After twenty-six years of both professional and semi-professional football, Robbie Younis has called it a day going down as one of the greatest goal scorers that have ever graced the PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Mens’ football competition.
With a years spell in the Hyundai A-League representing Adelaide United, Robbie’s journey began as a five-year-old when he signed up to play for St Johns at Auburn in the heart of Sydney’s Western Suburbs.
“Funnily enough I didn’t really enjoy football when I first started out (Laughs). I wanted to give it up at the time but it was my brother (Ray – a former NSL player with Parramatta Power) who convinced me to come and play up an age and it was here that I fell completely in love with the game.”
After seeing out his junior years, Robbie spent time playing with both Parramatta FC and Bankstown City Lions respectively before finding a place in APIA Leichardt Tigers first grade set up.
All before the age of 18.
“APIA as a club will always hold a special place in my heart. They gave me my NPL debut at the age of seventeen where I actually scored a hat-trick twenty minutes into my first grade career. APIA allowed me to develop at such a rapid rate.”
Spearheading APIA’s attack from 2006 to 2008, Robbie bagged 39 goals in 43 matches as he would take out the top tier competition’s Golden Boot award on his way to signing a professional contract with Adelaide United as a 22 year-old.
“My time with Adelaide was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn off some of the best in Australia. Of course I would have liked to have stayed on for longer, however that is football. It isn’t always nice but it taught me things that I would take into the remainder of my playing days.”
After making a move back to APIA where he would spend the next three seasons scoring 29 goals in 49 matches, Robbie was approached by cross-town rivals the Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
“I spent some of the best years of my career at APIA, and it was during my time there that Bonnyrigg was in contact with me on multiple occasions. It wasn’t until I was heading into the 2012 season that I decided to make a fresh start and Bonnyrigg could offer me that.”
As it went, Robbie signed on to play for the White Eagles under coach Brian ‘Bomber’ Brown in 2012 where he ultimately spent the remainder of his career. Over the course of the four years playing Bonnyrigg, Robbie would pick up yet another Golden Boot award along with being a crucial member of their title winning sides in both 2012 and 2014.
“I never could have imagined the level of success I’d have at Bonnyrigg when I first signed with them. We achieved so much success over my four years with the club and I’m proud to say I helped in my own little way.”
It is fair to say that it came as a shock to both Bonnyrigg and the league when the announcement of his retirement circulated around Sydney.
After a semi-professional career involving 206 appearances and exactly 150 goals, Robbie has decided that now is time to move onto the next chapter of his life.
“I’ve dedicated 26 years of my life to football and feel that at the age of 31, the time is right to move forward. I have beautiful family with two little boys who have been there for me throughout my career and its now time for me to be there for them. I am and forever will be madly in love with football, but it is now time for me to pass on the baton.
“I’m forever in debt to football and everything it has given me. It has made me the man I am today. I’m proud of all that I have achieved but above all I am thankful for what it has taught me about responsibility and commitment. I must give a big thanks to all who influenced my career and want to wish all at Bonnyrigg good luck as they head into the 2017 season.”
Robbie has left an everlasting effect on the PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition setting himself as the benchmark of all that can be achieved as a footballer.
Robbie will be missed throughout the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition however we want to wish him all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for all that his has done throughout his career.
-By Joseph Esposito
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