to spend more time on the park but it’s been great playing and training alongside the top class guys that have been here at Sydney over the first four years of the A-League.
“As a young footballer you can only benefit from the kind of experience that players of that calibre bring to a club.
"The boys that have come in have taken their opportunity and done very well.
"They obviously need to stay consistent and back up what they have done in the first year, but with Steve O'Connor as the youth coach hopefully they can go on and spend a few years with the club and get Sydney back to where it belongs."
The club’s most capped player, Fyfe, admits it’s an environment that’s been great for his own game.
He said: "I have developed a lot at this club," he said. "You try and learn as much as you can from guys like Poppa (Tony Popovic) and Steve Corica who have thirty or forty (international) caps. Then when you throw in the likes of Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone and Juninho, you just have to try and pick their brains and learn in training as you go."
The experienced Middleby also believes the elevation of youth to the senior side is beneficial.
He said: "The positive thing is that they're getting experience which is really good from the club's point of view."
While not all are likely to figure in the starting line up against Newcastle Jets on Sunday there is a strong desire to go out on the back of a good result.
Fyfe said: "I don't want to be on the end of a losing side. It's important to leave Sydney FC on a winning note."
"You want to win every game. It hasn't been the greatest year, so it's important to finish on a high not just for us players but the club and the supporters as a whole," said Middleby.
Timpano, who will be part of North Queensland Fury's set up next season alongside Middleby, said: "It's been great. I've been here from day one and was fortunate to be part of the team that won the first ever A-League title and that will always be a highlight for me. I will take a lot away from the club.
“For me personally it’s disappointing that I haven’t been able to spend more time on the park but it’s been great playing and training alongside the top class guys that have been here at Sydney over the first four years of the A-League.
“As a young footballer you can only benefit from the kind of experience that players of that calibre bring to a club.
"The boys that have come in have taken their opportunity and done very well.
"They obviously need to stay consistent and back up what they have done in the first year, but with Steve O'Connor as the youth coach hopefully they can go on and spend a few years with the club and get Sydney back to where it belongs."
The club’s most capped player, Fyfe, admits it’s an environment that’s been great for his own game.
He said: "I have developed a lot at this club," he said. "You try and learn as much as you can from guys like Poppa (Tony Popovic) and Steve Corica who have thirty or forty (international) caps. Then when you throw in the likes of Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone and Juninho, you just have to try and pick their brains and learn in training as you go."
The experienced Middleby also believes the elevation of youth to the senior side is beneficial.
He said: "The positive thing is that they're getting experience which is really good from the club's point of view."
While not all are likely to figure in the starting line up against Newcastle Jets on Sunday there is a strong desire to go out on the back of a good result.
Fyfe said: "I don't want to be on the end of a losing side. It's important to leave Sydney FC on a winning note."
"You want to win every game. It hasn't been the greatest year, so it's important to finish on a high not just for us players but the club and the supporters as a whole," said Middleby.
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