Striker back in the Reds

Tom Biddington

February 12 2008

Shepparton News

Shepparton's bid for back-to-back North East Soccer League premierships has received a boost, with star striker Luke Slater returning to the club.

In 2004, Slater's last year with the Reds, he won the NESL's division one best and fairest after slotting 23 goals to also claim the leading goalscorer title.

The 28-year-old recently moved back to Shepparton after finishing a law degree, but doesn't have high expectations after missing all of last year with injury.

``I'm just taking it slowly at the moment, I've just come off my third knee reconstruction so I'm just hoping I can get back out there,'' Slater said.

``I've started pre-season training, but I just want to get some strength back in my leg and see how I go.

``I got the opportunity to move back here to work at Riordan Legal, and that was too good to refuse so it's all worked out well.''

Slater re-injured his knee in the final game of the 2006 season playing with the Melbourne Knights in the Victorian Premier League and reckons he's missed about four years of soccer through injury.

``I first injured my knee 10 years ago in England then the second one was up here in Shepparton in 2003,'' he said.

``It has been frustrating and if I was on the other side of 30 I would probably give it away, but I still think I've got something to offer.''

Knowing he was spending 2007 on the sidelines, the striker turned his hand to coaching and it's something he is keen to pursue.

``I thought I'd get involved and I was assistant coach of the Victoria Country under-14s at the national championships in Coffs Harbour, which was great,'' Slater said.

``I really want to help out with the kids and it's something I want to get heavily involved in once I'm finished playing.''

Shepparton coach Andy Ingham _ who travelled to Australia from Norwich, England, with Slater back in 2002 _ said Slater's return would strengthen the side.

``It's a good addition to the squad and just as importantly he's going to be great from the coaching side of things,'' Ingham said.

``He certainly knows how to score goals, but he's still trying to recover from the knee injury, so we're not going to rush him but it's great to have him back at the club.

The NESL season kicks off on April 20.