TWINTERVIEW: Archie Thompson

The twinterview has gone international. With an international footballer. Archie Thompson is the all-time leading scorer in the A-League and his 13-goal haul in Australia's 31-0 mauling of American Samoa in 2001 is still a world record.

I saw Thompson play for the first time on Saturday [March 3], when I watched his Melbourne Victory side beaten 3-1 by Newcastle Jets. The result effectively ended Victory's hopes of reaching the end-of-season finals but I had at least opened a door into a corner of the football world I previously knew little about.

Several names in the Victory squad were familiar to me. Harry Kewell, of course. Carlos Hernandez, Mark Milligan. Manager Jim Magilton, formerly of Ipswich and QPR. And Thompson - whose goalscoring exploits had grown his reputation beyond Australia.

I considered a twinterview, dismissed the idea, then realised there was nothing to be lost by putting the question out there. One tweet later and we were off.


What's your earliest memory of football?



When I was four years old mate. Always remembered being really cold on Sunday morning heading to football.


Who was your first team?



Lithgow Rangers.



And who were your football heroes growing up?



Pele, Maradona, George Weah.



You're one short of 100 career league goals. Are you bothered about those sort of milestones?


It's nice to get them, but I'm like Sachin Tendulkar at the moment.



Nice comparison. Do you really feel a bit of pressure to get off 99?



At the moment yes haha.



What are your sporting passions outside football?



Golf.



Who are the best players you've played with and against?



Messi and Marius Mitu in my old club in Belgium [Lierse SK].



I live in Albury... What are your memories of playing on the Border with Twin City Wanderers as a youngster?


Too long ago to remember but it was fun.



It's almost 11 years exactly since 'that' game against American Samoa. How do you reflect now on that record-breaking afternoon?


I don't these days.



Were you surprised to see Andre Villas-Boas get the boot at Chelsea earlier this week?



No. They are a results team and if it isn't happening with any team, the manager has to go.


What's your favourite stadium?



AAMI Park.



Three team-mate questions. Who's the fastest, who's the hard man, who's the biggest moaner?

Isaka [Cernak] fastest. Tommy [Pondeljak] moaner, which we love him for. Kempy [Matthew Kemp] hard man.


What does the future hold for football in Australia?



It keeps growing. That's the most important thing.



Finally - you've got one tweet to tell the world about Melbourne Victory. Go...



Nice away strips :)



You can follow @10Archie on Twitter