As Melbournians bid farewell to another exciting A-League season, many people are turning their focus from the round ball to its oval leather alternative, as the football makes way for the new AFL season. However for those who are serious about their football they know that the action and excitement is just getting started, as the Victorian Premier League begins to take shape across the state.

Football’s popularity is continuing to grow in Australia and with it’s young players aspirations of playing at the highest level. Now more than ever the competition is fierce, and Oakleigh Cannon’s utility Phil Papadopoulos says commitment, hard work and loyalty is essential to success.

From the day he was born Phil and soccer were inseparable. As he explains he was born with a soccer ball in his hands.

“As you’d know, when children are born they usually get a soft toy and flowers. Well in my case my father bought me my first soccer ball”, said Papadopoulos. “It was a red and white size 3. I have photos sleeping with it because I wouldn’t sleep without it.” Twenty-one years later and the romance between Phil and football continues to grow strong, all be it with some hard work and heartache along the journey.

While most 14-year-old boys would be playing football with players their own age, in 2002 Phil had just made his debut for the senior team at Malvern City F.C and was playing against full grown men. Papadopoulos was in the youth academy of English team Derby County F.C, and he was also set to make an impact at trials for Australia’s Joeys. Fate took a devastating turn for Papadopoulos in his prime as he suffered a back injury which sidelined him for 15 months. The injury was a costly one, with Papadopoulos missing his opportunity to go to England and play for Derby County F.C against other English youth teams.

Furthermore he was forced to surrender his spot in Malvern City’s F.C senior team. For many such disappointment would be too much to bare and a young player Papadopoulos’ age at the time could be excused for turning their back on the sport. But absence made the heart grow fonder and the time Phil spent away from the game made him realise how much he truly loved football.

“I don’t think I can explain exactly why I love it, the game is just part of my life. I breathe it, I live it, I love it,” said Papadopoulos.

“I love everything about it, the team atmosphere, all the emotion in winning or losing, the adrenaline, the smell of the grass, the sound the ball makes when it’s kicked, the technical skill and speed, wearing the team outfit…I can go on and on but it doesn’t mean anything unless you’re a player and know what I am talking about.”

Papadopoulos’s encouragement for young players moving forward is advice worth listening to, and speaks volumes for the young man’s respect for the game he loves.

“For a young player that wants to play at a professional level the most important thing they need is discipline,” he says.

“A skillful player with no discipline is quite useless, if anything they do more harm than good for the team”, says Papadopoulos.

“When I say discipline I am talking about respect to fellow team mates, the coaching staff, punctuality to training and games, commitment, hard work and loyalty to the team,” said Papadopoulos. “You must always remember to be a gentleman on and off the field. These are the first few steps for young players moving forward as well as training hard.”

Papadopoulos is focused on his studies completing his Bachelor of Health science Clinical Myotherapy at the Southern School of Natural Therapies, with intentions of eventually opening his own Myotherapy clinic. Despite his bad luck with injuries in the past, Papadopoulos’ hopes and dreams for his future in football remain realistic.

The 21-year-old is optimistic about reaching his full potential playing football. “At my age I know it’s a race against time, however I am hopeful I can get my game back on track as soon as possible, till then I will take every day as it comes,” said Papadopoulos.

Seeing first hand how much football means to the young man, with a little luck on the injury front, I don’t think we will have to wait long to see Phil Papadopoulos make up for lost time and once again make an impact on the soccer world.

Anastasios Barbadonis is a new guest sports writer.