Cliff Almond (soccer)

Cliff Almond was a former Australian professional soccer player who played as a forward. He was an international player for the Australia national soccer team.

Cliff Almond

Personal information
Full name	Cliff Almond
Date of birth	1930
Place of birth	Cessnock, Australia
Date of death	4 November 2018 (aged 88)
Place of death	Cessnock, Australia
Position(s)	Full-back / Right winger
Youth career
	Aberdare Rangers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1947	Cessnock
1947	North Shore
1953–1954	Cessnock
1954–1955	Stirling Albion	8	(0)
1955–1969	Cessnock
International career
1955	Australia	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His 24-year career included three spells at Cessnock, a brief stint at North Shore and played with Scottish club Stirling Albion playing eight league games.^[1] He reportedly played 464 games at club level, with more than 400 appearances at Cessnock.

Early life

Cliff Almond was born in 1930. Growing up, he was a local colliery clerk until he changed to playing soccer.^[2]

Club career

1946–54: Cessnock and North Shore stint

Almond progressed from the Aberdare Rangers youth team in 1946,^[3] where he signed for Cessnock as a right winger. He first played for Cessnock at age 15 in the 1946 Gardiner Cup with big impressions from spectators.

He made a brief stint at Sydney club North Shore for a year in 1947.

1954–69: English trials and third Cessnock spell

During mid-1954, Cliff Almond was set to travel to England to trial with English clubs Aston Villa and Newcastle United.^[4] He then played for Scottish club Stirling Albion on 31 December 1954 and played eight league games in the 1954–55 season.^[5]

He returned to Cessnock in 1955, where he moved to a defensive position and began his international career with the NSW state representative team and the Australia national soccer team.^[6] Almond played his final match for Cessnock in the Northern NSW top division at age 38.

International career

Almond was selected as part of Australia's five-test match series against South Africa and played three games as captain.^[7] He was also selected for the NSW state representative side against South Africa in August 1955.^[8]

Death

Cliff Almond died on 4 November 2018 at age 88 in his hometown Cessnock, Australia.^[9] His obituary was featured on 9 November 2018.

Career statistics

International

National team	Year^[7]	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Australia	1955	0	0	3	0	3	0

Honours

Cessnock

• Northern NSW Division One Premiership: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960
• Northern NSW Division One Championship: 1960

References

1. Howe, Andrew (2018). Encyclopedia of Socceroos: Every national team player. Fair Play Publishing. ISBN 978-0-648-13330-8.
2. "Cliff Almond: Soccer player". Cessnock City Council. 26 November 2008.
3. Werner, Greg (27 April 2016). "Cliff Almond". The Grassroots Football Project.
4. "Almond Flying To England". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 24, 232. New South Wales, Australia. 7 June 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Cliff Almond Signs For Professional Club". The Newcastle Sun. No. 11, 373. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Cliff Almond". My Football. Football Federation Australia. 25 September 2014.
7. "The Australian National Men's Football Team: Caps And Captains" (PDF). Football Federation Australia. ozfootball.net. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
8. Garside, Alan. "New South Wales v South Africa". ozfootball.net.
9. "Cliff ALMOND Death Notice". Cessnock Advertiser.