When Luke McCormick found himself accepting the D.G. Williams Medal for player of the grand final in Weston Bears’ 2-0 win over Maitland FC on Sunday, even the Englishman had to take a moment to reflect where football had taken him the last two years.
Having played college football in the United States for the previous five years at West Virginia University, McCormick had recently returned home to Derbyshire, England, where he was playing for Mickleover Football Club in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands competition.
When the offer came through to move to Australia to play for the Bears, it proved to be a case of perfect timing for the 26-year-old and his partner, with both looking for a new experience and adventure.
“I was just playing semi-pro in England, off the back of playing freshly in America,” McCormick said.
“I was just unsure whether to carry on playing or not really. Then me and my girlfriend decided we just wanted to come for a new experience in Australia.
“The people at Weston made it really easy for me. The staff, the players, they're all great. So it was just a quick fit.
“It makes it easy for me when I'm playing with people like Blake and Dom [Archbold], Dyl [Burston] behind me, Hatters [Chris Hatfield], Brock [Beveridge]. It suits my game.
“It enables me to get on the ball, be creative.”
McCormick’s ability to spearhead the attacking and defensive press was quickly noticed by head coach Damian Zane when the Englishman arrived in May, with the experienced coach wasting no time putting his skills to use.
“He was already coming [when I started],” Zane said.
“We saw him. We played him in 10 and it was pretty evident early [what he could do].
“We put him out on the left and he worked really well with the Archbold boys. He's been red-eyed and today he was unstoppable.”
McCormick’s D.G. Williams Medal was well deserved, with the striker producing a lethal performance, scoring the opening goal of the final and combining brilliantly with Carson Wood and Max Wettig to breach the imposing Maitland defence.
The resulting 2-0 victory will see McCormick earn a unique place in the history of the 119-year-old club, helping the 2026 side claim their first piece of silverware in 31 years.
“It helps a lot when the boys come in off the bench,” McCormick said.
“They give you energy. Our plan at the beginning was really give it as much as we can, as much energy, grind Maitland down.
“We knew that [when] 60-70 minutes comes along, we have people off the bench that will just run them through.”
The move to Australia has proven extremely successful for the 26-year-old’s playing career.
Having also featured in the Men’s State Cup Final earlier this year, the Englishman has had the opportunity to play in the Hahn Australia Cup, facing A-League side Melbourne City.
It was an experience McCormick has hugely positive memories of, despite the Bears eventually going down 3-0 after conceding two late goals in the final 10 minutes.
“The [Hahn] Australia Cup this year was so fun playing against Melbourne,” McCormick said.
“Just having that challenge as well, seeing what you can go up against. It was a really good experience.
“We had plenty of chances, for sure. We had the momentum most of the game. [Had] we got one or two early, it's a completely different game.”
Now adding an NPL Men’s NNSW championship title to his resume, McCormick has indicated a desire to stay in Australia and continue his football journey, and Sunday’s result has made it clear that he has a huge opportunity to build something special with the Bears.
While the move has helped take his football to new heights, for McCormick, the greatest joy of his time in Australia has been the club he has found.
“It's a bit different back there [in the US], but [I’ve] not [played in a final] as important as this, no,” McCormick said.
“I feel in my playing experience, it's always the environment that's the most important thing with winning silverware.
“All the best teams I've played in, all the boys, they get on with each other. They run for each other.
“It translates onto the field where you'll run back for your mate if he's done something wrong or anything like that. I think that's what's the most important is the environment.
“That's probably what I've found.”