Last month three of our First Grade players reached a huge milestone of reaching 100 First Grade league appearances. Josie Wilson, Shervin Adeli and Hannah McNulty have now joined the ‘100 Club’ and share a combined 28 years of Tigers club experience between them!
We spoke to each player about their favourite moments and experiences over the years.
Josie Wilson
The Lindfield FC junior is celebrating her 12th consecutive season at the club, working her way through the ranks from Under 12s to First Grade.
Josie was part of the First Grade squad that secured promotion to NPL1 and won the Grand Final in 2016 and also played a key role in the team during the 2019 season when we qualified for the club’s first senior NPL1 Grand Final!
What is your favourite memory with Tigers?
I have lots of great memories with Tigers but my favourite is definitely Emma Watkins’ goal in the 2019 Grand Final. After only recently being promoted to NPL1 it was huge for us to get into the final that year and it proved a lot of people wrong. So Emma’s goal was such a great moment for the team and the club.
The whole Grand Final in general was just incredible and a game that I will remember for a long long time. It was so special looking up and seeing a sea of green and white, chanting your name and cheering you on.
What do you love most about the Club?
What I love most about the Club is definitely the Club Culture. The club has such a unique culture where it’s all about the team and being supportive of each other. The Grand Final in 2019 showed exactly what the Club Culture is all about with the whole Club turning up to support the team.
How has the Club developed over the years since you joined the Club?
The Club has developed a lot since I started 12 years ago. We used to train at St Ives Showground in the long grass where we had to dodge the horse poo, but now we have great facilities and resources at NTRA. The quality of the football has also improved significantly, we’ve now got great A-League and national players from all around Australia. Its been amazing to see how much the club has progressed.
Do you have any future ambitions for the Club?
I want undercover seating to be built next to NTRA, we are one of the only NPL1 clubs to not have some! I also want to see the Men’s side get promoted to NPL1, they definitely deserve it!
Shervin Adeli
Known equally well for his ability to score spectacular goals from distance and produce a flawless finish from the penalty spot, Shervin Adeli is in his sixth season at the club and also coaches within our SAP and Boys Youth League programs.
What is your favourite memory with Tigers?
My favourite memory was winning the grand final in 2015 against Bankstown City! Scoring two goals in the final was incredible.
Shervin Adeli’s Greatest Goals, including his two 2015 Grand Final goals!
What do you love most about the Club?
The club culture is contagious and Jason Eagar has had a big influence on creating a great football environment for all players to be able to perform.
How has the Club developed over the years since you joined the Club?
I think the club is becoming more professional every year. The difference in resources from when I first played at tigers is huge. Also the club has promoted the women’s game massively and I think our female program is up there with the best.
Do you have any future ambitions for the Club?
I would love to see the undercover seating at NTRA I think it would take the club to the next level. Also to help get the Men’s First Grade team promoted to NPL 1.
Hannah McNulty
Hannah is celebrating her tenth consecutive season at the club in 2022, having first joined the Under 14s in 2013.
Like Josie, Hannah was also a key member of the teams in the 2016 and 2019 Grand Finals, and also earned selection for the NPL NSW All Stars for their match against NPL QLD in 2020.
Hannah has also coached within the club for a number of years, currently taking charge of the Girls Youth League Under 16s.
What is your favourite memory with Tigers?
When I think of my favourite memory, two come to mind. The first being when we won the NPL2 Grand Final and got promoted to NPL1. We worked unbelievably hard that year to achieve promotion since it had been a huge goal for the Club. I remember scoring in the Grand Final alongside Eilidh MacKay and Josie Wilson, and also having Pat O’Sullivan on the sidelines. They all have individually played such huge role in the Clubs success over the years and I have loved learning, working and playing with them all. It definitely felt like a pivotal moment and you could tell everyone knew big things were about to come in NPL1.
My other favourite memory would have to be the 2019 Grand Final against Sydney Uni at Valentine Sports Park. To this day, it is still my favourite match I have ever played in and it has definitely made me hungry for another Grand Final! Even though the final result didn’t go our way, it was such memorable experience purely from the support of the Club. Players, parents, coaches both past and present were all there cheering us on, it was just incredible and showed what the Club was all about. They even wrote an article about how good our chants were!! No one had ever seen anything like it in NPL1, which made it so special. And of course, how could we not mention Emma Watkins’ goal. I will truly remember that goal until I die.
What do you love most about the Club?
My favourite part has to be the Club Culture. It starts at the top from people like Jason Eagar, Ed Ferguson, Eilidh Mackay, Pat O’Sullivan, the list goes on! They have created such a supportive, yet competitive environment over the years and I truly feel lucky to be a part of it. Not only has it helped me develop as a player, but it has also helped develop me as a person too.
I also love the relationships I have made throughout the years. I met Josie Wilson and Emma Watkins when I was 13 and grew up with them on the field for 10 years! I also feel lucky working and coaching alongside Jason Eagar, Pat O’Sullivan, Eilidh Mackay, who all played such an important part of my journey. I feel very grateful and will cherish these relationships forever.
How has the Club developed over the years since you joined the Club?
The Club has developed massively both on and off the field. Off the field, we have come a long way since our days at Mills Park and St Ives Showground! Not only our facilities have improved, but even the media content, gear, equipment, events. They have all been so important in raising the professionalism of the club. On the field, the quality of football has also increased with all programs looking very competitive this season both on the Men’s and Women’s side.
Do you have any future ambitions for the Club?
As the others have mentioned, I want to see NTRA be completed with the undercover seating! It would take the Club to the next level to a fully established NPL1 Club. And yes, the Men will get there this season!
The 100 Club
- Ally Brown
- Amanda Skellern
- Anthony Mittiga
- Brendan Salameh
- Emma Watkins
- Hannah McNulty
- Josie Wilson
- Luke Dawson
- Liam McConaghy
- Max Glanville
- Michael Rolston
- Paul Davies
- Rhys Williams
- Shervin Adeli
- Stuart Page
- Steven Baveas
- Tom Spencer
Note: Currently we have limited data on Women’s First Grade appearances before 2013, if you have any information that may be of assistance please email nick.amies@nsfa.asn.au.