In the relationship between footballer and fan, it’s not often you find the former feeling envious of the latter.
But that’s exactly how Canberra United legend Ashleigh Sykes felt in the games leading up to her retirement in 2018, gazing across the white line to the fans in the stands and wishing to be in their shoes.
“When you’re driving on the team bus to a game and see people in the pub on the side of the road, or fans in the stands and it looks like more fun than being on the field, it’s probably a good time to retire,” Sykes told KEEPUP, reflecting on her decision to walk away from the game at 26 years of age.
“I did a little bit of everything (in retirement). I worked for a law firm for a few years as a PA, making friends there. Now I’m working for a lobbyist organisation. I bought a house, I have a dog now, I got married, I lived life outside of football.
“Going on holidays before COVID happened, taking advantage of some of the things that I had missed, probably eating too much, drinking too much, hanging out with friends and family which was really, really enjoyable.
“It helped me get some perspective on how I was feeling, and now I think I’m in a position work-wise and life-wise to consider coming back to play, and it happened to be just in time for the season.
Now I’ve had a chance to experience being on the other side of the sideline, it definitely was what I needed at the time.
I was a bit burnt out. I lost enjoyment of the game, so a few years away brought that back, and here I am trying to make it happen on the field again.”
READ: Canberra legend Sykes returns
Almost four years after calling time on her career, the decorated striker was sitting at home with mates when the idea of a comeback slipped into conversation.
Sykes saw the prospect with a fresh perspective, armed with a wide array of life experiences garnered over her hiatus from top-flight football and buoyed by a successful spell at NPL side Canberra Olympic which helped Sykes find her love for football once more.
Within a matter of weeks she turned the notion into a reality, announcing her return for a 12th season with the Green Machine.
“(The decision) came not that long ago, actually. Probably three or so weeks ago,” she said. “I have a few mates who played with me at Canberra Olympic, and my sister was there as well. We were talking rubbish at home, basically, about a comeback.
“I was just like ‘you know what, why don’t I do it?’
“I enjoyed football a lot this year, I feel like I’m in a position in my life where I can revisit it again. It came to me, and I was sitting there thinking ‘I really want to do this’.
“I had some discussions with my husband, with a few other support people before reaching out to (Canberra head coach Vicki Linton) to see if she’d even take me.”
Sykes’ return is the second comeback story in as many seasons emanating out of Canberra United after Matildas legend Michelle Heyman ended her retirement in 2020/21 to fire the club back into the postseason with a ten-goal haul, clinching the prestigious Julie Dolan Medal in the process.
Like Sykes, Heyman revealed her affection for the game had waned before her decision to retire in 2019, reflected in her 12-game goalless run with Adelaide United through the 2018/19 W-League campaign.
Whilst thriving at NPL level with Canberra Olympic, Sykes watched Heyman return to her dazzling best and couldn’t help but wonder why she couldn’t do the same.
“It was great to watch Michelle do it last year, to see her succeed with the team,” Sykes said.
“From Michelle’s perspective, I think she’s always played her best football when she’s having fun. I think you could see that last year with her performances.
“It was great to watch. There were probably a few of us old girls watching her go around thinking ‘if Michelle can do it, I can do it as well’. Maybe not to the same heights – but I’ll give it a crack.”
A one-season absence was what it took for Heyman to regain her appreciation for what the game meant to her. Bogged down by the day-to-day sameness of a footballer’s life, it’s something she’d lost along the way.
It took Sykes longer to find that spark once again.
But in 2021/22 the two inspiring Canberra figures will feature in the same United side for the first time since 2017, their respective retirement and subsequent comeback stories speaking of the difficulties players face when attempting to play the game when the love has faded.
When Sykes steps back over that white line for the first time at Viking Park on December 3, and sees the fans in green beaming from the stands, this time she’ll shoot a smile right back at them.
“(Returning) makes you remember how fit you used to be,” Sykes laughed. “It’s been great. One of the best things about Canberra United is a bunch of new girls are in there, but it’s got the same feeling it had before from 2008 all the way through. It’s always been a tight-knit group and a friendly community to play with.
“It feels like not much has changed. Training has been tough but that’s part of what I wanted to get stuck into. The challenge of training every day, competing with teammates, getting stuck in. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it.
“I’m mainly (excited) just to challenge myself and compete on the biggest stage again, to see if I’m up to the competition, which I think I would be – I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think I had a chance.”
