In our ‘Where Are They Now’ series we’ll be taking a look back at some of our past players and hearing from them as they provide an update on what they’re up to these days.
This week, we heard from Sydney FC Hall of Fame Member and Club Legend Terry McFlynn, as he hosted a special live Facebook chat on Tuesday night.
McFlynn joined the Sky Blues ahead of their inaugural Hyundai A-League season in 2005 following a successful trial after arriving in the country following his time in England.
The Northern Irishman quickly established himself as a strong and determined midfield anchor, playing 21 times in his debut season and completing the full 90 minutes as Sydney FC claimed their maiden Championship in the 2006 Grand Final.
Following a injury plagued 2006/07 season McFlynn returned to the side and cemented his place, and while not famed for his goalscoring prowess, the midfielder bagged a number of impressive strikes during his time in the Harbour City – including an impressive lob against Queensland Roar in 2005 and a wicked volley against Adelaide United in 2008.
McFlynn’s crowing glory would come in the 2009/10 season, forming a part of Vitezslav Lavicka’s dominant squad and Captaining the side to the 2010 Championship with a penalty shootout win the Grand Final in Melbourne.
Accolades would accumulate for McFlynn, as he set the record for most appearances in all competitions and the Hyundai A-League for the Sky Blues (overtaken by Alex Brosque in 2019) and would sit as the club’s longest serving player until being overtaken by Rhyan Grant in 2018.
McFlynn would retire from the Sky Blues in 2014, taking with him a Hyundai A-League Premiership, two Hyundai A-League Championships and an Oceania Club Championship.
In 2015, as part of the club’s decade celebrations, Terry McFlynn was recognized for his contributions to the side as he was inducted as one of the first Members of the club’s Hall of Fame.
McFlynn would continue to be a part of Sydney FC, joining the club’s staff and becoming a key backroom member during the club’s most successful period in their history, claiming two Hyundai A-League Premierships, two Hyundai A-League Championships and an FFA Cup, before eventually departing for Perth Glory ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Hear from Terry McFlynn:
“Up until recently [with the COVID-19 pandemic] I was the Academy Manager at Perth Glory, working with Richard Garcia a former Sydney FC player as well and Steven McGarry.
“I was also involved with the W-League as well, as their W-League Manager looking after the operational side as well.
“My wife is from Perth and all her family are in Perth and her father got sick a few years ago, so they moved over here and I was commuting from Sydney to Perth a little bit as well.
“I was going to leave the year before actually, but when Steve [Corica] got the job I wanted to stay and help him in his first year as a Head Coach, and thankfully it was a great honour to win the first Grand Final with Steve, he scored the winning goal, 2010 we both picked up the trophy on stage together and then to share that moment last year in Perth, it was the right time for me to move on.”
