Tim Cahill: Thanks for inspiring this Weet-Bix kid

As a teenager pursuing the football dream, Tim Cahill is undoubtedly my hero.

Just like myself, short, not the most talented but extremely passionate and hardworking, Tim Cahill has inspired me ever since I strapped on the boots as a six-year-old in 2007.

Before I had even played my first game I had watched his two landmark goals in Kaiserslautern against Japan multiple times (Mum not yet knowing how much I would go on to love football had recorded this game on VHS for me to watch on repeat – not surprisingly I can now recall Simon Hill’s commentary word for word!).

During primary school, I was always Tim Cahill during our lunchtime kick-abouts and did at least two projects on the great man.

In 2010, at 4 am on a blistering cold June day, my young self could be found distraught in our packed local church watching Australia take on Germany when Cahill was sent off, and then a week later jubilated when he scored the winner against Serbia.

In 2013 I witnessed the love for the man as outrage spread like wildfire across ANZ Stadium when he was subbed off in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Iraq. I was amongst those who thought we had no hope of winning without Timmy on the field but thankfully this time I was wrong as Mark Bresciano sent the ball across onto the head of the mercurial Josh Kennedy.

That volley against the Dutch sent me to the point of obsession. I apologise to my year seven peers for annoying them during the following months with Cahill remarks.

As I grew in maturity and as my knowledge of football evolved so did my opinion of Timmy. I’d accepted that my boyhood dream of ‘being Tim Cahill’ and representing Australia was now a fairly improbable circumstance. I’d also become conflicted of whether I should look up to someone who had clearly gone to China ‘for the money’ and began producing his own slogans like ‘Legacy’ and ‘Vision.’

However, I was won over once again by his 120-minute performance against Syria, scoring those two crucial goals to keep our qualification hopes alive. His passion, dedication and love for our country shone through yet again and truly epitomised his character.

Tim was a winner, he knew how to win. His never say die attitude and ability to make something out of nothing will be missed by the Socceroos for a long time.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

These qualities were why I wished that he started at least once in Russia but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

As unspectacular as the game against Lebanon was, the FFA can be congratulated on allowing Australia to witness our greatest ever footballer, arguably one of our greatest ever athletes, grace the pitch one more time.

Despite the fact that the Cahill era is over no one can ever replace him in my eyes. He will always be my favourite player and I will continue to eat Weet-Bix every morning before one of my matches.

Tim Cahill, you have left behind a legacy and Australia will be ever thankful for your contribution to football and the country on a whole.

Tim Cahill, thank you for being my hero.