‘Come to the A-League games and support us!… it’s something really special’

For Jason Cummings, it still feels like a dream – touching down back in Australia after the Socceroos’ historic run to the FIFA Men’s World Cup round of 16.

For Cummings, it capped a remarkable year. Having arrived from Scotland in January, the Central Coast Mariners star earned an international debut in September and forced his way into Graham Arnold’s World Cup squad.

In Qatar, Scotland-born Cummings was part of Australia’s Class of 22, who captured the hearts and minds of fans not only in the Middle East, but back home in Australia with wins and back-to-back clean sheets against Tunisia and Denmark before a heart-breaking loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the last 16.

Australia’s memorable World Cup campaign also put the Isuzu UTE A-League well and truly on the map on the back of performances from Craig Goodwin and Mathew Leckie, with the competition set to resume on Friday.

“It’s surreal,” Cummings, whose Mariners host rivals Newcastle Jets in Sunday’s F3 Derby, told KEEPUP after landing in Sydney. “I feel like its a dream, it’s not real. It hasn’t settled in yet.

To be a part of this amazing group, this team, this country, all the fans getting behind us this whole time. Just to be a part of it…I just can’t believe it to be honest. 

“I’m so proud of the boys and everything that we’ve done and Arnie, you know, we gave it a right good bash. 

“We got out of the group, two wins and two clean sheets, we knocked Denmark out and we did brilliantly.”

Cummings was among eight current players based in the A-League Men, along with Mariners team-mates Garang Kuol and Danny Vukovic, Adelaide United captain Goodwin, Melbourne City trio Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio and Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.

Goodwin and Leckie both scored for the Socceroos, while teenage sensation Kuol almost forced extra time against Argentina with a last-gasp effort.

Of the 26 players in the Socceroos squad, 20 came through the A-Leagues at one stage of their careers.

And with Australia riding the World Cup wave ahead of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s return this week, Cummings had a message for fans.

“We’ve inspired a generation back home and hopefully football now in Australia can get more attention,” Cummings said.

Come to the A-League games and support us. 

“We’ve seen now that the support is there and it’s unbelievable and I’ve just loved every second!”

Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne also landed back home in Australia on Monday, ahead of the Sky Blues’ blockbuster meeting with reigning premiers and league leaders Melbourne City on Saturday night.

The fixture could see World Cup participants Redmayne, Leckie, Maclaren and Tilio go head-to-head at Allianz Stadium.

Reflecting on his welcome at Sydney Airport, Redmayne told KEEPUP: “It’s amazing and I think the game has grown exponentially.

“The media coverage and the overall support and interest for the game within Australia is phenomenal and I really hope we can capitalise on that – bring on the A-League this weekend.”

Like Cummings, Redmayne had a strong message about the “special” A-Leagues.

“We had eight A-Leagues-based players [at the World Cup] so it just shows the quality we’ve got within the league.

“It’s such an even league, it’s such a diverse league, it’s special. Football fans in Australia really need to come out and support their local clubs and come to a game and enjoy it because it’s something really special.

We’ve shown that the A-League can produce players, they  produce talent that can compete on the World Stage but also there are boys in the A-League that are plying their trade day in, day out and I really encourage people to come and support their local teams.

He added: “The vast majority of the national team squad came through the A-League system. You look at Cammy Devlin, Garang Kuol, Kye Rowles, there’s boys all over the pitch that have come through the A-League’s systems that we have in place.

“We need to capitalise on that and grow it even further…”