Terry Greedy

NSL Career: St. George, APIA 95 (0) / 1982 - 1988

Socceroos Career: 16 (0) A Internationals / 20 (0) B Internationals

Arguably one of the greatest late-bloomers in the history of Australian sport, Greedy made his NSL debut at the age of 27 after grinding it out in state league football whilst putting his teaching career first. With a natural ability to anticipate the direction of a shot and make comfortable saves, Greedy found immediate success in his top flight career and was selected as the national team's best keeper of the 1980s by FFA after having spent just three years in the national team set-up.

Born and bred in Lismore, NSW - Greedy began his junior career as a defender with Lismore Thistles and Italo Stars, where he became a goalkeeper, and later joined Eastwood United (later Lismore Workers) where he taught himself goalkeeping skills. After finishing his teaching degree at the teacher's college in Lismore, Greedy moved to Sydney in 1978 to begin his first teaching post. Greedy joined NSW Division One side Bankstown where he made his debut at the age of 22 before moving to Melita Eagles in 1980. 

At Melita, Greedy began to make a name for himself, playing in the 1980 Division One Grand Final and put in a stand-out performance in a league game against St. George in 1981 (who were relegated from the NSL in 1980) that caught the eye of coach Frank Arok.

St. George won the 1981 Division One Championship and gained promotion back to the NSL when Arok signed the 26 year old keeper. Forced to deputise keeper Mike Fraser during his first season, Greedy made his debut for the club in their NSL Cup first round loss to Canberra City. Following St. George finishing runners-up in the league, Greedy replaced Fraser in the Play-Off Series Preliminary Final after Fraser conceded three goals in the side's qualifying semi-final loss to Sydney City.

Greedy kept a clean sheet against Wollongong City in the preliminary final before starting in the grand final against Sydney City in which St. George won three-one. The following season, Greedy made his official league debut for St. George in their round one victory over Newcastle KB and conceded just four goals in the first seven games of the season before coach Frank Arok, who began to split his time as national team coach, gave the keeper his full international debut just two months shy of his 28th birthday.

After starring for Australia in friendlies against England, Greedy was offered trials at English First Division clubs Ipswich Town and West Ham, but turned them down due to work and family commitments. Greedy became the Socceroos' undisputed custodian and kept 10 clean sheets in 28 league games as St. George won their first NSL Championship. 

St. George struggled during the 1984 season as national team duties put pressure on Arok, however, Greedy continued to represent the national team - competing with keepers Tony Franken, Jeff Olver and Tony Pezzano to play the majority of the Socceroos' 27 B internationals during 1984 and played in the only A international scheduled for the year against China.

St. George found some good form during the 1985 season as Greedy continued to win selection for the national team and helped St. George reach the Northern Conference Elimination Final before contemplating retirement to progress his teaching career. Greedy decided to continue his football career and started ahead of Olver in all but one of Australia's 1986 World Cup qualifying matches. Greedy kept a clean sheet in the second leg of the inter-continental play-off against Scotland but it was not enough as the Scots gained qualification, defeating Australia two-nil on aggregate. 

With his international career over following a falling-out with the Australian Soccer Federation, Greedy shared the St. George keeping role with Mike Gibson during 1986 before holding down his spot towards the end of the season and helped the side reach the Northern Conference Final after keeping clean sheets in the first two finals series matches.

St. George conceded a Chris Kalantzis goal late in extra time to miss out on the grand final before Greedy joined APIA for the 1987 season. Tony Pezzano kept Greedy out of the side for the entire season as APIA won the NSL Championship and reached the Play-Off Series Grand Final. 

Greedy made his APIA debut in round eight of the 1988 season, putting together a run of eight games, including APIA's NSL Cup Semi-Final win over Sydney Croatia before Pezzano regained his spot. APIA went on to win the cup before Greedy hung up his boots at the end of the season at the age of 33.