If you head to Point Cook’s Tom Roberts Reserve, don’t be surprised if you spot Socceroos and Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson among the parents lining the side of the soccer pitch, cheering on their children.
When he’s not playing the game, Thompson loves to spend his time being a dad – and for him, that means taking his kids to all their weekend sporting commitments. With son Axel, 8, taking to the field for the newly formed West Point Soccer Club, the Sanctuary Lakes-based striker is set to become a regular visitor to the reserve.
For nine years, Thompson and his family have called Point Cook home.
One of Australian soccer’s biggest names, the Melbourne Victory marquee player says he enjoys the serenity and friendliness of the suburb.
He and wife Emmy made a snap decision to move to Wyndham after Thompson signed on with Melbourne Victory for the inaugural A-League season in 2005. They spent the previous four years living in Belgium.
“We made the rush decision to come back. I had a quick phone call with [former Victory coach] Ernie Merrick and decided to move back,” he says.
“My wife got my mother-in-law to have a look at houses for us and she came out this way. We liked the area so we got a place in Point Cook and then built in Sanctuary Lakes.”
One of the initial drawcards to the area was the Sanctuary Lakes golf course.
Playing golf with a friend or just spending time on the driving range quickly became Thompson’s way of letting go of the stresses of the weekend’s game. These days, he often takes to the green with his Victory teammates to relax.
In the past eight years, golf has been one of his biggest passions outside football.
“I’ve made a lot of great friends through golf,” Thompson says.
“It’s great because the people I’ve met out here on the course knew nothing about what I do so they just treated me like one of the lads, which was really good. I wasn’t treated like a soccer player … they were honest with me.”
As the A-League and Melbourne Victory’s popularity has grown over the past nine years, Thompson’s public profile has risen, making him a household name.
And while there are times he cops abuse from rival – and occasionally Victory – supporters, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Here in Melbourne, the sport has grown and obviously being part of that, I am recognisable. But most people are friendly towards me.
“It’s just great that our code is growing. When I came back here nine years ago, I would never have been stopped and asked for an autograph.”
Thompson remembers kicking his first ball at a really young age, inheriting his love of the game from his dad.
He recalls Sundays spent in parks with his parents, three brothers and two sisters playing soccer, with a professional contract and playing overseas mere dreams.
“I love what the game has given me and my family. I’ve enjoyed travelling places.
“I love that rush of running out on to the pitch in a full stadium and scoring a winner or just winning a match. There’s nothing like that.”
With the World Cup only two months away, Thompson is hoping to keep scoring goals and secure a place in the Socceroos squad that will head to Brazil.
He says pulling on the green and gold shirt for Australia one last time is one of his biggest goals.
“I would probably hang up the boots internationally if I got to play. I would love to go. I know that if I play well and I just keep doing what I am doing I have a chance of being selected.
“Playing for Australia is the pinnacle of my career. I don’t think there is any better feeling than knowing the whole country is behind you.”
Thompson’s other big goal is to see out his playing days with Melbourne Victory. After nine years with the club he’s in no hurry to leave AAMI Park.
“I’ve always played my best football here. I’ve never wanted to leave. I have such a good relationship with the club and supporters.
“In our sport, being a one-club man doesn’t happen very often so it would be special to stay.”
But the striker is also realistic that his time at the Victory might be drawing to a close.
“I’m getting on now and I know [the club] will probably be looking for younger players to come through. But I’m hoping to end my career here,” Thompson says. “I hope I’ve got another couple of seasons in me … I want to play at this level as long as I can.”
So what does life post-Victory hold? Maybe coaching, Thompson says. Or perhaps a stint playing for a local club, as did former Socceroos Danny Tiatto and Craig Moore.
No matter what he ends up doing, Thompson hopes he can encourage others, especially kids, to have fun while playing soccer.
“My philosophy is to smile because I’m playing my best when I’m not yelling at guys,” he says. “I want kids to have fun when they’re playing.”
