Most players dream of climbing the footballing ladder, but how many go from Sunday League to NPL Victoria in just one game?

In Episode 30 of Tom Squared, we caught up with former Swinburne FC player Thijs van Amerongen, who made the astonishing leap from Sunday League to NPL Victoria after playing just one match for the club.

The Dutch defender, who now lines up for Dandenong Thunder, reflected on his whirlwind journey and the shocked reactions from Melbourne Victory staff and the Thunder board when they discovered he had played for Swinburne FC.

“It’s crazy how many people have come up to me about this story. It’s taken on a life of its own” Thijs continued.

After Thijs signed for Dandenong Thunder, about two or three training sessions in, his coach pulled him aside and recalled a conversation he’s had with a member of Thunder’s board.

“What the hell were you thinking signing someone from Swinburne? Were you drunk?” The board member had told the coach.

Thijs also recalled a funny interaction with a member of Melbourne Victory’s coaching staff after a match.

“We beat them, and after the game, we had a meal with them,”

“I was just eating when their coach tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hey, did you really play for Swinburne?”

“I thought to myself, ‘Oh, here we go.'” Thijs laughed.

Having climbed nine tiers in one move, Thijs provided an inside look at the step up from Sunday League to NPL football—from training intensity to game-day expectations. He also shared some hilarious reflections on the challenges of grassroots football, including Sunday League referees, cricket pitch surfaces and mid-game chaos.

“It was such a cool experience playing for Swinburne,” he said.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves a true underdog story, a laugh at the realities of Sunday League, and insight into the world of NPL football.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and stay tuned for more big pods on Tom Squared!