Andrew Redmayne has won it all in the Isuzu UTE A-League, establishing himself as an icon of the competition. The Socceroo speaks to aleagues.com.au about the quality of the competition and why Central Coast Mariners will surprise in 2025-26.
Andrew Redmayne is an Isuzu UTE A-League great. He is also its biggest advocate.
Affectionally known as the ‘Grey Wiggle’, the popular five-time champion and Socceroos hero has won it all in Australia. He’s been at the heart of some of the most iconic moments in the game, including this season’s wild F3 Derby in Round 1.
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So, when Redmayne speaks about the Isuzu UTE A-League, you listen.
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“I think we’ve got a fantastic spot up here in Australia that more people should be getting behind,” Redmayne told aleagues.com.au ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Wellington Phoenix.
“I’ve lived and died by the sword of Australian football my whole career, and I think there’s been some former players come out recently, and almost, I don’t want to say downplayed the league, but you look at the talent that’s gone overseas recently that’s basically slotted straight into championship sides or MLS sides, or Scottish Premier League sides and the like.
“There’s a lot of alumni that have graduated from A-League, kind of last season or year before. It’s seriously flying. But it’s not just last season, it’s years gone past as well. Thinking back to Aaron Mooy, basically went straight from the A-League to the Premier League almost.
“The talent’s great. The games are unbelievably end to end. The F3 Derby, and then the Jets pull five goals the next week, and then there’s seven goals in that game.
“How are people not lapping up this product? Because it’s a fantastic product.
“There are roadblocks that are dragging this game down but it’s not the product. It’s not the players, they are 100% bought into the game. They are delivering a fantastic product, and they want to do more. The players want to help grow the game and ignite it even more. I don’t know how players are supposed to doing more, because we are doing some heavy lifting. A hell of a show week in, week out.
“Nonetheless, the F3 Derby that’s in Round 1, and you’re getting 10 plus stoppage minutes of absolute pure drama. I’d struggle to find another league in the world that produces that quality and that excitement in a Round 1 league game.
“The league’s good, the players are great. We just need to do more to capitalise on the amazing product and players that we do have here in Australia.”
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This interview took place while Redmayne was in the middle of purchasing a Mariners kit for his kids.
“They’ve only got one Mariners jersey and the little one had to go to school in a Sydney FC jersey. I couldn’t really be having that anymore,” laughed Redmayne.
Redmayne is back in Gosford following 15 years outside of the club. During his time away from the Central Coast, the iconic goalkeeper has gone on to win five Championships and four Premierships with Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar, coupled in with Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers stints.
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After a trophy-laden eight-and-a-half years with Sydney FC, Redmayne is back where it all began. In his words, he is giving “back to the community that raised me and fostered my love of football”.
Redmayne wants to inspire the next generation of Central Coast footballers; “That is pretty cool to me.”
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It is fitting for a popular glovesman, who has overcome his own self-doubt to establish himself as one of the best and most successful goalkeepers in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League, having almost quit the sport in 2016.
He is the humble understudy-turned-national hero who went global after helping the Socceroos qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“I’ve made no secret I’ve always kind of struggled with self-doubt and confidence at times,” he said. “But I think part of that was one of the reasons I came back to work with Danny (Vukovic).
“I know what he’s like as a player, and he knows goalkeeping inside and out. He’s done it for Australia, he’s done it for club and country, home and abroad which is massive, but he also understands what fixes as a goalkeeper.
“Personally, it’s just being happy with where you are in life and in football. Being at peace with who you are and what you do is is a massive thing.”
Redmayne’s story is filled with so many fascinating chapters. From the Isuzu UTE A-League, to the Socceroos and the World Cup.
There’s also an unforgettable moment even before all of that.
Redmayne was invited to trial with Premier League juggernaut Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2005.
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Arsenal were set to offer the Aussie teenager a deal but the contract never came. Instead, the Gunner snapped up 15-year-old Pole Wojciech Szczesny, who went on to star for the London club.
“It was such an eye-opening opportunity of the level of professionalism, the level of players at that level, but it was also ignited a fire within my belly that I’d like to reach those kind of heights,” Redmayne reflected.
“I mean, I never have but at the same time, it certainly ignited a passion and a drive in me that wanted to kind of experience football at that level.
“I never got to that level but at the same time, I like to think I’ve done some pretty cool things in my life and in my career, and hopefully there’s chapters to write yet.”
The Mariners are part of Redmayne’s latest chapter.
As they have done throughout their A-Leagues history, Central Coast are out to defy the odds and prove the doubters wrong. They did that in a wild F3 Derby triumph over Newcastle Jets in Round 1.
Redmayne was at the heart of a chaotic showdown that saw him save a 96th-minute penalty before Nicholas Duarte won it at the other end a minute later just over a week after treble-winning boss Mark Jackson departed Gosford.
After that game, Redmayne warned: “I think a lot of teams have to watch out for us.”
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It’s a belief built on a team boasting “youthful energy in spades” thanks to the likes of Duarte, Haine Eames and Miguel Di Pizio.
And it comes as Redmayne shows no signs of slowing down, with silverware at the top of his agenda along with AFC Champions League qualification.
“When I think about myself, I’m someone who in my past, I’ve dwelled on little things but the kids coming through these days, they don’t think twice about things. If something doesn’t work out, it’s just water off a ducks back.
“The tagline we have is we have useful energy in spades, and any hiccups we do have, it’s water off a duck’s back. And at the same time, we got such a tight group that we fight for each other, and we don’t really leave any stone unturned. We’re a hungry, determined young group here that wants success.”
