Dylan McGowan, Craig Goodwin and Jimmy Jeggo spoke to Jarrod Walsh for the fifth instalment of The Pitch at Home, brought to you by RAA.
McGowan and Goodwin were both in the Reds side which won the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Grand Final.
The defender, now on the books of Western Sydney Wanderers, said for himself and Goodwin that clinching the title was extra special being local boys from Adelaide.
“We came through South Australian football, from sort of local Elizabeth and districts into federation and then all the way up eventually to Adelaide United,” he said from Scotland.
“I think that’s what made that Championship winning season so special for guys like me and him.
“… And that season was so special and something that will probably stay with us for a long, long time.”
McGowan played 96 games in all competitions for the Reds between 2014 and 2017, scoring nine goals in the process.
Meanwhile, Goodwin, who returned to Adelaide for his second stint ahead of the 2018/19 season orchestrated United’s FFA Cup 2018 success with an inspired performance against Sydney FC in the final.
The then 26-year-old netted two sensational goals to clinch the Club’s second FFA Cup trophy and avenge their defeat to the same opposition a year earlier.
The winger said he relished playing for his hometown team and did not rule out the possibility of a return in the future, after departing last year for Saudi Arabia team Al-Wehda.
“I think so, obviously I’m an Adelaide boy and I think some of the most enjoyable parts of my career have obviously come with Adelaide,” Goodwin said, having bagged a total of 25 goals in 92 appearances across three campaigns.
“I think there is the possibility of playing for Adelaide again sometime in the future, obviously for now it’s about I think trying to set myself up at the moment and then later on we’ll see what happens.”
As for Jeggo, the midfielder explained that he initially had qualms about his decision to sign with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz in January 2016, after struggling for first-team football, coupled with the Reds’ going on to secure an unprecedented double.
But having since established himself in the Austrian top-flight and currently in the Socceroos squad, the move has proven successful.
“When I went over for the first six months I never played,” the 28-year-old admitted, who currently plies his trade with Austrian Bundesliga giants, Austria Wien.
“And I was watching Mauky (Stefan Mauk) banging goals every week and these boys win the league and I was thinking ‘I’ve had an absolute stinker here’.
“But I think it was one of those things that it was something I really wanted to do at that time in my career and it was a tough decision.
“Like I said the first six months were sort of tough but I think it’s paid off since then, and I think all the boys will attest to the fact that going overseas is definitely a real challenge.”
