Following his Hyundai A-League debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Matt Acton has called his maiden match a “rewarding” experience.
Following his Hyundai A-League debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Matt Acton has called his maiden match a “rewarding” experience.
Acton became the 100th player to represent the club since the Hyundai A-League-s inception in 2005 after regular shotstopper Michael Theo was ruled out with a shoulder injury but said he was more thrilled to just play his first professional match.
“From a personal point of view, I don-t read too much into it but it-s a great honour to play for the Brisbane Roar, a club I-ve been at for a very long time,” he said.
“It-s fitting in a way that I-m the 100th player but it was more rewarding to get out there and play after a lot of hard work.
“I-ve been really patient during my five years here having come through the youth set-up but I feel like I am ready now, more than ever – the timing was good for me.”
Acton found out he would be starting against the Glory in the final training session before the round eight game and said his attention didn-t sway from the preparation, instead waiting until after the match to reflect.
“My immediate reaction was to maintain extra focus on the game,” he said.
“The gaffer [Head Coach Mike Mulvey] pulled me aside when we were playing 11 v 11 and said I-d be starting.
“Afterwards, I still felt pretty excited about the whole game and happy to get the result.
“I-ve said all along it wasn-t about me, it was about the team-s performance and I was proud and excited to be a part of it.”
The 21-year-old-s debut was a long time coming and a result of years of hard work and sacrifice not just from Acton but also his family, who moved to Brisbane from Townsville seven years ago so that he could take up a scholarship with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
“They-ve had to make sacrifices as well, moving down for me,” Acton explained.
“I have to try and make the most of these opportunities and a lot of thanks goes to my parents as well.”
And if called upon later in the season, Acton was sure he could do the job again.
“Whenever you get a clean sheet, you feel confident and as a goalkeeper, that-s what we get judged on,” he said.
“I was glad to get the clean sheet, not just for me but our defence was solid and that made my job a lot easier.”
Brisbane Roar face Adelaide United on Friday, 6 December at Hindmarsh Stadium LIVE on Fox Sports and SBS2. Kick-off at 7.00pm local time/6.30pm Brisbane time.
