Harrison Devenish-Meares tells all on Euro football experience: Riot police, tyre-slashing and fan fury

He was forced to strip off on the football field and hand his clothes to fans and even had his car tyres slashed, but those incidents weren’t what drove Sydney FC’s Harrison Devenish-Meares to give up his European contract and return to Australia.

Harrison Devenish-Meares was forced to strip off on the football field and hand his clothes to fans, watched as a changeroom was stormed by angry supporters and even had his car tyres slashed.

But those incidents weren’t what drove the goalkeeper to give up his European contract and return to Australia.

It was the love for his mum, who was battling cancer.

Devenish-Meares, 28, didn’t arrive at Sydney FC through traditional pathways.

He went from playing club football to earning a contract with a US university and from there headed to Romania for a club called Polithnica Timisoara.

Sydney FC goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares and his mum Rossana Devenish-Meares. Harrison gave up his career overseas to return to Aus when his mum was diagnosed with cancer. Picture: Rohan Kelly

He had always dreamt of playing in Europe.

“Football in Europe is like a religion, it’s very different to here in Australia,” he said.

“It’s everything to the people and that’s the kind of experience I got while I was there.”

Devenish-Meares didn’t play in his first year at the club but still couldn’t go to the grocery store without being stopped for photographs and autographs.

Our aussie keeper is excited to play his first official match for Rapid

Until then, Harrison Devenish-Meares had a great game against #AFCOdorheiuSecuiesc (4-1)#Australia#Harry#FCRapidpic.twitter.com/2LwnZDbNjN

— FC Rapid 1923 (@RapidFC1923) January 21, 2021

Those same fans were not as receptive when the team lost.

“I remember having my tyres slashed after a game that should have been won but was a draw,” Devenish-Meares said.

“When we went to games we were protected by riot police. People would throw things at you from the stands, from lighters to coins. As a goalkeeper, you are right next to them.

Harrison Devenish-Meares celebrates a trophy triumph during a stint playing in Romania.

“I remember a time when aggressive fans broke into our changerooms and there were altercations between the riot police, and the coach had to lock himself in one of the bathroom stalls.

“There was another time where we were forced to undress on the field after the game and give the fans all our playing gear.

“That was live on national TV. Basically the head of the supporters ordered us to take our shirts and shorts off and give them to them as a sign we hadn’t played well enough to deserve the shirts on our back.

“It was humiliating but the captain said if we didn’t do it we would have more problems later.”

Devenish-Meares was never put off by the situation.

“I got to see the other side of it, when you are winning,” he said.

“In Romania they have a saying. Translated into English it is, ‘When you win it’s a wedding, when you lose it’s a funeral’.

“There is no in between. That is how they live and support their team.

“I love that because it is the kind of passion that is ingrained in me.”

Harrison Devenish-Meares opens up about some wild experiences playing in Europe.

But in 2021, during his first trip home in four years due to playing commitments and the Covid pandemic, Devenish-Meares’ perspective on life changed.

His mum Rossana had organised a homecoming party.

They were dancing in the living room when she fell and hurt her ribs. An X-ray revealed she had cracked a rib but it also found a tumour on her kidney.

Rossana was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a type of cancer that isn’t normally found until it is too late.

“Imagine the surprise and shock and numbness that goes with being told you have cancer and also having a finite time to enjoy your son being home,” Rossana said.

“It was really traumatic and I tossed up whether to tell him or not to tell him.

“But I did tell him and I made him part of the whole process, took him to appointments so he was really informed about the treatment options.”

Sydney FC goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares and mum Rossana. Picture: Rohan Kelly

As much as Devenish-Meares wanted to stay, he had to return to Romania.

“He needed to leave because he was trying to further his career over there but at the same time he didn’t want to leave me behind … it was a bittersweet moment,” Rossana said.

A week after Devenish-Meares returned to Romania, Rossana had surgery and has since been given the all clear. She still has to have regular scans and checks.

Devenish-Meares said it was incredibly difficult to be on the other side of the world while his mum was sick at home.

“It’s part of being a pro athlete,” he said. “We usually get judged on our performance on the field but there’s a lot happening off it. You could have young kids at home, or sickness or illness in the family.

“It was hard to manage what was happening at home and what I was trying to do on the field as well.”

It gave Devenish-Meares the drive to try to find an opportunity back in Australia and after 18 months he landed a contract with Sydney FC, the club he had grown up supporting.

Five new debutants pulled on the Sydney FC shirt officially for the first time 5⃣

Welcome to the family Douglas Costa, Leo Sena, Patryk Klimala, Alex Popovic & Harrison Devenish-Meares 💙#SydneyIsSkyBlue | #WeAreSydneypic.twitter.com/9lHaNlmewX

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) September 20, 2024

Sydney FC has also joined forces with Cancer Council NSW this season to raise greater awareness for the disease.

Devenish-Meares has become an ambassador for the Cancer Council.

The keeper is expected to start for the Sky Blues in the AFC Asian Champions League Two clash against Kaya FC at Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night.

Rosanna and close to 20 other family and friends will be in the stands.

“I’m behind (Andrew Redmayne), who is one of the most experience goalkeepers in the country, so every minute I get to play is precious for me,” Devenish-Meares said.

“Every game is like a World Cup final at the moment. It’s going to be my third game since September.

“I don’t get a ton of chances to play, so I’m excited.”

Originally published as Harrison Devenish-Meares tells all on Euro football experience: Riot police, tyre-slashing and fan fury