Influential National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s star Matt Sim has called time on his playing career with Sydney United 58, a club he spent and had great success at for five seasons.

The 33-year-old made the announcement on Thursday as tributes flowed from the United 58 club, players and coaching staff, praising Sim’s time with the former NSL giants.

“I spent five amazing years at United 58,” Sim told Football NSW.

“Never did I expect to be at the club for that long, but as soon as a I arrived it felt like the right place to be.

“I’ll look back on my time there with many great memories.”

Citing a decision to embark on his next chapter as a coach, the A-Licensed accredited former A-League star stated to Football NSW an opportunity arose that he couldn’t refuse in a pathway to ignite his coaching journey.

“Obviously I am getting closer to the end of my playing career than the start, with that in mind a new opportunity came up in coaching for me.

“Once I made the decision that it was best for me to take it with my future in mind, it was clear that logistically it wouldn’t work for me to continue to play at United 58.

“The timing is the hard part, given it would have been great to finish off the season and chase another trophy, but I guess that’s football.”

During his five-years, Sim became a fan favourite with the United 58 faithful who enjoyed watching the “Arjen Robben” look-a-like do his thing, scoring quality goals and playing fantastic football at the famous BOKA Stand as well as other rival NPL NSW Men’s grounds.

Asked what his fondest achievements and memories were, Sim highlighted the 2019 and 2020 seasons as one’s he will never forget.

“I think winning the 2020 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final is up there given how long between finals wins it was for the club.

“But also the success at the back end of the 2019 season with a Waratah Cup Final, Grand Final and a spot in the FFA Cup Round of 32 also stands out.

“We had something like 5 games in 14 days with semi-finals, mid-week matches and missing some very key players, so it was a great achievement.”

A number of quality players passed through the doors at Edensor Park as Sim mentioned the ones that made an impact with him during his time.

“When I arrived at the club, the team was loaded with guns such as Panny Nikas, Glen Trifiro and Nick Stavroulakis. Playing with the likes of them who have had so much success at this level was a pleasure.

“To be honest, to see Tricky still playing at a high level proves the saying “like a fine wine” still exists in football.”

It wasn’t just the quality of players Sim had the pleasure of playing with but coaches too who had a major impact on his career.

“Every coach I had at the club taught me so much.

“The great thing about United 58 is that it is such a great club with long history, their network of ex-players and people associated with the club allows them to select top quality people to come and coach the first team, which helps breed continuous competitive teams.”

Hanging up the boots was not an option yet for Sim who will most certainly be part of the NPL NSW Men’s setup albeit with a new club and colours.

“As I said I have coaching on the horizon with this new opportunity which I can’t wait to begin, and I’ll be looking to playing again next season again as a I feel like the body has some gas left in the tank.”

Sim will be announcing his new coaching gig along with which club he will finish out his NPL NSW Men’s career at in due course.

Sydney United 58 FC head coach Tomi Vidovic knows that regardless of the length in which we remain in lockdown, won’t change the aims of his high flying side.

When you’re in charge of a club with the stature and history of Sydney United 58 FC, you can excuse one if the weight of the badge were too much.

For Vidovic however, managing the club he grew up supporting is seen in no way a pressure, but rather a privilege.

“Sydney United was the first club my dad took me to support as a kid and the only club I support to this day.

“When people ask who my favourite team in the EPL, Serie A or La Liga is my answer is Sydney United.

“I am very grateful and honoured to coach at this great club.”

And during his tenures over the years it’s shown. As an assistant, Vidovic was integral in 2016 as the club took home the Premiership, Waratah Cup and NPL National Championship.

In the year that followed, where Vidovic stepped up in an interim role he guided the squad to the FFA round of 16.

After gaining further experience with the Western Sydney Wanderers  in the A-League, Vidovic returned to his beloved club this season where his side currently sit in second place, hot on the heels of Blacktown City FC.

“It’s been a largely positive season. With five games left to play we are still challenging for both the premiership and championship.

“The coaching staff, players, fans and community’s  expectation is to be challenging for titles so to be in contention this year is great.

“Our performances have been generally consistent and we’ve played a brand of football our supporters have enjoyed watching. A few matches could have gone differently but that’s football.”

A tough loss away to leaders Blacktown just weeks before lockdown allowed their rivals to go four points clear. In a match that saw Sydney United control the play for large periods and yet walk away empty handed was proof as to just how difficult it can be in this competition.

A factor that Vidovic says is a credit to the quality of the league.

“This is a very tough competition.

“The pedigree is high in the coaching ranks, so many of the coaches have great credentials both as players and coaches.  Every week presents different challenges tactically which I enjoy.”

It’s because of this that Vidovic believes that his side need to remain on the ball and ready to perform once the season starts although he was quick to praise his side and their professionalism throughout lockdown.

“From a physical point of view the players have been given programs to complete.

“We understand the difficulty with all the uncertainty and restrictions in certain LGA’s. However, the players have been extremely professional throughout doing the best they can. More importantly myself and my coaching staff have been in touch with players to ensure they are mentally coping with the situation.

“We’re a big family at Sydney United. From the players to fans that support us each week, we have been there for each other and will continue to do so, these are the foundations the club was built on.

“We’re hopeful of a return as we certainly feel like there is unfinished business if we do we’re confident in challenging for every trophy on offer.”

-By Joseph Esposito

As the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition takes a break to comply with the New South Wales government stay-at-home orders, it’s basically business as usual for the league’s leading goal-scorer Patrick Antelmi, just without the goals.

Speaking about the season so far for Sydney United 58, Antlemi explained that while he is happy with their performance in 2021, he thinks they should be comfortably sitting at the top of the table, surprisingly taking a lot of the blame for not seizing every opportunity for points, even after netting 14 goals so far this season.

Despite leading the race for the golden boot, Antelmi has an incredible team-first attitude that is surely part of the reason the Sydney United outfit have been so strong across the entire field this season.

“This year I’m having a lot of fun and enjoying myself,” he explained.

“A few games haven’t gone our way and there were a few games when we didn’t bury our chances when we should have, which is partly my fault.”

“As a team, I can’t fault the boys at all, all of them put in 110 per cent. The best thing is the change room environment that we have… honestly without them I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing”

While grateful for continuing to work through the restrictions, the Sydney United striker was disappointed that the timing fractured the momentum his team were building heading into finals football, however, he highlighted that there are more important things than football during these challenging times.

“Of course, it’s quite annoying that football has to be on a pause at the moment, but I know that these two weeks are probably the only two weeks that we have to wait until we get back,” he said.

“I think outside of football is more important in terms of mindset and mental health…I think if I was struggling it would be different.”

“I used to go through tough times and think that you just have to suck it up and keep going, to a certain degree that’s true but in other aspects, it’s where you need to go find help. You have to go speak to people that are the closest to you, so whether that’s family, whether that’s one of your best mates, just pick up the phone and say ‘hey, I need to have a chat.’”

“With mental health, us athletes and coaches, the whole league, we’re quite blessed to be in a football community where everyone knows everyone, everyone is quite close and if there are people who are struggling you can just call someone in your football team, your coach or whoever it is.

“It’s just a matter of, I guess, putting your pride down and to stop thinking that you can do it by yourself because sometimes you just can’t, especially when the load is quite heavy.

“Honestly, the best thing would be just reaching out to loved ones or people who are close to you, and if you can’t go to them then turn to the people you share the dressing room with.”

Looking forward to the remainder of the season post-lockdown, Antlemi has high ambitions for his team, but more importantly for the tight-knit club.

“If you’re not part of the Club I don’t think you’ll really understand how much the community has an impact on the Club and makes it more of a family than anything else, so that’s the biggest thing, obviously bringing back a title with the boys.

“If I do finish up being top goal scorer that’s just a bonus really because at the end of the day if the boys aren’t doing their job starting from the keeper, the ball doesn’t get to me, so I have to give a lot of credit to the boys that keep clean sheets, and the midfielders that do all the hard work, and then, of course, I’ve got my striker partner Chris Payne who has been setting me up quite a bit this year.”

-By Madeline Riley