It started in the humble surroundings of Bellambi, took him to the brightest of bright lights at World Cups and intense Champions League nights, and now has a Hall Of Fame induction to go with it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's not a bad resume and one Wollongong's most famous football export Scott Chipperfield can lay claim to after he was inducted into Football Federation Australia's Hall Of Fame in Brisbane yesterday.
The 36-year-old was one of three inductees along with Matildas legend Alison Forman and long-term football administrator Alan Vessey.
Capped 68 times for his country, Chipperfield was part of Australian football's golden generation which helped give the Socceroos a presence on the international stage.
Casting aside so many disappointments beforehand, Chipperfield and company powered the Socceroos into the 2006 World Cup in Germany and subsequent 2010 edition in South Africa.
He scored 12 times for Australia after making his debut in 1998 and ended his international career following the Socceroos' 2-1 win over Serbia in their final pool game in South Africa.
Perhaps the true mark of Chipperfield's professionalism is the success he has enjoyed at each club he has played for.
He won the National Soccer League with the Wollongong Wolves in consecutive seasons (2000-01) before winning an unprecedented seven league titles and six Swiss Cup trophies with adopted club Basel.
The FFA Hall Of Fame has inducted more than 200 names since 1999.
SCOTT CHIPPERFIELD
Born: 30/12/1975
Junior club: Bellambi
Senior career: Tarrawanna; Fernhill; Wollongong Wolves (1996-2001); FC Basel (2001-2012); FC Aesch (2012-)
International debut: September 1998 v Fiji
Internationals: 68, 12 goals. Represented Socceroos at 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
Honours: NSL titles (Wolves) 1999-2000, 2000-01. Won 7 Swiss championships with FC Basel; Champions League with FC Basel; Johnny Warren medallist 1999-2000, 2000-01; twice FC Basel player of year (2002-03, 2009-10).
