Jeff Olver

NSL Career: Heidelberg, Melbourne Knights 299 (0) / 1980 - 1992/93

Socceroos Career: 37 (0) A Internationals / 14 (0) B Internationals

The ever-present Socceroos keeper during the second half of the 1980s, Olver represented the national team more than any other keeper whilst playing in the NSL. Strong and commanding, Olver maintained his spot in the national team despite a lack of team success in the NSL.

Olver began his junior career at Sunshine Heights before joining Victorian Metropolitan League Division One side Albion Rovers, where he made his first team debut at the age of 15. Olver helped the side gain promotion to the State League in 1977, and after a season in the top division, the young keeper joined star-studded NSL side Heidelberg.

With star keeper Yakka Banović in the side, Olver had to wait until the post-season Play-Off Series to make his debut - which would eventually be his unofficial 300th NSL game. Banović maintained his spot during the 1980 season, with Olver making just one start in round 13 before the Socceroos keeper earned an Australian transfer record move to Derby County.

 Olver took advantage of the situation and helped the side reach the NSL Cup Final and kept a clean sheet in Heidelberg's four-nil win over Sydney City in the Play-Off Series Grand Final. With Banović out of the picture, Olver became Heidelberg's undisputed number one in the 1981 season and finished the season with eight clean sheets. Over the next three seasons, Olver became one of the best keepers in the league - averaging ten clean sheets per season - and played in two losing NSL Cup Finals as well as the Southern Conference Final in 1984.

Olver's form between the sticks earned him his first Socceroos call-up during the 1984 season, playing in B internationals against Scotland's Rangers and Greece's Iraklis. Three more B international selections in 1985 led to his full international debut against China as Olver helped Heidelberg reach the Southern Conference Minor Semi-Final.

The Heidelberg custodian spent two more seasons at the club during which time he became the national team's undisputed number one, but failed to find any team success. Olver joined Melbourne Croatia in 1988 for a sizeable $26,000 transfer fee and hoped to find success playing behind a strong a back four that included Theo Selemidis, Alan Davidson, George Hannah and Robbie Dunn.

Following an unsuccessful season and a half with Croatia, Olver rejoined Heidelberg during the 1989 season but was unable to save the club from relegation. The 30 year old keeper lost his spot in the national team to Adelaide City's Robert Zabica and remained with Heidelberg as they won the 1990 Victorian State League and earned promotion back to the NSL.

After returning to the NSL, Heidelberg were unable to reproduce the form that made them a top side during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Olver remained the side's number one custodian during the 1990/91 and 1991/92 seasons but lost his spot to the younger Michael Chatzitrifonos halfway through the 1992/93 season before retiring from the top flight prior to Heidelberg's NSL Cup Final victory over Parramatta Eagles.

Olver joined Victorian Premier League side Bulleen for the start of the 1993 season and helped the side win the championship in his first season. The veteran keeper remained with the club for a further three seasons - helping them reach another grand final and had a stint as player-coach before hanging up his boots at the age of 36 following a short stint with Fawkner during the 1997 season.