Nth Qld’s Middleby set to retire

North Queensland Fury vice-captain Robbie Middleby is reportedly set to retire from the game.

The 34-year old midfielder is expected to announce his retirement from the playing side of the game and is likely take up the football manager’s position at the club.

The Newcastle native has been a journeyman of sorts in Australian football but has experienced a distinguished career in which he was capped a handful of times at international level with the Socceroos.

Throughout his career, which begun in 1993 with the Newcastle Breakers, Middleby has played with Adamstown Rosebud, Wollongong Wolves, Uerdingen in Germany, Auckland Kingz in New Zealand, Carlton SC, Newcastle United and Sydney FC.

He was a part of the Sydney side that won the inaugural A-League title in 2005/06 and was Sydney’s layer of the Year in 2006/07.

Middleby was a consistent performer with the Fury in their debut season and will be sorely missed on the pitch although his contribution off-field is likely to have a strong influence on the fledgling club.