Mark Brady: when loyalty begins at day one
Like many others at A.P.I.A. Leichhardt, and at other clubs for that matter in the TeleChoice Premier League, Brady is one who shuns publicity ? he had to be coaxed into speaking for this feature story.
As a hard, overlapping defender in the old National Soccer League, Brady ended his playing career with A.P.I.A. Leichhardt.
He played there in 1986, ?87 and ?88 including being part of the all conquering 1987 side under former Socceroos boss Rale Rasic.
Prior to joining A.P.I.A. he had playing stints with St George Budapest and Blacktown City.
Today his role at A.P.I.A. is that of assistant coach – a role he is very much enjoying.
?Yes, I am enjoying helping John [Romeo] with the coaching side of things and prior to that helping him the under 20s and Tony [Raciti] with the under 17s and 18s,? he said.
?Now I am full on with first grade which is great because the boys have a very good camaraderie and there is great enthusiasm here.?
As an assistant coach Brady wouldn?t mind one day having control of a senior team himself, but he is certainly not rushing.
?Of course if the opportunity arose [to coach first grade] I would be interested, but I?m happy doing what I?m doing,? he said.
?At the moment, with my job and family, I would actually prefer to be the assistant and in this way I am able to give something back to the club.?
His younger brother, Jon Brady, has made a career out of playing professionally for over a decade in the lower leagues of England.
Recently he finished the season with Kettering FC and the team won the championship which ensures promotion from the Conference League to the 4th Division.
?He?s a professional football player on fulltime wages and he has his own football academy with the Arsenal Football Academy,? Mark Brady said.
?The Academy is a franchise ? one of only two in England ? and his one runs basically from Northampton down to the coast.?
Joe Russo
