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George Blackwood

George Blackwood
Personal information
Full name George Henry Raymond Blackwood[1]
Date of birth (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Berowra, Australia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
0000–2014 APIA Leichhardt
2014 Sydney FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Sydney FC 19 (1)
2017–2020 Adelaide United 64 (13)
2020–2021 Oldham Athletic 13 (3)
2021–2023 Adelaide United 36 (7)
2023 Bhayangkara 1 (0)
2024 Balzan 13 (4)
International career
2014–2015 Australia U20 16 (7)
2015–2019 Australia U23 11 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2024

George Henry Raymond Blackwood (born 4 June 1997) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Born in Sydney, Blackwood played youth football for APIA Leichhardt Tigers before making his professional debut for Sydney FC in 2014.

Blackwood has represented Australia at under-20 and at under-23 level.

Club career

Early career

Blackwood spent a month training at Colchester United in 2013 after winning a scholarship award in Australia.[2]

Sydney FC

George was first called up to Sydney FC's senior squad for a match against Melbourne City in October 2014.[3] He scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Central Coast Mariners on 16 March 2016 with a shot from outside the box.[4] Blackwood denied a new contract from Sydney FC at the end of the 2016–17 season.[5]

Adelaide United

In July 2017, Adelaide United signed Blackwood.[6] Blackwood's first professional goal for the Adelaide-based club came from a penalty in the Round of 16 of the 2017 FFA Cup against rivals Melbourne Victory.[7] Blackwood made an appearance in the 2017 FFA Cup Final on 21 November 2017 against former club Sydney FC, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.[8] Blackwood was released by the club on 26 August 2020 to pursue a new opportunity[9]

Oldham Athletic

On 6 September 2020, Blackwood signed with Oldham Athletic on a two-year deal.[10] Blackwood scored his first goal for Oldham on 3 November 2020 which saw the team go on to win the game 2–1.[11] Blackwood developed a fracture in his back which saw a lack of appearances for the English club.[12] Following the conclusion of the 2020–21 EFL League Two season, the club had announced that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, Blackwood then returned to Australia.[13]

Return to Adelaide United

Blackwood returned to Adelaide United on 2 August 2021 signing a two-year deal.[14] In his first game back for the club, Blackwood dispatched a penalty in a Round of 32 match of the 2021 FFA Cup against Floreat Athena.[15]

Following a poor season Blackwood was released by the club on the 4th of July 2023.[16] He was unable to find any clubs in Australia interested in signing him and departed for Indonesia.

Bhayangkara FC

On 9 November 2023, Blackwood joins Bhayangkara FC in Liga 1.[17][18] On the same day, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Rans Nusantara, coming substitute for Sani Rizki Fauzi in the 67th minute.

Blackwood was released from his contract shortly after his debut.[19]

Balzan FC

Having been released by Bhayangkara FC almost as soon as his contract began, Blackwood failed to find a new contract within Indonesia or back home in Australia. In January 2024, it was announced that he had signed for Maltese Premier League club Balzan F.C.[20]

International career

Blackwood was first selected for the Australian under-20 team for the 2014 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in September 2014.[21]

In March 2015, Blackwood was called up to the Australian under-23 team to replace injured Sydney FC teammate Terry Antonis for 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sydney FC 2014–15 A-League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2015–16 A-League 14 1 0 0 6 0 20 1
2016–17 A-League 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Sydney FC total 19 1 1 0 6 0 26 1
Adelaide United 2017–18 A-League 24 5 5 1 0 0 29 6
2018–19 A-League 19 4 1 0 0 0 20 4
2019–20 A-League 21 4 2 2 0 0 23 6
Adelaide total 64 13 8 3 0 0 72 16
Oldham Athletic 2020–21 League Two 13 3 2 0 0 0 15 3
Adelaide United 2021–22 A-League Men 17 5 2 1 0 0 19 6
2022–23 A-League Men 19 2 3 1 0 0 22 3
Adelaide total 36 7 5 2 0 0 41 9
Career total 132 24 16 5 6 0 154 29

Honours

Club

Sydney FC

Country

Australia

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Vietnam 1 Australia 0" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. ^ Graham, Ben (11 September 2013). "Berowra Heights striker wins scholarship to train in UK, follows footsteps of Harry Kewell". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (10 October 2014). "Sydney FC's kids to be tested against Melbourne City millionaires". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Central Coast Mariners score two late goals to salvage A-League draw with Sydney FC". ABC News. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Calver stays, Blackwood leaves Sydney FC". The World Game. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. ^ Greenwood, Rob (6 July 2017). "A-League forward George Blackwood joins Adelaide United from Sydney FC". The Advertiser.
  7. ^ "Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 23rd Aug 2017". FFA Cup. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Sydney FC vs Adelaide United, FFA Cup, Cup Final, 21st Nov 2017". FFA Cup. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Farewell, George Blackwood! | Adelaide United". www.adelaideunited.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  10. ^ "SIGNING: Blackwood Becomes A Latic". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. ^ Binks, Elliott. "OLYROO OFF THE MARK FOR LATICS IN 'FANTASTIC' WIN". FTBL. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. ^ Thomas, Josh (23 April 2021). "'I couldn't do anything' - George Blackwood's tough first season in England ending with silver lining". Sporting News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ Geldard, Suzanne (30 June 2021). "Oldham confirm departure of Australian striker George Blackwood". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Botic signs with A-League's Western Utd". Yahoo Sports. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ Filosi, Gianluca (26 September 2021). "FFA Cup 2021 Round of 32 Report: Floreat Athena 1-3 (aet) Adelaide United". Adelaide United. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Blackwood, Kasumović to leave Reds". adelaideunited.com.au. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Former Sydney FC & Adelaide United player George Blackwood signs for Bhayangkara Presisi in Indonesia's first division". Kristorpha. Reddit. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Welcome @zulfahmiarifin23 @george_blackwood @arifsatria_28 Kita sama-sama berjuang untuk panji-panji The Guardian!". Bhayangkara FC. Via Instagram. 9 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Skuad Borongan ala Bhayangkara FC Langsung Dikenalkan Bersama, Pemain Asing Langsung Debut Starter". Tribunnews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  20. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor. "Balzan FC sign Australian striker George Blackwood". Times Of Malta. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  21. ^ Thedosiou, Peter (1 September 2014). "Berowra's George Blackwood selected for young Socceroos". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. ^ "Antonis, Yeboah out of Olyroos squad". The World Game. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  23. ^ a b Houghton, Nick (25 September 2016). "Young Socceroos cruise to AFF U-19 Championship win". The World Game. Retrieved 25 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ Smithies, Tom (12 May 2015). "Johnny Warren Medal 2014–15: Phoenix striker Nathan Burns wins top gong at A-League awards". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.