Frank Pimblett

NSL Career: Brisbane City, Brisbane Strikers 279 (20) / 1977 - 1993/94

Once a highly promising footballer in England - Frank Pimblett moved to Australia early in his career seeking a better lifestyle and became a legend of Queensland football. An industrious midfielder, Pimblett mastered the basics of the game and showed great determination to return to the top level after deciding to retire at the age of 28.

Liverpool born and bred, Pimblett signed for English Second Division side Aston Villa at the age of 17 after spending time with the club as an apprentice from the Liverpool and Merseyside District Schools. An England Schoolboys international, Pimblett quickly impressed and made three league appearances in the first team as Villa gained promotion to the First Division and won the Football League Cup.

Pimblett made just seven First Division appearances for Villa during the 1975/76 season before getting loaned to struggling Fourth Division side Newport County for the remainder of the season. Off-field troubles took it's toll on the talented young midfielder and his contract was terminated by Villa before joining Fourth Division side Stockport County, where he made just one appearance.

Looking for a fresh start, Pimblett moved to Australia and joined Brisbane City for the inaugural Phillips Soccer League season. The creative Pimblett formed part of a talented midfield with Argentine wizard Roberto Echeverria and hard-working Larry Gaffney and scored City's second goal in extra time of the NSL Cup Semi-Final against West Adelaide before helping the side claim the inaugural NSL Cup, defeating Marconi five-three in a penalty shoot-out in the final.

City struggled for consistency in the league once again in the 1978 season, finishing last, before reaching back-to-back cup finals where Pimblett scored the winner against Adelaide City. Despite being the first two-time cup winners in the NSL, Brisbane looked to improve in the league standings in the 1979 season.

 Pimblett played every game of the season as the club finished fourth before reaching the grand final of the Play-Off Series (lost two-one on aggregate to Sydney City). Following the 1979 NSL season, Pimblett briefly returned to England, making three league appearances for Fourth Division side Hartlepool United during the second half of the 1979/80 season.

Returning to City, Pimblett helped the side win it's first game of the 1980 season but was unable to help the side finish the season strongly as the club made several coaching changes. City returned to form in the 1981 season where they achieved their highest ever finish in the league (third). 

Pimblett remained a key player for the club over the next few seasons, spending some time as captain, before deciding to retire at the end of the 1985 season at the age of 28. Pimblett came out of retirement in the late 1980s for City and won the 1990 XXXX Brisbane Premier League Grand Final after being named the league's best player.

The 34 year old midfielder played for Eastern Suburbs in the 1991 Brisbane Premier League season before joining new franchise club Brisbane United for their inaugural NSL season (1991/92). In a side that looked to build it's foundations with local talent, Pimblett finished the season as club champion as the side reached the semi-finals of the NSL Cup and narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals series. Pimblett spent two more seasons with the club before hanging up his boots at the age of 37.