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

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.

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 teamYear[7]Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Australia 1955003030

Honours

Cessnock

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. 1 2 "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.
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