Clint Bolton

NSL Career: Brisbane Strikers, Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power 300 (0) / 1993/94 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 4 (0) A Internationals

The longest serving keeper in the history of the Australian national league and second in all-time player appearances - Clint Bolton was one of the most consistent performers in the NSL during the 1990s and early 2000s. At a ratio of 3.23 games per clean sheet, Bolton had the NSL's third highest tally of clean sheets and holds the all-time record in combined NSL and A-League clean sheets.

Born and bred in the Bundaberg region of Queensland, Clint Bolton started his junior career with Alloway before moving cross-town to Aston Villa (later Brothers Aston Villa) - a club who received written permission to share the name and colours of the famous English football club in 1969. 

Bolton earned a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program in 1992 before joining NSL club Brisbane Strikers for the 1993/94 season. Making his NSL debut at the age of 18, Bolton kept eight clean sheets in 18 league appearances in his first season at the club (sharing the keeper role with Graham Ross) and stood in goal in Brisbane's NSL Cup Semi-Final loss to Parramatta Eagles. 

Bolton again competed with Ross for game time during the 1994/95 season, keeping five clean sheets in 21 league appearances. Bolton became an integral part of the side during the 1995/96 season, starting every match and kept a club record 12 clean sheets as he helped Brisbane qualify for the finals series for the first time. 

The pinnacle of Strikers time in the NSL came in the 1996/97 season where the club achieved it's highest ever finish (second) and reached the NSL Cup Semi-Finals for the third time before going on to defeat Sydney United in NSL Grand Final, where Bolton kept his eighth clean sheet of the season.

The Queenslander remained with Brisbane for a further three seasons during which time the club failed to qualify for the finals series, but made his full international debut for Australia following a strong final season at the club where he kept nine clean sheets. Bolton joined Sydney Olympic for the 2000/01 season where he became one of the undisputed best keepers in the league, keeping 11 clean sheets and helping the side reach the preliminary final where they lost two-nil to South Melbourne.

Continuing his impressive form, Bolton was unlucky not to have been named NSL Goalkeeper of the Year during the 2001/02 season after keeping a league high 10 clean sheets - including one each in the preliminary final and grand final where he captained Olympic to their second NSL Championship. 

Bolton failed to earn a Socceroos re-call since his first season at Olympic, but was named NSL Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2002/03 season as he kept 11 clean sheets on his way to playing in his third NSL Grand Final, in which Olympic lost two-nil to Perth. For the final season of the NSL, Bolton joined Parramatta Power where he played his 300th NSL match in Parramatta's losing grand final to Perth Glory.

Following the demise of the NSL, the 29 year old keeper had a short stint at NSW Winter Super League side Fraser Park before joining APIA for the 2004/05 NSW Premier League season and won the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award. While at APIA, Bolton signed for franchise club Sydney FC for the inaugural A-League season and became a club legend: winning the Oceania Club Championship, two A-League Championships, earned the last of his four Socceroos caps and was named the 2005/06 A-League Goalkeeper of the Year. 

Following his time at Sydney, Bolton joined franchise club Melbourne Heart (later City) for their inaugural A-League season and was a two-time club champion before hanging up his boots at the age of 37. Bolton was an inaugural Sydney FC Hall of Fame member and was selected in their first Team of the Decade.