Melbourne Heart FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton has described his honour in earning selection to the PFA A-League Team of the Season as special way to cap a testing season.
Melbourne Heart FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton has described his honour in earning selection to the PFA A-League Team of the Season as special way to cap a testing season.
Bolton, 36, missed the opening two matches of the current campaign to injury after toiling through a difficult pre-season punctuated by surgery.
But the four-time Socceroo, who is renowned for his meticulous approach to preparation, battled on, earning recognition from his peers as one of the leading goalkeepers in Australian football, 19 years after first making his professional debut.
“It has been an interesting year, considering what I have been through, especially early on; to get through the year was an achievement in itself,” he said.
“To pick up this award has topped it off. I don’t measure myself in individual awards, and I want silverware. That’s certainly what’s going through my mind this weekend as we go to Perth.”
A foundation member of the PFA, Bolton was also acknowledged for his services to the game with Life Membership, a demonstration of the respect with which he is regarded by his fellow professionals, arguably the ultimate compliment a footballer can receive.
“This is special; these are the sort of things you look back on when you are done, especially from your fellow players and considering there was a lot of stand-out performances from goalkeepers around the league this year, it’s great to be measured up near the top,” he said.
Bolton was part of a contingent of four Melbourne Heart FC players earning PFA A-League Team of the Season nods, joining Aziz Behich, Michael Marrone and skipper Fred, who was also named captain of the all-star team.
