08-07-2025
Sales pitch that lured A-League legend out of retirement to lead line for Crabs
Pink playing strip and crab dances - Daniel McBreen was sold.
McBreen has shelved retirement to play for the Croudace Bay Crabs in Zone League Two - the fourth tier on the Newcastle pyramid - at the ripe age of 48.
The 2012-13 A-League Golden Boot winner and Mariners legend scored with his second touch on debut for the Crabs in a 3-0 triumph over New Lambton Juniors at Smith Park on Saturday.
"It's just a bit of fun," McBreen told the Newcastle Herald. "Pink shirts, crab dances when you score ... I was sold. I like a stupid goal celebrations.
"I have only played 45 minutes of XI v XI in five years. I came back to play for Edgeworth in 2023 after calling it quits in 2019. I played half a game in a friendly against South Cardiff. Two days later I snapped my Achiles.
"I have been doing a lot of running. Two weeks ago I left home and did a half marathon. That is totally different to sliding into tackles and changing direction. I was a little concerned old man syndrome might kick in.
"I had 30 minutes on Saturday and was breathing heavy after 15."
McBreen's football focus has been on his A-League commentary gig with Paramount Plus and burgeoing academy - Newcastle Elite Football Academy - in which he is a partner alongside Roy O'Donovan, Taylor Regan and Ben McNamara.
However, a chat two weeks ago with former Edgeworth teammate Wayne Bailey over a couple of beers lit a spark.
"Every year we have a catch up to mark [former Edgeworth winger] Mick Williams' passing," McBreen said. "Bails was there and asked me if I missed playing. I told him I'd love to play but there are heap of caveats, I can't train, it has to be Saturday and I don't want to stop a young kid from getting a game."
Bailey, after an extensive playing and coaching career in the NPL, is now in charge of the Crabs.
"My son, Andrew, is there with a few mates and asked me to help out," Bailey said.
In its second year, the Crabs have gained cult status after a stunning run in the Australia Cup, highlighted by a 3-1 upset of NPL club New Lambton.
They have carried the cup form into the competition proper, winning every game to sit seven-points clear at the top and on track for promotion.
"They are a good bunch of boys and can play a bit as well," Bailey said. "It is quite a competitive comp. We have won every game but it is not like we are cruising.
"We take it serious but we enjoy it as well. It is a good mix. On match-day, I get into them now and then. We have a pretty professional set up.
"A lot of the boys can't commit to the NPL so they play here. There is no money or anything. I think Macca had to pay his rego.
"It all happened pretty quickly. He liked the fact we wear pink and are called the crabs. He still had that competitive urge. The more we spoke about it, the keener he seemed.
"I told him to ring me Monday, that way I know it is not the beers talking.
"I gave him 30 minutes on the weekend. He was making runs and scored with his second touch. The more game time he gets the better he will play. He is just great for the club."
Pink playing strip and crab dances - Daniel McBreen was sold.
McBreen has shelved retirement to play for the Croudace Bay Crabs in Zone League Two - the fourth tier on the Newcastle pyramid - at the ripe age of 48.
The 2012-13 A-League Golden Boot winner and Mariners legend scored with his second touch on debut for the Crabs in a 3-0 triumph over New Lambton Juniors at Smith Park on Saturday.
"It's just a bit of fun," McBreen told the Newcastle Herald. "Pink shirts, crab dances when you score ... I was sold. I like a stupid goal celebrations.
"I have only played 45 minutes of XI v XI in five years. I came back to play for Edgeworth in 2023 after calling it quits in 2019. I played half a game in a friendly against South Cardiff. Two days later I snapped my Achiles.
"I have been doing a lot of running. Two weeks ago I left home and did a half marathon. That is totally different to sliding into tackles and changing direction. I was a little concerned old man syndrome might kick in.
"I had 30 minutes on Saturday and was breathing heavy after 15."
McBreen's football focus has been on his A-League commentary gig with Paramount Plus and burgeoing academy - Newcastle Elite Football Academy - in which he is a partner alongside Roy O'Donovan, Taylor Regan and Ben McNamara.
However, a chat two weeks ago with former Edgeworth teammate Wayne Bailey over a couple of beers lit a spark.
"Every year we have a catch up to mark [former Edgeworth winger] Mick Williams' passing," McBreen said. "Bails was there and asked me if I missed playing. I told him I'd love to play but there are heap of caveats, I can't train, it has to be Saturday and I don't want to stop a young kid from getting a game."
Bailey, after an extensive playing and coaching career in the NPL, is now in charge of the Crabs.
"My son, Andrew, is there with a few mates and asked me to help out," Bailey said.
In its second year, the Crabs have gained cult status after a stunning run in the Australia Cup, highlighted by a 3-1 upset of NPL club New Lambton.
They have carried the cup form into the competition proper, winning every game to sit seven-points clear at the top and on track for promotion.
"They are a good bunch of boys and can play a bit as well," Bailey said. "It is quite a competitive comp. We have won every game but it is not like we are cruising.
"We take it serious but we enjoy it as well. It is a good mix. On match-day, I get into them now and then. We have a pretty professional set up.
"A lot of the boys can't commit to the NPL so they play here. There is no money or anything. I think Macca had to pay his rego.
"It all happened pretty quickly. He liked the fact we wear pink and are called the crabs. He still had that competitive urge. The more we spoke about it, the keener he seemed.
"I told him to ring me Monday, that way I know it is not the beers talking.
"I gave him 30 minutes on the weekend. He was making runs and scored with his second touch. The more game time he gets the better he will play. He is just great for the club."
Pink playing strip and crab dances - Daniel McBreen was sold.
McBreen has shelved retirement to play for the Croudace Bay Crabs in Zone League Two - the fourth tier on the Newcastle pyramid - at the ripe age of 48.
The 2012-13 A-League Golden Boot winner and Mariners legend scored with his second touch on debut for the Crabs in a 3-0 triumph over New Lambton Juniors at Smith Park on Saturday.
"It's just a bit of fun," McBreen told the Newcastle Herald. "Pink shirts, crab dances when you score ... I was sold. I like a stupid goal celebrations.
"I have only played 45 minutes of XI v XI in five years. I came back to play for Edgeworth in 2023 after calling it quits in 2019. I played half a game in a friendly against South Cardiff. Two days later I snapped my Achiles.
"I have been doing a lot of running. Two weeks ago I left home and did a half marathon. That is totally different to sliding into tackles and changing direction. I was a little concerned old man syndrome might kick in.
"I had 30 minutes on Saturday and was breathing heavy after 15."
McBreen's football focus has been on his A-League commentary gig with Paramount Plus and burgeoing academy - Newcastle Elite Football Academy - in which he is a partner alongside Roy O'Donovan, Taylor Regan and Ben McNamara.
However, a chat two weeks ago with former Edgeworth teammate Wayne Bailey over a couple of beers lit a spark.
"Every year we have a catch up to mark [former Edgeworth winger] Mick Williams' passing," McBreen said. "Bails was there and asked me if I missed playing. I told him I'd love to play but there are heap of caveats, I can't train, it has to be Saturday and I don't want to stop a young kid from getting a game."
Bailey, after an extensive playing and coaching career in the NPL, is now in charge of the Crabs.
"My son, Andrew, is there with a few mates and asked me to help out," Bailey said.
In its second year, the Crabs have gained cult status after a stunning run in the Australia Cup, highlighted by a 3-1 upset of NPL club New Lambton.
They have carried the cup form into the competition proper, winning every game to sit seven-points clear at the top and on track for promotion.
"They are a good bunch of boys and can play a bit as well," Bailey said. "It is quite a competitive comp. We have won every game but it is not like we are cruising.
"We take it serious but we enjoy it as well. It is a good mix. On match-day, I get into them now and then. We have a pretty professional set up.
"A lot of the boys can't commit to the NPL so they play here. There is no money or anything. I think Macca had to pay his rego.
"It all happened pretty quickly. He liked the fact we wear pink and are called the crabs. He still had that competitive urge. The more we spoke about it, the keener he seemed.
"I told him to ring me Monday, that way I know it is not the beers talking.
"I gave him 30 minutes on the weekend. He was making runs and scored with his second touch. The more game time he gets the better he will play. He is just great for the club."
Pink playing strip and crab dances - Daniel McBreen was sold.
McBreen has shelved retirement to play for the Croudace Bay Crabs in Zone League Two - the fourth tier on the Newcastle pyramid - at the ripe age of 48.
The 2012-13 A-League Golden Boot winner and Mariners legend scored with his second touch on debut for the Crabs in a 3-0 triumph over New Lambton Juniors at Smith Park on Saturday.
"It's just a bit of fun," McBreen told the Newcastle Herald. "Pink shirts, crab dances when you score ... I was sold. I like a stupid goal celebrations.
"I have only played 45 minutes of XI v XI in five years. I came back to play for Edgeworth in 2023 after calling it quits in 2019. I played half a game in a friendly against South Cardiff. Two days later I snapped my Achiles.
"I have been doing a lot of running. Two weeks ago I left home and did a half marathon. That is totally different to sliding into tackles and changing direction. I was a little concerned old man syndrome might kick in.
"I had 30 minutes on Saturday and was breathing heavy after 15."
McBreen's football focus has been on his A-League commentary gig with Paramount Plus and burgeoing academy - Newcastle Elite Football Academy - in which he is a partner alongside Roy O'Donovan, Taylor Regan and Ben McNamara.
However, a chat two weeks ago with former Edgeworth teammate Wayne Bailey over a couple of beers lit a spark.
"Every year we have a catch up to mark [former Edgeworth winger] Mick Williams' passing," McBreen said. "Bails was there and asked me if I missed playing. I told him I'd love to play but there are heap of caveats, I can't train, it has to be Saturday and I don't want to stop a young kid from getting a game."
Bailey, after an extensive playing and coaching career in the NPL, is now in charge of the Crabs.
"My son, Andrew, is there with a few mates and asked me to help out," Bailey said.
In its second year, the Crabs have gained cult status after a stunning run in the Australia Cup, highlighted by a 3-1 upset of NPL club New Lambton.
They have carried the cup form into the competition proper, winning every game to sit seven-points clear at the top and on track for promotion.
"They are a good bunch of boys and can play a bit as well," Bailey said. "It is quite a competitive comp. We have won every game but it is not like we are cruising.
"We take it serious but we enjoy it as well. It is a good mix. On match-day, I get into them now and then. We have a pretty professional set up.
"A lot of the boys can't commit to the NPL so they play here. There is no money or anything. I think Macca had to pay his rego.
"It all happened pretty quickly. He liked the fact we wear pink and are called the crabs. He still had that competitive urge. The more we spoke about it, the keener he seemed.
"I told him to ring me Monday, that way I know it is not the beers talking.
"I gave him 30 minutes on the weekend. He was making runs and scored with his second touch. The more game time he gets the better he will play. He is just great for the club."
