Cliff Almond

Soccer player
Inducted 26 November 2008

Cliff Almond was born in Cessnock in 1930. He grew up to be employed locally as a colliery clerk, but it is for his prowess on the soccer field that he established is name and profile in the community and across Australia.

Cliff played 464 games at the senior level, and more than 400 of those were for Cessnock area teams, predominantly the Cessnock City Hornets. Overseas, he played in the Scottish League’s First Division Championship for a year with Stirling Albion. 

Cliff also represented Northern NSW, NSW and Australia during his career, and during the 1950s played in 21 matches in the Australian side against teams including China and South Africa.

His playing career spanned 23 years from 1946 to 1969, and he displayed great versatility by playing as both a winger and a defender at different times.

In recognition of his abilities and record, Cliff has received many accolades over the years.  These include winning the Sydney Morning Herald’s Best and Fairest Award in 1952, his induction into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2002 and his induction into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Plaque location
124 Vincent Street, Cessnock (garden bed)