George Henry Raymond Blackwood (born 4 June 1997) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a striker.

George Blackwood
Personal information
Full name George Henry Raymond Blackwood[1]
Date of birth (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Berowra, Australia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
–2014 APIA Leichhardt
2014 Sydney FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Sydney FC 19 (1)
2017–2020 Adelaide United 64 (13)
2020–2021 Oldham Athletic 13 (3)
2021–2023 Adelaide United 36 (7)
2023 Bhayangkara 1 (0)
2024 Balzan 13 (4)
International career
2014–2015 Australia U20 16 (7)
2015–2019 Australia U23 11 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Australia
AFF U-19 Youth Championship
First place 2016 Vietnam U-20 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2024

Born in Sydney, Blackwood played youth football for APIA Leichhardt Tigers before making his professional debut for Sydney FC in 2014.

Blackwood has represented Australia at under-20 and at under-23 level.

Club career

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Early career

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Blackwood spent a month training at Colchester United in 2013 after winning a scholarship award in Australia.[2]

Sydney FC

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George was first called up to Sydney FC's senior squad for a match against Melbourne City in October 2014.[3] He scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Central Coast Mariners on 16 March 2016 with a shot from outside the box.[4] Blackwood denied a new contract from Sydney FC at the end of the 2016–17 season.[5]

Adelaide United

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In July 2017, Adelaide United signed Blackwood.[6] Blackwood's first professional goal for the Adelaide-based club came from a penalty in the Round of 16 of the 2017 FFA Cup against rivals Melbourne Victory.[7] Blackwood made an appearance in the 2017 FFA Cup Final on 21 November 2017 against former club Sydney FC, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.[8] Blackwood was released by the club on 26 August 2020 to pursue a new opportunity[9]

Oldham Athletic

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On 6 September 2020, Blackwood signed with Oldham Athletic on a two-year deal.[10] Blackwood scored his first goal for Oldham on 3 November 2020 which saw the team go on to win the game 2–1.[11] Blackwood developed a fracture in his back which saw a lack of appearances for the English club.[12] Following the conclusion of the 2020–21 EFL League Two season, the club had announced that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, Blackwood then returned to Australia.[13]

Return to Adelaide United

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Blackwood returned to Adelaide United on 2 August 2021 signing a two-year deal.[14] In his first game back for the club, Blackwood dispatched a penalty in a Round of 32 match of the 2021 FFA Cup against Floreat Athena.[15]

Following a poor season Blackwood was released by the club on the 4th of July 2023.[16] He was unable to find any clubs in Australia interested in signing him and departed for Indonesia.

Bhayangkara FC

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On 9 November 2023, Blackwood joins Bhayangkara FC in Liga 1.[17][18] On the same day, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Rans Nusantara, coming substitute for Sani Rizki Fauzi in the 67th minute.

Blackwood was released from his contract shortly after his debut.[19]

Balzan FC

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Having been released by Bhayangkara FC almost as soon as his contract began, Blackwood failed to find a new contract within Indonesia or back home in Australia. In January 2024, it was announced that he had signed for Maltese Premier League club Balzan F.C.[20]

International career

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Blackwood was first selected for the Australian under-20 team for the 2014 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in September 2014.[21]

In March 2015, Blackwood was called up to the Australian under-23 team to replace injured Sydney FC teammate Terry Antonis for 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.[22]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 21 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sydney FC 2014–15 A-League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2015–16 A-League 14 1 0 0 6 0 20 1
2016–17 A-League 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Sydney FC total 19 1 1 0 6 0 26 1
Adelaide United 2017–18 A-League 24 5 5 1 0 0 29 6
2018–19 A-League 19 4 1 0 0 0 20 4
2019–20 A-League 21 4 2 2 0 0 23 6
Adelaide total 64 13 8 3 0 0 72 16
Oldham Athletic 2020–21 League Two 13 3 2 0 0 0 15 3
Adelaide United 2021–22 A-League Men 17 5 2 1 0 0 19 6
2022–23 A-League Men 19 2 3 1 0 0 22 3
Adelaide total 36 7 5 2 0 0 41 9
Career total 132 24 16 5 6 0 154 29

Honours

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Club

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Sydney FC

Country

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Australia

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Vietnam 1 Australia 0" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. ^ Graham, Ben (11 September 2013). "Berowra Heights striker wins scholarship to train in UK, follows footsteps of Harry Kewell". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (10 October 2014). "Sydney FC's kids to be tested against Melbourne City millionaires". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Central Coast Mariners score two late goals to salvage A-League draw with Sydney FC". ABC News. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Calver stays, Blackwood leaves Sydney FC". The World Game. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. ^ Greenwood, Rob (6 July 2017). "A-League forward George Blackwood joins Adelaide United from Sydney FC". The Advertiser.
  7. ^ "Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 23rd Aug 2017". FFA Cup. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Sydney FC vs Adelaide United, FFA Cup, Cup Final, 21st Nov 2017". FFA Cup. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Farewell, George Blackwood! | Adelaide United". www.adelaideunited.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  10. ^ "SIGNING: Blackwood Becomes A Latic". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. ^ Binks, Elliott. "OLYROO OFF THE MARK FOR LATICS IN 'FANTASTIC' WIN". FTBL. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. ^ Thomas, Josh (23 April 2021). "'I couldn't do anything' - George Blackwood's tough first season in England ending with silver lining". Sporting News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ Geldard, Suzanne (30 June 2021). "Oldham confirm departure of Australian striker George Blackwood". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Botic signs with A-League's Western Utd". Yahoo Sports. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ Filosi, Gianluca (26 September 2021). "FFA Cup 2021 Round of 32 Report: Floreat Athena 1-3 (aet) Adelaide United". Adelaide United. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Blackwood, Kasumović to leave Reds". adelaideunited.com.au. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Former Sydney FC & Adelaide United player George Blackwood signs for Bhayangkara Presisi in Indonesia's first division". Kristorpha. Reddit. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Welcome @zulfahmiarifin23 @george_blackwood @arifsatria_28 Kita sama-sama berjuang untuk panji-panji The Guardian!". Bhayangkara FC. Via Instagram. 9 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Skuad Borongan ala Bhayangkara FC Langsung Dikenalkan Bersama, Pemain Asing Langsung Debut Starter". Tribunnews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  20. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor. "Balzan FC sign Australian striker George Blackwood". Times Of Malta. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  21. ^ Thedosiou, Peter (1 September 2014). "Berowra's George Blackwood selected for young Socceroos". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. ^ "Antonis, Yeboah out of Olyroos squad". The World Game. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  23. ^ a b Houghton, Nick (25 September 2016). "Young Socceroos cruise to AFF U-19 Championship win". The World Game. Retrieved 25 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ Smithies, Tom (12 May 2015). "Johnny Warren Medal 2014–15: Phoenix striker Nathan Burns wins top gong at A-League awards". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
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