The Armson’s Australia Cup story
Jack and Sam Armson become the latest siblings to qualify for the Australia Cup’s national round, but they won’t be on the same team come August.
It’s not often that two brothers make the national round of the Australia Cup, let alone for different teams.
However, APIA Leichhardt’s Jack and Inter Lions’ Sam Armson will be on opposite sides of the 2023 round of 32 draw.
There’s a strong bond between the brothers having gone to the same school with Jack a couple of years older than Sam.
They explained the origins of their passion for the game. Jack and Sam alongside their younger brother Ned, as well as their dad, used to play two-against-two in the backyard.
“It was just football 24/7 in the backyard, in the park, at school – wherever we could,” Jack explained.
“It could get quite intense at times and there was lots of blood, sweat and tears in those games.
“We’ve got a pretty big backyard with a lot of grass there, so we had some pop-up goals over the years, and they were put in different corners of the yard.
“We also put a spotlight on the back deck so it could be shined down so we could play in the afternoon and into the night.”
The pair said as they advanced through the rounds of this year’s Cup, they thought they were going to play each other and one of them would miss out on the big stage. Though they managed to avoid a re-kindling of their sibling rivalry.
Jack’s APIA confirmed their spot by edging out a nail-biting penalty shootout against Sydney Olympic. While Sam’s Inter Lions from the Football NSW League One, shocked the competition by stunning National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s powerhouses Rockdale Ilinden to earn their place.
Speaking on he and his brother making the round of 32, Sam said it was reflective of the effort they’d put in over the years. He elaborated by saying their father had a significant influence on their development as footballers.
The brothers said they learn from each other as well, watching each other’s matches and debriefing after them.
“I think it’s just a testament to our hard work. We’ve been able to achieve success in our own teams because we put in the work and we want to be at the top level,” Sam said.
“For both of us, our biggest coach and mentor has been our dad who has pushed us. He has coached us and our younger brother our whole lives and watches every game. He’s definitely taught us a lot of what we know.
“I watch every game of Jack’s possible, so I definitely pick up some stuff from him and I think he picks up some stuff from me as well.”
There’s still a chance they’ll meet in the Australia Cup with the competition using an open draw for the national round. Something similar happened in 2014 when Sydney FC’s Peter and Sydney United 58’s Chris Triantis faced off in a round of 16 matchup.
Although, one of the Armson siblings’ ambitions is for all three of Jack, Sam, and Ned to step onto the pitch in the same colours. Ned currently plays for the Inter Lions under-20s team. They’ve never played together competitively on the football pitch, but they’d be keen to put their hours of backyard experience to the test in the future.
“That’d be amazing,” Jack said.
“We all play in midfield so it would be cool to have all three of us as a 6,8,10 midfield three.
“I don’t know how soon or late it could happen but definitely, at some stage, it would be great to have a couple of seasons together.”
Feature by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
