The inaugural PFA Alex Tobin OAM Medal night in September 2008 also saw two outstanding footballing students, Central Coast Mariners’ Andrew Clark and Newcastle Jets’ Adam D’Apuzzo, awarded the first ever PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarships.

Andrew Clark not only helps marshal the Central Coast defence, he also acts as the Mariners’ Head of Sport Science (Strength & Conditioning Coach).  Having obtained a Bachelor of Sport Science in 1996, Andrew has committed to a Master of Philosophy in Sport Science at the University of Newcastle since joining the Mariners.  The focus of his thesis is the time and motion analysis of elite professional footballers through the use of GPS technology.  His work has been presented to the 2008 European College of Sport Science Conference in Lisbon, and is on the agenda for the Football Australasia Conference to be held in Melbourne in October.  He aims to have the Mariners, the A-League and the University of Newcastle at the forefront of world research and testing techniques in football.

Whilst winning the 2008 A-League Championship with the Newcastle Jets, Adam D’Apuzzo successfully continued his Bachelor studies in Law and Commerce at the University of New South Wales.  Adam graduated from Trinity Grammar in 2004 with a UAI score of 95.3%, and has not let the demands of life as a full-time professional footballer override his academic ambitions.

About the Kimon Taliadoros Scholarship

Kimon Taliadoros co-founded the PFA in 1993, acted as the association’s inaugural Chief Executive in 1994 and 1995 (whilst playing in the NSL), served as PFA President from 1995 to 1998 and became the PFA’s inaugural Life Member in 1999.  He had an outstanding playing career, illustrated by 9 Socceroos appearances, 244 NSL games, 82 NSL goals and 2 NSL championships (South Melbourne in 1991 and Marconi in 1993).

The PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarships are awarded annually to two players who demonstrate excellence in their development off the field, such as through education, business or community involvement.  One scholarship will recognise excellent achievement by a young player (under 23) still forging and building his career as a professional footballer.  The second will recognise achievement by a player in preparing for life after football as his playing career approaches its end.

The PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarships are appropriately named, and recognise Kimon’s diligence in obtaining professional accountancy and business qualifications whilst a young player, and completing a Master of Business Administration later in his career.

In 2009, each PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarship is worth $5,000.  The scholarship is to be applied to meeting the costs of the player’s education.  Where the player has demonstrated excellence in business or the community, the scholarship funds will be applied to the charity or community organisation nominated by the player. 

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