Curtain closes on grand career

By Teo Pellizzeri

June 22 2007

Shepparton News

Simon Cowell's retirement from soccer is official, after returning home from Goulburn Valley Base Hospital with his left leg in plaster, Cowell reflected on his decorated career with Shepparton South.

Cowell broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg after a professional foul on Tatura's Adam Rando on Sunday, he underwent surgery to repair the breaks on Tuesday morning.

"I believe that I was a bit late into the tackle, maybe that split second is what caused me to break my leg," Cowell said.

Cowell had never broken a bone previously in his career, he retires at the age of 30 after breaking into the Southerners' first team when he was 16.

"I was very close to hanging up the boots this year," he said.

"A lot of club members convinced me to go around once more in search of another premiership.

"They'll go on without me and hopefully they'll feature in the finals campaign."

Cowell was no stranger to winning premierships, captaining Shepparton South twice in its three-peat of grand finals from 1999 to 2001.

"The premierships are the highlights of my career, as they would be for anyone," Cowell said.

"To win one premiership was good enough, but to win three is a feat to be reckoned with."

The successes meant Cowell became a transfer target for other clubs in the region but he stayed loyal to the Southerners.

"Cobram offered me a substantial amount of money to go over there," he said.

"But at the end of the day it wasn't about money, it was about enjoying myself and playing alongside my mates.

"My blood bleeds black and white."

Coaching is something on the agenda for Cowell in his postplaying days.

"Eventually I would like to get into a coaching role," he said.