| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 July 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| Rochedale Rovers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1990–1991 | Brunswick Juventus | 52 | (12) |
| 1991–1996 | Heidelberg United | 107 | (4) |
| 1992 | → Fawkner SC (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1995 | → Doncaster Rovers SC (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1995 | → Eastern (loan) | ||
| 1996–1997 | Collingwood Warriors | 19 | (3) |
| 1997–2001 | Gippsland Falcons | 95 | (13) |
| 2001 | Bulleen Zebras | 24 | (3) |
| 2002 | Fitzroy City SC | 16 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Brian MacNicol (born 31 July 1968) is a Scottish-born Australian former professional footballer who played as a striker and midfielder.
He is best known for his long association with Heidelberg United and Gippsland Falcons in the National Soccer League (NSL)
At the Falcons, MacNicol ranks fifth for all-time NSL appearances and third for total goals scored for the club in the NSL. MacNicol also represented Brunswick Juventus and Collingwood Warriors during a career spanning more than a decade at national and state-league level.
MacNicol was born in Scotland but moved with his family to Australia at the age of four, settling in south-east Queensland. He began his football career in the youth team of Brisbane Premier League side Rochedale Rovers, before moving to Melbourne to commence his professional football career. [1]
MacNicol began his senior career with Brunswick Juventus in the Victorian Premier League, quickly establishing himself as a consistent attacking presence. Across the 1990 and 1991 seasons, he scored 12 goals in 52 league appearances, drawing attention for his movement, work rate and finishing ability. [2]
In 1991, MacNicol joined Heidelberg United and made the step up to the NSL. He featured regularly across five seasons, including four consecutive national-league campaigns between 1991–92 and 1994–95. [3]
MacNicol also joined Hong Kong side Eastern Sports Club on loan in 1995, where he played in the 1995 Asian Club Championship. [4]
He later returned to Heidelberg United in the Victorian Premier League and was a key figure in the club's 1996 campaign. Despite missing a penalty in the shoot-out, MacNicol was awarded the Jimmy Rooney Medal as best player in the 1996 Victorian Premier League Grand Final, which Heidelberg drew 3–3 with Altona Magic before losing on penalties. [5]
MacNicol joined Gippsland Falcons ahead of the 1997–98 NSL season and went on to become one of the most significant players in the club's history. Over four seasons, he made 95 NSL appearances and scored 13 goals, ranking him fifth for appearances and third for goals scored in the competition for the club, behind only John Markovski and Brian Bothwell. [6]
Although MacNicol never played finals football with Gippsland, he was the club's equal top scorer during the 1999–2000 season, scoring six goals in 34 appearances alongside Andy Vargas. [7] His durability, leadership and consistency were widely praised during a challenging era for the club. [8]
Following the collapse of the Falcons, MacNicol continued playing at state-league level, representing Bulleen Zebras and Fitzroy City SC before retiring from senior football. [9]
In June 2001, MacNicol played for Victoria against NSW in a representative match at Epping Stadium, with NSW winning 3–1. [10]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brunswick Juventus | 1990 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 5 |
| 1991 | Victorian Premier League | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 | |
| Total | 52 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 12 | ||
| Heidelberg United | 1991–92 | National Soccer League | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 1992–93 | National Soccer League | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | National Soccer League | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 1994–95 | National Soccer League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Victorian Premier League | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Total | 107 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 7 | ||
| Fawkner SC (loan) | 1992 | Victorian Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 1995 | Victorian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Collingwood Warriors | 1996–97 | National Soccer League | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| Total | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
| Gippsland Falcons | 1997–98 | National Soccer League | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
| 1998–99 | National Soccer League | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 1999–2000 | National Soccer League | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 6 | |
| 2000–01 | National Soccer League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 95 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 13 | ||
| Bulleen Zebras | 2001 | Victorian Premier League | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
| Fitzroy City | 2002 | Victorian Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Career total | 235 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 235 | 39 | ||
After retirement, MacNicol transitioned into coaching and football development, remaining active within Australian football. He has been involved in mentoring programs and youth development initiatives, drawing on his NSL experience to support emerging players. [11]
In 2016, he was appointed coach of South Melbourne FC's Under 20 team. [12]
He is the uncle of Brisbane Roar' forward, Quinn MacNicol.
Brian's brother, Scott MacNicol, was also a professional footballer, playing for South Melbourne FC across two spells in Victorian Premier League. Scott played professionally in Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic and Forfar Athletic. [13]