| Irishman tastes soccer success
BY IAN McCULLOUGH
 It is a typically
hot summer day in Sydney and 1990 German World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski,
coach of Sydney FC, is putting his players through their paces at the
club’s impressive training ground on the outskirts of the city.
Amongst those involved in a high-tempo game of keep-ball are former Manchester
United striker Dwight Yorke — the star attraction of the newly-established
A-League — Steve Corica, a player who once cost Wolves £750,000
and Terry McFlynn, who came to the club on trial after paying his own
air fare last year as the last throw of the dice of his professional career.
The 24-year-old from Derry joined Queens Park Rangers as a 15-year-old
and was one of the stars of a successful youth team that reached the final
of the FA Academy Cup competition in 2000 having beaten Arsenal and Chelsea
en route.
The future looked bright, but like so many, in a cruel profession, it
proved to be the highlight of McFlynn’s career. Terry represented
Northern Ireland at every level apart from the senior team, during his
time in England.
Relegation and administration soon followed for Rangers in 2001 and after
just two full games for the first team McFlynn was one of 21 players released.
Spells at Conference sides Woking and Margate followed before a move to
the north west England seaside town of Morecambe took him out of the capital.
It proved to be a disastrous decision with injuries making his time at
the club a thoroughly miserable one. It was then that McFlynn decided
to try his luck in Australia.
He said: “It was a big decision but not a difficult one really.
“My fiancé is Australian, and she wanted to go home. I heard
that there was a new professional league starting in Australia, so I wrote
to every club but it was only Sydney that replied.
“There was a trial here and luckily I was one of only two players
taken out of 30.”
Having forged a strong partnership with Yorke in the middle of midfield
McFlynn’s tough-tackling approach has made him a firm favourite
with the home fans.
Over 25,000 fans watched Sydneyís last home game of the season,
a sign that football is growing in Australia since World Cup qualification.
McFlynn said: “It has been superb. I went from playing non-league
football to playing games in a world-class stadium alongside Dwight Yorke
and being coached by a former World Cup winner
“To win the A League title with Sydney before I get married in April
would make it a memorable year.”
Terry and his teammates face some crucial games in the coming weeks as
they bid for the title.
Although Terry won’t rule out a return to England he admits it’s
not a priority.
He said: “The standard of football here is as good as the Championship
in England. I’m enjoying life here on and off the field and that
is the most important thing.”
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