Marshall Soper

NSL Career: APIA, Sydney Olympic, Wollongong City, Parramatta Eagles, Marconi 319 (121) / 1981 - 1994/95

Socceroos Career: 5 (0) A Internationals / 24 (4) B Internationals

One of the colourful characters of Australian football during the 1980s and 1990s, Marshall Soper won a record five NSL Cups and was one of the best footballers that Australia produced during the NSL era. Soper was a nightmare for every defender he played against, utilising his skill and aggressive nature to get in to goal scoring positions where his ability to shoot with both feet decided many games.

The scourge of coaches, referees, the opposition and their fans - Soper was beloved by his own fans -  with a win-at-all-costs mentality, silky skills as a centre-forward, an impressive goal scoring record, as well as his trademark "arm-winding" goal celebration.

Soper began his junior career at Raymond Terrace in the Hunter Region before joining Weston Bears, where he progressed through the ranks and made his first team debut at the age of 15 in the Northern New South Wales Regional League. It was not until he was the golden boot winner at the age of 20 however that the NSL came calling. APIA signed the promising young striker in 1981 and he immediately made an impact, scoring 12 goals in 25 league appearances. Soper went one better in the 1982 season, scoring 14 goals in 24 league appearances and played in APIA's NSL Cup Final victory against Heidelberg. 

Soper's form at APIA earned him first call-up for the Socceroos A team and a move to Tommy Docherty's Sydney Olympic. In his first season at Olympic, Soper scored a personal best 15 goals and helped the side win the 1983 NSL Cup. Over the next two seasons, Soper was at his best: playing in Olympic's losing 1984 two-legged grand final, scoring the equaliser in Olympic's 1985 NSL Cup Final win over Preston and scoring against Juventus, Arsenal, Tottenham and Red Star Belgrade in a series of B Internationals for the Socceroos.

No stranger to controversy, Soper was at the centre of an infamous riot at Pratten Park in 1985 when after getting sent off in the 33rd minute after battling with Sydney City defender Gerry Gomez, fans invaded the pitch and the game had to be called off by officials in one of the darkest moments in NSL history.

After another strong season with Olympic where he played in the club's losing two-legged grand final against Adelaide City, Soper suffered a serious knee injury while playing for the national team and spent the entire 1987 season away from the pitch. With his international career over and injuries taking their toll, Soper had a frustrating return to Olympic in 1988 and was loaned out to Wollongong City mid-season where he helped the club finish top of the ladder and reach the NSL Finals Series for the first time.

Soper started the 1989 season back at Olympic before leaving to join Canterbury-Marrickville in the NSW First Division. Soper returned to the NSL in the 1989/90 season, joining Melita Eagles, who were back in the NSL for the first time since 1984 and became an integral part of the squad. 

Soper's time at the Eagles would see the experienced forward become a leader in a team full of young talent and helped the club reach the finals series twice (only appearances in their time in the NSL) and win the NSL Cup twice (becoming the most successful player in the history of the competition). 

The veteran forward moved to Marconi for the 1994/95 season where he finished his NSL career before returning to Malaysia to play for Perak - having played for Malaysian second division club Penang during the 1990/91 NSL off-season. Following his time in Malaysia, Soper returned to Australia and had stints in the NSW Super League and First Division before hanging up his boots at the age of 38.