Dustin Wells
{{short description|Australian soccer player (born 1983) }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dustin Wells
| fullname = Dustin Wells
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|5|31}}
| birth_place = Kiama, Australia
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| currentclub = Belconnen United
| clubnumber = 3
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Belnorth
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = AIS
| years1 = 2001–2004
| years2 = 2004
| years3 = 2004–2005
| years4 = 2005
| years5 = 2006
| years6 = 2007
| years7 = 2008–2014
| years8 = 2015
| years9 = 2016–
| clubs1 = Wollongong City Wolves
| clubs2 = Oțelul Galați
| clubs3 = Belconnen United
| clubs4 = Sydney FC
| clubs5 = New Zealand Knights
| clubs6 = Wollongong City Wolves
| clubs7 = Belconnen United
| clubs8 = Gungahlin United
| clubs9 = Belconnen United
| caps1 = 39
| caps2 =
| caps3 =
| caps4 = 0
| caps5 = 6
| caps6 =
| caps7 =
| caps8 = 14
| caps9 = 90
| goals1 = 1
| goals2 =
| goals3 =
| goals4 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| goals6 =
| goals7 =
| goals8 = 2
| goals9 = 24
| nationalyears1 = 2002–2003
| nationalteam1 = Australia U-20
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| pcupdate = 9 November 2021
| ntupdate =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's Association football}}
{{Medal|Competition|OFC U-20 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2002 Fiji/Vanuatu|}}
}}
Dustin Wells (born 31 May 1983) is an Australian footballer who plays for Belconnen United in the National Premier Leagues.
Club career
Wells joined National Soccer League side Wollongong Wolves from the AIS ahead of the 2001–02 season, aged eighteen. He was immediately selected as part of Wollongong's first-team squad and became a frequent starter by the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.illnews.com.au/thu/2059032.htm|first=Paul|last=Zalunardo|date=28 March 2002|website=Illawarra Mercury|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020405112801/http://www.illnews.com.au/thu/2059032.htm|archive-date=5 April 2002|title=Wells faces another big talent test|access-date=25 June 2023|url-status=live}}
In September 2004, Wells trialled for Romanian club Dinamo București, along with fellow Australian Ryan Griffiths.{{cite news|url=https://www.viata-libera.ro/pdf/2004/09_septembrie/vlg_08_sept.pdf|title=Bursa Transferurilor|trans-title=Transfer Market|date=8 September 2004|language=Romanian|publisher=Viața Liberă|access-date=24 June 2023|page=15}} After Wells was not signed by Dinamo, he was reportedly signed by another Romanian side, Oțelul Galați, on a three-month contract with an option for a further two-and-a-half years.{{cite news|url=https://www.viata-libera.ro/pdf/2004/09_septembrie/vlg_16_sept.pdf|language=Romanian|title=Cãutãri, cãutãri...|trans-title=Searches, searches...|date=16 September 2004|access-date=24 June 2023|page=15|publisher=Viața Liberă}}{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/sport/sport-stirile-zilei-16-septembrie-2004-61040.html|language=Romanian|title=Inca un "cangur" printre plantani|website=Jurnalul Național|date=16 September 2004|access-date=24 June 2023}} However, international clearance for the transfer was not received, with Wells' former club reportedly requesting a transfer fee which Oțelul were unwilling to pay.{{cite news|url=https://www.viata-libera.ro/pdf/2004/09_septembrie/vlg_18-19_sept.pdf|title=Oþelul vizeazã victoria la Bistriþa|trans-title=Oțelul aims for victory in Bistrița|date=18 September 2004|access-date=24 June 2023|website=Viața Liberă|page=10|language=Romanian}}{{cite news|url=https://www.viata-libera.ro/pdf/2004/09_septembrie/vlg_25-26_sept.pdf|date=25 September 2004|access-date=24 June 2023|language=Romanian|page=10|title=Oþelul Galaþi - Poli Unirea Iaºi|trans-title=Oțelul Galați - Poli Unirea Iași|website=Viața Liberă}}
In November 2005, Wells was included in Sydney FC's squad for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, one of four players selected from outside of Sydney's squad for the 2005–06 A-League.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/american-import-departs-as-littbarski-brings-in-fresh-talent-for-japan-20051130-gdmjmv.html|title=American import departs as Littbarski brings in fresh talent for Japan|author=Cockerill, Michael|date=30 November 2005|access-date=24 June 2023|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}
Wells signed a short-term contract with A-League side New Zealand Knights in November 2006, as an injury replacement for Richard Johnson.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/knights-coach-to-stay-on/news-story/7c4d42b3f330bab852a2aae0ffc7a579|website=Fox Sports|access-date=24 June 2023|title=Knights coach to stay on}} The signing was criticised by Sydney FC and New Zealand player Jeremy Brockie, who suggested the Knights should have signed a local player instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/all-white-queries-lack-of-kiwis-at-knights-20061110-gdosq8.html|title=All White queries lack of Kiwis at Knights|date=10 November 2006|first=Aaron|last=Timms|access-date=24 June 2023|website=Sydney Morning Herald}} Wells made his A-League debut for the Knights on 5 November 2006 against Queensland Roar, setting up the only goal of the game in the Knights' first win in nine matches.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=77478 |title=On the Mark - Round 11 |access-date=7 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009172208/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=77478 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/sport/510135.html|title=Knights have something to Roar about|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070923113125/http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/sport/510135.html|archive-date=23 September 2007|date=6 November 2006|website=The Border Mail|access-date=24 June 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/soccer-a-knights-tale-of-guts-and-determination/JAIQO3Z2ZCALDKRZJ7D6KAYCAQ/|title=Soccer: A Knights' tale of guts and determination|date=5 November 2006|access-date=24 June 2006|first=Terry|last=Maddaford|website=The New Zealand Herald}} Wells' contract with the Knights expired in December 2006, having made six A-League appearances.{{cite news|date=14 August 2010|publisher=The Canberra Times|title=No time for Wells to dwell on lost chance}}{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821134550/http://blogs.smh.com.au/sport/archives/2006/12/aleague_round_18_preview.html|url=http://blogs.smh.com.au/sport/archives/2006/12/aleague_round_18_preview.html|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=December 2006|title=A-League Round 18 Preview|archive-date=21 August 2008}}
International career
He has also represented Australia at Schoolboys and Young Socceroos (U20s) levels. He was a member of the Australia team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Peter |date=9 December 2003 |title=Wells Looks Forward To Next Challenge |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=7018 |access-date=2023-06-27 |publisher=Football Federation Australia |via=National Library of Australia |language=en |archive-date=10 September 2006 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060910224312/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=7018 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
Honours
Belconnen United
- ACT Premier League regular season: 2012{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6166885/belconnen-wins-first-league-title-in-14-years/|title=Belconnen wins first league title in 14 years|first=Lee|last=Gaskin|date=18 April 2018|access-date=24 June 2023|website=The Canberra Times}}
- Capital Football Federation Cup: 2014{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/belconnen-united-breaks-federation-cup-drought-against-canberra-fc-20140703-zsvbm.html|title=Belconnen breaks Federation Cup drought against Canberra FC|date=3 July 2014|access-date=25 June 2023|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}
Australia U-20
- OFC U-19 Men's Championship: 2002{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oc-u20-03.html|title=Oceania U-20 World Cup 2003 Qualifiers|access-date=March 13, 2025}}
Individual
- ACT Premier League player of the season: 2010, 2011, 2012{{cite news|date=18 April 2018|first=Fieta|last=Page|access-date=23 June 2023|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6164731/wells-and-wood-win-top-league-awards/|title=Wells and Wood win top awards|website=The Canberra Times}}
- ACT Premier League top-goalscorer: 2011,{{Cite news |last=Polkinghorne |first=David |date=7 October 2011 |title=Wilson makes up for lost time with ACT player of the year award |language=en |pages=22 |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1020409582 |access-date=2023-06-27|id={{ProQuest|1020409582}}}} 2012
- Capital Football All-Star: 2018,{{cite news|url=https://capitalfootball.com.au/2018-capital-football-awards-night/|title=2018 Capital Football Awards Night|access-date=24 June 2023|website=Capital Football|date=25 October 2018}} 2022{{cite news |date=17 August 2022 |title=Capital Football name All Stars selection |website=Capital Football |url=https://capitalfootball.com.au/capital-football-name-all-stars-selection/ |access-date=24 June 2023}}
- Weston Masters All-Star: 2023
- Weston MVP, Masters Tournament 2023
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.knightsfc.com/default.aspx?s=playerprofile&pid=296 New Zealand Knights Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121459/http://www.knightsfc.com/default.aspx?s=playerprofile&pid=296 |date=15 December 2018 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Dustin}}
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players
Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players
Category:New Zealand Knights FC players
Category:National Premier Leagues players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sportspeople from Kiama, New South Wales
Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales
Category:Soccer players from New South Wales
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
{{Australia-footy-midfielder-stub}}