Gary Cole

NSL Career: Heidelberg, Preston 247 (109) / 1977 - 1986

Socceroos Career: 19 (17) A Internationals / 21 (4) B Internationals

Gary Cole was one of the most prolific goal scorers in Australia during the late 1970s and early 1980s - combining blistering pace with intelligent touches and a powerful shot to establish himself as one of the NSL's best marksmen during the early era of the competition.

Born and raised in London, England - Gary Cole started his junior career in school sides before immigrating to Australia at the age of 15. Settling in Melbourne, Cole soon joined South Yarra with his father Stan and the father-son duo helped the club gain promotion to the Victorian Metropolitan League Division Three.

Cole joined Victorian State League side Ringwood Wilhelmina as a 16 year old and made his first team debut the following season. Cole spent three seasons at Wilhelmina during which time he made his Socceroos debut in a B international against South Korea before joining Fitzroy United Alexander for the 1976 VSL season. Cole scored five goals in 21 league appearances for Fitzroy before the club became a foundation club of the Phillips Soccer League in 1977.

Playing alongside former Socceroos striker Branko Buljević, Cole developed in to a pacy forward with an eye for a goal and finished his debut season in the NSL as Fitzroy's top scorer as the club finished third in the league and reached the NSL Cup Semi-Finals. During the 1978 season, Cole scored in his full international debut against Greece and continued to score regularly for Fitzroy, losing the club's top scorer award to attacking midfielder Jim Campbell by  a single goal. Cole became a Socceroos regular during 1979 and was joined in attack for Heidelberg (formerly Fitzroy) by Victorian State League Golden Boot winner Jamie Paton.

The attacking trio of Cole, Buljević and Paton combined for 27 of Heidelberg's 44 regular season goals in the 1979 season as the club finished runners-up to Marconi before Cole scored five goals in three games for Heidelberg in the Play-Off Series. Cole took his game to another level during the 1980 season as he formed a damaging strike partnership with Paton after Buljević moved to South Melbourne. Cole and Paton combined to score 36 league goals as Cole won his first NSL Golden Boot with 21 goals in 26 league games. Cole scored four goals in 11 A internationals, including a goal against England, and scored against Italian giants AC Milan in a B international.

Heidelberg again fell short of winning their first NSL Championship, finishing runners-up to Sydney City before reaching the NSL Cup Final and winning the Play-Off Series where Cole scored a hat-trick against champions Sydney City. Despite Heidelberg failing to find success during the 1981 season, Cole won his second NSL Golden Boot with 16 goals in 31 league games and broke the world record for goals scored in a World Cup qualifying match with seven against Fiji after scoring a brace against them in the previous qualifying match.

Cole finished the 1982 season as Heidelberg's top scorer for the fourth time and suffered a serious ankle injury against Adelaide City in the last round, but played through the injury in Heidelberg's NSL Cup Final loss to APIA. Cole scored two goals in two games for the Socceroos during their successful Merlion Cup campaign before requiring a reconstruction.

Following a stint on the sidelines, Cole returned to the pitch in round nine of the 1983 season and scored seven goals in 15 league games before scoring a brace against South Melbourne to help Heidelberg progress to their third NSL Cup Final. Heidelberg lost the cup final two-nil on aggregate before Cole moved to Preston for the 1984 season.

Preston failed to qualify for the finals series as Cole scored just three goals during the season and finished his international career after playing in B internationals against Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Iraklis. Cole formed a strong attacking trio with Warren Spink and Steve Smith during the 1985 season as they helped Preston qualify for the final series for the first time.

Following Preston's NSL Cup Final loss to Sydney Olympic, in which Cole scored Preston's only goal, the side progressed the Southern Conference Preliminary Final where Cole scored a brace against South Melbourne before the game ended in a penalty shoot-out. Cole converted Preston's first penalty as the side won the shoot-out five-four and progressed to the Southern Conference Grand Final where they lost two-one to eventual champions Brunswick.

In round three of the 1986 season, Cole became the second NSL player to reach the 100-goal mark and finished the season as Preston's top scorer before retiring from top flight football. Cole returned to the VSL for a short stint with Croydon City before joining the AIS as an assistant coach and made a few appearances for the team in the VSL before hanging up his boots at the age of 31.

Following his time at the AIS, Cole began his senior coaching career with Heidelberg in the NSL for a season and half before coaching Altona Magic, Bulleen, Bentleigh and Whittlesea in the Victorian Premier League (formerly the VSL) where he won two championships. 

When Melbourne Victory was formed to become one of the foundation clubs of the A-League, Cole served as their first Director of Football and the club won two championships during his tenure. Following his time at Victory, Cole spent a year as Sydney FC's Director of Football before moving in to administrative roles with Football Victoria and the FCA (Football Coaches Australia).