Jacob Timpano looking forward to Sydney United challenge

The tall stopper was set to play his second season with the Fury before he was told by the club his services were no longer required which gutted the former Young Socceroo.
?It was hard to take as I really wanted to honour my second year with the club as I was getting back to full fitness and knew that this year was to be a key season for me.
?After the FFA stepped in though things changed at the club and I was told that I had to look elsewhere and did just that with Sydney United being the team I selected in getting me back into the game.?
Timpano struggled in his first season with the Fury after he sustained a nasty hamstring injury that hampered his debut season with the Queensland based club.
?It was frustrating to say the least as I was itching to play first team football and wanted to stake my claim as a starter in the side but this injury occurred which set me back.
?The bad thing was that the club didn?t have a National Youth League side so getting match fit was very tough.?
During his time of rehabilitation the 24-year-old played nine matches for Queensland Soccer League side North Queensland Razorbacks which kept the Wollongong born defender ticking over.
?It was good playing with the Razorbacks in the local competition up at Queensland as they kept me match fit and I was enjoying my football there with a great bunch of guys.
?After a long layoff from the game it was pleasing to have been involved with a club that made me enjoy my football once more.?
Timpano knew that he needed a move in alerting the attention of potential A-League suitors and sought a keen interest in returning back to the NSW Premier League where he was once a part of in 2004 with the then Wollongong Wolves.
?I last played in the NSW Premier League with the Wolves in 2004 when the NSL went defunct.
?That was the only option any football had at the time and I remember the standard back then was very high so returning back this time round was a must for me in getting me back into shape and also hoping to gain the attention of an A-League side.
?One of my many goals with United is to play well for the Reds and hopefully get a sniff with an A-League side.?
Timpano did keep a close eye on how the NSW Premier League was travelling thanks to the official NSW Premier League website (www.nswpl.com.au).
?I did get on the NSW Premier League website on a weekly basis in seeing how the teams went especially the Wolves as I was a former player there.
?I was also kept up to date with what was going on with the clubs through the mates I have playing in the league.?
West Sydney Berries and South Coast Wolves were circling Timpano but the tough tackling defender decided that United was the way to go.
?It was a tough decision as I had both the Berries and Wolves talking to me and I wanted to make sure I made the right decision for my playing career.
?I knew that hopefully the way things are going at United that they?d be playing finals football and that chances of me playing more football appealed to me along with linking up with my former teammate at Sydney FC David Zdrilic.?
Timpano and Zdrilic were of course part of the Grand Final winning Sydney FC side in 2005/2006 season.
?That was a great year for everyone involved in football and at Sydney FC.
?I kept in close contact with ?Zdrilla? and have had a massive respect for him back then and now both as a player and coach.
?I believe that he has a future as a coach in years to come and I am looking forward to playing alongside him once more.?
Ironically Timpano?s first two matches for the Reds will be against the two teams he was courted by with the Berries this weekend and the Wolves next weekend.
?It?s funny how football works and when I saw the draw I couldn?t believe my luck when I saw what my first two matches were.
?I understand that the standard of football in the NSW Premier League has picked up and I know that every week will be battle for the three points but I am willing to go that extra mile in winning as many matches as possible.
?I need to give 100% for Sydney United and want to assist them in winning trophies and playing finals football. I know they are a team who take pride in playing for the jersey and always have the will to win so it will be good to be around this pressure once more.?
Sydney United travel to Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre this Sunday and tackle West Sydney Berries with kick off set for 3pm.
-By Mark Stavroulakis