Avondale’s Liam Boland made history in Round 15 against Altona Magic, scoring a penalty in the 34th minute to become the first player to bring up 100 goals in the NPL Victoria era.
In the process of reaching the triple-figure milestone, Boland also became the Victorian NPLM all-time leading goal scorer, overtaking South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons forward Milos Lujic, who previously held the record with 99 goals.
Boland said he felt “extremely honoured” to be the first player to reach the historic milestone.
“When I was younger, I prided myself on scoring goals more than anything, but I feel like I have added a bit to my game by bringing players into the game., But to score 100 goals is something I will be able to hold onto,” he said.
“To have the respect of my peers and the people around me is pretty cool as well, it’s something I take a lot of pride in for sure.”
The striker believed he reached the ton in Round 7 when he scored a brace in Avondale’s 3-0 defeat of the Melbourne Knights, however after picking up an injury the following week he found out he was agonisingly short.
“I injured my hamstring against the Dandenong Thunder (Round 8) and I came off at half-time, after the game I spoke to Joey Lynch (commentator) and he informed me I was on 99 and obviously I had just done my hamstring so I was spewing about that,” Boland recalled.
I knew I was one goal away when I came back into the team after a few weeks, but there were a few games I couldn’t find the back of the net.
“I managed to get it against the Magic, and having played most of my career In Victoria, it is a nice milestone to have.”
After an illustrious career in Victoria, Boland has decided to head back home to Perth at the conclusion of the season, leaving behind a legacy that may not be topped.
“It was nice to hit the milestone (100 goals) before I went home, it has been a very special nearly 10 years and I wouldn’t do anything differently.
“I am 31 now, so I have played senior football since the age of 16. It does take its toll, especially with a young family now.
“I do want to keep playing a few more years though (in Perth), I wouldn’t mind going back to a club that I played for in juniors or at a senior level just to give back a little as well. My mates are egging me on that I should be a double centurion and score a 100 there too, I have 30 or 40 (goals) so I don’t think I will be getting that far.”
The striker first signed with the Oakleigh Cannons in 2015, but after only featuring four times he made the move to Green Gully mid-season and didn’t look back, scoring 28 goals from 38 appearances in a two-year period.
“It was a big move here from Western Australia. I moved here with my then girlfriend and now wife nearly nine years ago and I have so many fond memories.
“I still remember my first goal which was against the Melbourne Knights away for Oakleigh, I scored a couple off the bench that game, and a few weeks later I moved to Green Gully and had a pretty successful time personally and enjoyed my time there,” Boland said.
After the 2016 season, he made the switch to Hume City, however, his stint at the club didn’t transpire as imagined and after reassessing his option he found himself at Avondale.
“I was at a bit of a crossroads of what I was going to do and considered moving back home to Perth then I got a phone call from Zoran Markovski who was the assistant of Avondale at that time, and he saw the potential for me to fit into the Avondale team and I have never looked back,” Boland explained.
“We have had some struggles and we have had some great times; it has been a great six years.”
Having spent the best of a decade playing in the Victorian system, Boland said there was plenty of people who helped him along the way, but there are a select few he will hold close to his heart.
“I have made great relationships at Avondale and have friendships I will have for life,” he said.
“When I moved over to Green Gully, Rodrigo Vargas was massive for me for my confidence, he reassured me I was good enough and I could be scoring goals for fun there. I managed to do that for them, and I enjoyed my time with him there and have a massive respect for him as a person and as a player, he had a great career as well.
“And then moving to Avondale later on, Zoran Markovski has been massive for me, I have played my best football under him but also Jeff Fleming and Andy Vargas; his assistants have been brilliant as well.
“Someone who I have played with a lot is Dillon Jakupi, I was with him at Hume City, and I actually got in his ear about signing at Avondale.
“He is someone I am close mates with, and I am close with his family as well, they are the types of friendships you can build when you are playing football, it brings people together which is pretty special.
After a disappointing finish to last season, Avondale have won 14 out of a possible 16 matches and with their forward line firing, they look primed to claim the club’s first Championship.
“We have a lot of talent across the team and in our forward half anyone can score on their day,” Boland said.
“We have Zinni (Stefan Zinni) who has had injuries over his career, but he has come out firing again this season and he brought up his 100th game for Avondale on the weekend and I have been there the whole time with him.
“We have got players like Yousef Ahmed who has had injuries this season, but he can come off the bench or start and can be as good as anyone in the league on his day.
“Zander Guy has been a great signing and keeps on scoring and then there is Manny Aguek who has taken a massive step forward this season.
“For someone to improve the way he has it gives me great pride, hopefully, there are parts of my game he has taken away and can use.
“I have enjoyed every second playing with the entire playing group (Avondale) and the individual honour are great, but team success is the priority, and this year could be the year.”
Photo: Natasha Morello Photography *