Erik Paartalu
Encyclopedia
Erik Endel Paartalu is an Australia
n football (soccer) player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar FC in the Hyundai A-League.
in the National Soccer League
, after stints with the Spirit youth team and the New South Wales Institute of Sport
. His NSL career at the Spirit was however limited to a single appearance as a substitute on 11 January 2004 against the Melbourne Knights
.
After the dissolution of the Northern Spirit
, Paartalu moved to the Northern Tigers in the New South Wales Winter Super League
where he played 17 matches scoring four goals in the 2004 season.
During 2004 Paartalu moved to the Parramatta Eagles
who were then playing in the New South Wales Premier League
. He continued with the Eagles until the latter half of the 2006 season, before he decided to take his chances on a career in the United Kingdom
.
in League One
it was expected he would sign a contract until the departure of manager Dave Penney put an end to the deal.
Arriving at Gretna
in September Paartalu was signed on a short term contract after a trial. A number of impressive performances led to a two and a half year contract being signed in January 2007. He was made redundant along with several other players in March 2008.
Paartalu joined Stirling Albion
on 1 January 2008 on a loan deal from Gretna
until the end of the 2007/2008 season. Paartalu made his debut for the Binos against Hamilton Academical F.C.
on 5 January 2008 at New Douglas Park
.
Paartalu joined Greenock Morton
on 29 March 2008 after being released by SPL
side Gretna
due to them entering administration. After helping Morton stay in the First Division
, Paartalu signed a two-year deal at the end of April 2008 to keep him at Cappielow
until 2010.
Paartalu's defining moment at the Roar came in the 2011 A-League Grand Final
, where he scored the equaliser with the last touch of the game in the 120th minute in front of a parochial 50,168-strong home crowd at Suncorp Stadium
. Paartalu is currently managed by emerging sports management company Football Focus International Pty Ltd.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar FC in the Hyundai A-League.
NSL
Paartalu began his career with Northern SpiritNorthern Spirit FC
Northern Spirit Football Club was a football club based in North Sydney, Australia. Northern Spirit entered the National Soccer League in the 1998-99 season...
in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
, after stints with the Spirit youth team and the New South Wales Institute of Sport
New South Wales Institute of Sport Football (Soccer) Program
The New South Wales Institute of Sport is run by the New South Wales Institute of Sport, in Sydney, for Australian youth players. NSWIS runs this program for both men and women.-Program:...
. His NSL career at the Spirit was however limited to a single appearance as a substitute on 11 January 2004 against the Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
.
After the dissolution of the Northern Spirit
Northern Spirit FC
Northern Spirit Football Club was a football club based in North Sydney, Australia. Northern Spirit entered the National Soccer League in the 1998-99 season...
, Paartalu moved to the Northern Tigers in the New South Wales Winter Super League
New South Wales Winter Super League
The New South Wales Super League is the second-highest state level men's association football division in New South Wales, Australia behind the NSW Premier League...
where he played 17 matches scoring four goals in the 2004 season.
During 2004 Paartalu moved to the Parramatta Eagles
Parramatta Eagles
Parramatta Eagles are an Australian football club that played in the National Soccer League and later the New South Wales Premier League. Due to various levels of mismanagement at the club it was demoted at the end of 2006...
who were then playing in the New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
. He continued with the Eagles until the latter half of the 2006 season, before he decided to take his chances on a career in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Scotland
After a trial with DoncasterDoncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
it was expected he would sign a contract until the departure of manager Dave Penney put an end to the deal.
Arriving at Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
in September Paartalu was signed on a short term contract after a trial. A number of impressive performances led to a two and a half year contract being signed in January 2007. He was made redundant along with several other players in March 2008.
Paartalu joined Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
on 1 January 2008 on a loan deal from Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
until the end of the 2007/2008 season. Paartalu made his debut for the Binos against Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
on 5 January 2008 at New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical. It takes its name from Douglas Park, the club's former stadium.-Stadium:...
.
Paartalu joined Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
on 29 March 2008 after being released by SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
due to them entering administration. After helping Morton stay in the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
, Paartalu signed a two-year deal at the end of April 2008 to keep him at Cappielow
Cappielow
Cappielow is a district of Greenock in Inverclyde, west central Scotland. It is home to Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton F.C. The name Cappielow, taken alone, usually refers to the Cappielow Park stadium, but it can also refer to a small area of housing or the adjoining industrial...
until 2010.
A-league
With his contract at Morton running out in the summer, Paartalu signed a pre-contract agreement with Brisbane Roar on 24 February 2010. Paartalu has impressed at Brisbane, becoming a linchpin in the midfield and scoring crucial goals.Paartalu's defining moment at the Roar came in the 2011 A-League Grand Final
2011 A-League Grand Final
The 2011 A-League Grand Final was the sixth A-League Grand Final taking place on 13 March 2011 at Suncorp Stadium. It was the final match in the A-League 2010–11 season, played between premiers and runners-up .-The match:...
, where he scored the equaliser with the last touch of the game in the 120th minute in front of a parochial 50,168-strong home crowd at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
. Paartalu is currently managed by emerging sports management company Football Focus International Pty Ltd.
Honors
With Brisbane Roar:- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Premiership: 2010–2011 - A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Championship: 2010–2011
External links
- Brisbane Roar profile
- {http://www.footballfocusinternational.com.au/
- OzFootball profile