Sydney FC’s Socceroos full back Rhyan Grant will break Alex Brosque’s all time appearance record for the Sky Blues when he reaches 268 games in the Sydney Derby this Saturday night at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (kick off 7.45pm).
Grant currently sits on 266 Sydney FC matches (in all competitions) which is one behind Brosque on 267.
Having been allowed to return from international duty to avoid obtaining another yellow card and being suspended for June’s Socceroos World Cup playoff; Grant will now play in Wednesday night’s ‘New Sydney Derby’ against Macarthur FC, also at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium when he will equal the record.
He will break Brosque’s long standing mark on Saturday night against bitter rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.
“It’s obviously a pretty cool milestone,” he said. “Breaking a record of Brosquey’s is a huge honour for me because of the way I see him as a player and what he brought to this club, so I’m pumped.
“When you make your debut you are just pumped to be in and around the team and to get a few games as a professional.
“You never think too far ahead, especially as a 17-year old, so now it’s something I can sit back and admire.
“Also to do it in a Sydney Derby, the biggest game on the calendar with a massive crowd at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, will be an incredibly special and proud moment.”
Grant admits his family and friends are excited for him and can look back at some thrilling moments from his Sydney FC career.
“My dad loves those sort of stats, so I think dad and mum and my family are pretty pumped with it.
“In terms of favourite moments, I think you can’t go past both Grand Finals that I scored in.
“I think the equaliser against Melbourne at Allianz Stadium was huge and I think everyone still talks about how loud the noise was when that goal went in.
“That moment will stay with me forever.”
The Sky Blues full back who first made his debut for the club in December 2008, has no plans to retire yet.
“I still think I’ve got plenty more years in the tank,” he continued.
“I don’t know if I’ll get to 37 like Wilks [captain Alex Wilkinson] or Ninko [Milos Ninkovic], but hopefully I’ve got another four or five years and at least get over 300.”
Grant will be presented with a plaque by the club in a pre-game ceremony at the ground to recognise his achievement.
Come Saturday night, he will have played a total of 268 games for Sydney FC, 230 in the A-League, 23 in the AFC Champions League and 15 FFA Cup matches, scoring 12 times.
