Warrnambool’s wild weather is just like home for the Rangers’ English recruit Elliott Bradley.
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The speedy striker, who has been on Australian soil since August last year, joked about the weather being a reason he and his girlfriend decided to pack their bags and head from the UK to travel Australia.
“We thought the weather would be good,” the 24-year-old told The Standard.
“We fancied a bit of a change of scenery and somewhere that was not too different to our home and it was also a chance for us to explore the world.”
Bradley, who is over on a working holiday visa, has been working on a farm near Nirranda South for just over a month as he looks to extend his visa.
For he and his girlfriend to extend their stay in Australia, they need to do three months (or 88 days) worth of specified work in a regional area of Australia, which is why they find themselves in the south-west.
How Bradley, who grew up in Southampton and played in the city’s junior representative team and has played at county level, ended up with the Rangers was thanks entirely to local influences.
“I heard about the Rangers from someone I worked with on the farm and from my barber and they said to me that I should get in contact with Cameron Pyke (Rangers assistant coach),” he said.
“So I dropped Cam a message and he told me that I should come down and train with them.”
The traveller, who grew up following English Premier League giants Arsenal, said his introduction to soccer in the United Kingdom was similar to how Australians found their way into playing football here.
“I started football when I was about seven like how young Australians play Aussie rules at school here,” he said.
“Over in England we play our version of football and that’s how you get into playing the game and then you take it up outside of school, similar to the kids do in Warrnambool.”
Bradley is eager to hit the field, but there is a slight speed bump in his road to the Rangers’ starting line-up
“I’m waiting to do registration with the club as I need a clearance from England and that can take a few weeks, so as soon as that comes back I can get into it,” he said.
“But I can't wait to play and see what the Australian style of football is like. I came down and watched a game last week and they looked like they were playing at a decent level.
“I feel good and a few weeks of training while the registration thing gets sorted out will help me be ready to get out there and perform my best when I get the chance.
“But playing a match is a whole different kettle of fish compared to training, so I’ll have to see how I go playing over here in Australia.”