Scott Chipperfield

NSL Career: Wollongong Wolves 131 (50) / 1996/97 - 2000/01

Socceroos Career: 68 (12) A Internationals

"Chippers" was arguably Wollongong Wolves' greatest player of all time whose technique, skill and high work-rate played a major role in bringing success to the coastal city. One of Australia's greatest left-footed players, Chipperfield formed a prolific goalscoring attacking third at Wollongong with strikers Stuart Young and Saso Petrovski, breaking the national league regular season goal scoring record in the 2000/01 season.

The Wollongong native started his junior career in the coastal NSW region of Illawarra with Bellambi before joining Corrimal Rangers at the age of 14. Chipperfield later moved to Fernhill and made his first team debut in the Illawarra Premier League at the age of 19. Chipperfield moved to Illawarra Lions in the NSW Super League before earning a move to the NSL with Wollongong Wolves and made his debut in a one-all draw with Sydney Olympic just a month shy of his 21st birthday.

Developing in to a energetic winger with a wicked left foot who could play in any wide position and score goals, Chipperfield scored 13 goals in 26 league games in the 1997/98 season (his second season) as Wollongong reached the finals series for the first time since the 1992/93 season. Wollongong struggled for results in the 1998/99 season but Chipperfield's performances didn't go unnoticed as he made his Socceroos debut during Australia's 1998 Oceania Nations Cup campaign.

Wollongong had been building a strong side since Chipperfield's first season at the club under coach Nick Theodorakopoulos - which came together with the signings of English striker Stuart Young and tough defender David Cervinski in the 1999/00 season. Wollongong balanced their dangerous attack with stability in defence and finished the season with a +28 goal difference which included a NSL record 72 goals scored for.

Wollongong reached the grand final for the first time in their history and went in to the half-time break three-nil down against Perth Glory. It was at this time that Chipperfield would show everyone what he was capable of - scoring the first goal of the second half and inspiring his team to a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory where he converted Wollongong's second-to-last penalty. 

Chipperfield received the Joe Marston Medal to go along with his first Johnny Warren Medal.

The championship title earned Wollongong a spot in the 2001 Oceania Club Championship, where Chipperfield scored the winning goal in the final against Vanuatu's Tafea. Chipperfield replicated his stellar 1990/00 season during the 2000/01 season, winning back-to-back championships (missed the grand final) and joined the elite club of NSL players to have won two Johnny Warren Medals.

Perth Glory signed Chipperfield for the 2001/02 NSL season, but a short time later he left the club to join revamped Swiss club FC Basel where he would go on to win - seven Swiss Championships, six Swiss Cups, two club champion awards and featured in a number of UEFA Champions League games for the club over 11 seasons. For his contribution to the success of Wollongong and his consistency for the national team - Chipperfield was selected as left winger in Wollongong's Greatest XI and left back in FFA's Socceroos Team of the 2000s.