This was published 3 years ago
‘I am loving life’: Sydney FC star’s rise from the bench to record books
The only thing Andrew Redmayne deflects quicker than a shot on goal is praise.
On Wednesday night, the softly spoken Sydney FC goalkeeper set a new benchmark, a club record for the most clean sheets in the A-League after helping to keep Melbourne Victory goalless in what was his 38th match without conceding for the Sky Blues.
Andrew Redmayne kept a clean sheet against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday, his 38th for Sydney FC.Credit: Getty
For a player who arrived at the club as a back-up four years ago, it’s quite the milestone. The softly spoken Redmayne agrees, but is reluctant to take the credit.
“I think it speaks highly of the environment and the team I am in,” he said. “If defenders counted clean sheets, Alex Wilkinson would be streaks ahead of me. It’s a testament to the team. It’s a nice milestone to acknowledge, but it’s a testament to the character and quality of the squad.”
Goalkeepers are said to be an unusual bunch: most are enigmatic, they thrive under pressure and they’re often characters. Redmayne is definitely different, but what sets him apart is his quiet demeanour, humility and seeming disdain for attention.
Away from the field, he is studying to become a primary school teacher. It’s something he is excited about and it’s a career he was almost forced to start prematurely. Before joining Sydney FC in 2017, Redmayne was about to hang up his gloves. He had lost his place with rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and was struggling for confidence.
“I was a bit over it,” he told News Limited in 2019. “I mean, I still loved working hard and enjoyed training and the change-room. But I think a bit of self-belief came into it – I just didn’t think I was good enough to be honest.”
Initially, he was signed as a back-up to Socceroo goalkeeper Danny Vukovic at Sydney. It wasn’t until Vukovic was sold to Belgian club Genk six months later that Redmayne contemplated becoming Sydney’s first-choice gloveman. He flourished immediately and his rise since has been meteoritic. But, even then, the doubts were never far away. Today, Redmayne barely recognises the person he was when he walked into Sydney FC.
“I used to be plagued by self-doubt,” he said.
“I am loving life”: Redmayne has flourished at Sydney FC.Credit: Getty
“Now when I am out on the field, I have confidence in myself and I can contribute to the team and hold my own against anyone in this league. It’s a certain calm that comes from that mindset.
“Physically and mentally, I am a completely different person and character to what I was here on day one,” he said. “I feel a lot more comfortable in the skin I am [in] now, not only off the field but on the field with what I am doing. I am just loving life.”
That composure coincided with his career-best form. It helped him win two A-League premierships and three championships with the Sky Blues, and secure his first cap for the Socceroos in 2019. Even after a rusty start to the season, Redmayne has returned to his best and is tipped for a national recall at the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Kuwait.
A player once considered a bench option has rightfully earned plenty of accolades.
Having set a new club A-League record for clean sheets, Redmayne is within sight of setting another for all competitions. So, is that on his radar? “It’s not something that’s crossed my mind,” he said in his typically humble style.
Instead, his only target for the season is a collective one. “My only real goal when we did our goal sheets at the start of the year, was to concede less than a goal a game as a team,” he said. “If you do that, you’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the year.”
On Sunday afternoon, he can help Sydney FC achieve another goal: winning their first game against arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in seven attempts. Redmayne could be forgiven for having extra motivation to do so, having not beaten his old club since being let go. But he sees things differently.
“If anything, Wanderers probably saved my career coming out of Melbourne City, so I thank Wanderers for where I am today,” he said. “If it wasn’t for my time there, I wouldn’t be at Sydney and wouldn’t be where I am now. [With] regards to the derby, it doesn’t hold any other weight.”