3 April 2025
A soccer team of British officers has wrapped up a two-week tour of NSW and ACT after going down to Navy in Sydney.
The British Army Crusaders played against local-service teams and ADFA during March but the sailors were too good for the tourists in the final fixture at HMAS Penguin.
Navy overcame a two-goal deficit at half-time to beat the Brits by a goal in the dying minutes.
Navy captain Chief Petty Officer Steven Sheakey served with the Royal Navy for eight years before he moved to Australia and knew they were up against quality opposition.
But his team rose to the occasion.
“They were a lot fitter than we were and it showed towards the end, but our organisation paid off and technically, we were slightly better,” Chief Petty Officer Sheakey said.
Crusaders club secretary Major Andrew Campbell said they’d been looking at a Down Under tour after the British Army’s participation in the 2023 ADF Football National Championships.
“We’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” Major Campbell said.
Even so, the Crusaders didn’t reach the same heights. The officers won half their matches, defeating Army and Air Force three goals to two but going down to Navy and ADFA teams two goals to three.
While Major Campbell said football was the highlight of the trip, between matches the team got a chance to see parts of Sydney and Canberra.
They visited the Australian War Memorial for a Last Post ceremony and toured Victoria Barracks in Sydney.
“The Last Post ceremony was fabulous, particularly seeing how an individual was commemorated each day,” Major Campbell said.
“Every place we’ve been, our Australian hosts have been fantastic.”
