Josh Risdon lost an A-League Men Grand Final with Perth Glory 10 years ago, but in 2022 he has lifted the famous trophy aloft in the Green and Black of Western United.
The 29-year-old had an incredible return season for United after being hampered by injuries in the 2020/21 campaign and played a major part in the side securing the Championship.
READ MORE: Western United A-League Men Champions
With the captain’s armband around his bicep, Risdon showed his typical grit and determination in the match as he played over 80 minutes of it with a heavy knock to his hip area.
“When it first happened and I tried to run after, I didn’t know how I was going to get through the rest of the game. But there probably wasn’t anything that would get me off the pitch. Luckily it got easier and easier as I went on,” Risdon said.
The boy from Bunbury powered through and not only survived in the match, but thrived when faced with Socceroo Mathew Leckie for 65 minutes, and then against another Australian international in Marco Tilio when he came off the bench.
Risdon made an incredible 10 tackles in the match, twice as many as anyone else on the pitch in a dominant defensive display which also included four clearances and two interceptions.
With everything on the line, Risdon stepped up to help the Club win its first ever trophy, a feeling that he said was special.
“It’s incredible. First Grand Final win, it’s amazing. Our awesome fans – to think the Club’s only three yers old and we’ve got a little fanbase like this it’s incredible. Just amazing,” he said.
After being named vice-captain at the beginning of the season, Risdon ended up taking the mantle as captain for the majority of the season with Alessandro Diamanti sidelined for much of the year.
The Italian has been in many ways the catalyst for the Club’s early growth, and Risdon said he was delighted to be able to lift the trophy alongside him as Diamanti got into his kit for the moment.
“Unfortunately Dia’s been injured half the season so luckily I got to wear the armband, but we’ve got so many leaders in the team and I’m very proud I got to lift the trophy with him,” he said.
Not 30 years old until July, Risdon will come back looking for more domestic success next season, with one eye always remaining on a return to the Socceroos squad.
