Tough Talk, Nice Guy
Born in Bankstown the 25-year old began his playing career with the Bankstown Juniors (South) before taking in Dandaloo, Picton Rangers and spending last season with Penrith.
The long time leading goal-scorer in the TeleChoice Premier League this season, how does he feel about being knocked off the top spot albeit after only 10-rounds into the campaign: ?Obviously my target is get back up there and to do so as quickly as possible,? he retorts with a note of mirth in his voice.
?Leading the charts is what every striker wants of course but it?s not something that worries me.
?So long as the team keeps doing what it?s doing, at the end of the day it is the result that matters not who knocks them in and we have a terrific bunch of guys who play for each other?.but I wouldn?t mind finding the net again soon?
How important is it that a team has a great collective spirit?
?The spirit the boys have shown is unbelievable this year.
?We are all competitive on the pitch but once the final whistle has blown it?s all about mates again and that is what helps us along.
?The important thing is we don?t simply settle for being undefeated so far this year but keep battling away for positive results in games because we have been a little off the boil in recent matches.?
Football isn?t just what Brad Boardman does to earn a crust, as a player. He actually teaches it too!
?I?m lucky that I coach football at a private school ? Knox Grammar ? over on the north shore but I?m also involved in school development with Football NSW too.
?I?m very fortunate that I can teach the game as well as play for Sutherland Sharks. It?s a dream realised for me.?
Citing both Pele and Craig Johnston as people he has looked up to within the game, it?s not difficult to see where Boardman has honed some of his prowess as a striker. Robust, hard to knock off the ball and surprisingly agile for such a big man, Boardman is the stereotypical old-fashioned centre-forward and a player many a manager would love to have in the side.
His personal doctrine is to ?leave nothing in the tank? during games but for the team it is simply to keep plugging away and see what happens come finals time.
Better news for the ladies is that the lad is single and, almost shyly admitting, looking for Ms Right and as is always the case, she is out there.
One can only hope for an invite to the wedding?
