By Lance Jenkinson
Green Gully Cavaliers striker and NPL Golden Boot frontrunner Alex Salmon has found a second home in Keilor Downs.
The Englishman is enjoying his time in Australia so much that he is open to settling here – and that is good news for the Cavaliers.
“I came to a bit of a crossroads in England and fancied a change,” Salmon said. “I moved over to Perth because I knew a couple of lads there and my uncle was also there.
“I just started playing football over there and enjoyed it.
“I love the lifestyle here in Australia and I don’t think I’ll ever move home, to be honest.”
Salmon moved to Perth three years ago and played in the NPL WA competition with Armadale, Bayswater City and Inglewood United.
After some persistence from Green Gully general manager Raymond Mamo, Salmon eventually made the decision to move to Green Gully.
Salmon has had a spectacular impact for the Cavaliers.
The 24-year-old has moved to equal top of the goalscorers chart with 13 goals, equal with Hume City’s James Brown.
Salmon scored a double for Green Gully in a 4-2 defeat to Altona Magic at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.
It was another demonstration of how easily Salmon has fitted into the Cavaliers’ mix.
“Everyone at the club has made the transition and me coming across really easy,” he said.
“All the lads are great – and the manager. I’m happy there and I’m settled.
“I live around the corner from the football club, so it’s easy for me. It’s a lovely place [Melbourne] and I’m loving every minute of it.”
Growing up just outside Liverpool in England, Salmon never envisaged his football path would take him to Australia.
His boyhood dream would have been to be scoring goals at Goodison Park for his favourite club, Everton.
Salmon was once in the professional system in the UK, graduating from Carlisle United’s youth academy to the senior squad.
After three first team games, Salmon was loaned out to Alloa Athletic in Scotland.
From there, it was all non-league football for Salmon, taking in stints with Celtic Nation and Workington.
He impressed in his time at Workington, but not enough to get back into the football league, so he decided to move Down Under.
Even though he is so far away from home, Salmon has no trouble keeping in touch with friends and family.
“I don’t feel like I haven’t seen them in ages,” Salmon said. “You can just FaceTime them now and it’s fine.
“I speak to my friends every day, I speak to my family every day, so there’s not much that is missed.”
Salmon has promised a family visit at the end of this NPL Victoria season, but not before he has played his part in completing Green Gully’s journey from the relegation play-off last season to finals contender this campaign.
“It’s what we aim to do at the start of the year,” Salmon said. “You want to be up there by the halfway point and we’re around the mark.
“You put a couple of wins together in this league and you never know what’s going to happen.”
