Leigh Gunn
{{Short description|Australian–Filipino footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Leigh Gunn
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Fraser Park FC
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles
| years1 = 2000–2001
| clubs1 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles
| caps1 = 26
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2001
| clubs2 = Macarthur Rams
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2001–2002
| clubs3 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2002
| clubs4 = Macarthur Rams
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2002–2004
| clubs5 = Canterbury-Marrickville
| caps5 = 26
| goals5 = 12
| years6 = 2004
| clubs6 = Fairfield Bulls
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2007
| clubs7 = APIA Leichhardt Tigers
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| years8 =
| clubs8 = Fraser Park
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| nationalyears1 = 1999
| nationalteam1 = Philippines U-23
| nationalcaps1 = ?
| nationalgoals1 = ?
| nationalyears2 = 1999–2011
| nationalteam2 = Philippines
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate = 15:49, 12 May 2011 (UTC)
}}
Leigh James Gunn (born 24 December 1980) is an Australian–Filipino footballer who plays as a forward for Fraser Park FC. He has also represented the Philippines at international level.
Career
= Club career =
Gunn played in various Australian clubs during his career.{{cite news |last1=Olivares |first1=Rick |title=Meet the first Filipino born overseas to play for Azkals |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/07/28/2031213/meet-first-filipino-born-overseas-play-azkals |accessdate=28 July 2020 |work=The Philippine Star |date=28 July 2020}}
Gunn became the top scorer of Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic during the 2002–03 season with 12 goals.{{cite web |url=http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=550 |title=West Sydney Berries history |publisher=Football NSW |accessdate=17 August 2010 }}
He also aspired to play abroad sending resumes to secure trials in clubs in England.
= International career =
Gunn is eligible to play for the Philippines through his mother who hails from Cebu. He contacted then-Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Chris Monfort regarding the prospects of representing the country.
=Philippines U23=
Gunn had his first called up to the Philippines national U-23 team for the 2000 Summer Olympics preliminary qualifiers from June to July 1999.{{cite news |title=Bon voyage and good luck to RP Olympic football team |newspaper=Manila Standard |author=Cutillas, Juan |date=10 June 1999 |page=11 }} The team is mentored by Juan Cutillas who is aware of Gunn's experience in playing in Australia.
He made his debut on June 12, 1999 when the Philippines lopsidedly loss to Japan; 0–13. He also scored his first international goal in the qualifiers in the 2–2 draw with Nepal.{{cite news |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-18131475.html |title=Results From Olympics Quarlifiers Of Asian Group Six |work=Xinhua News Agency |format=reprint, fee required |publisher=HighBeam Research |date=30 June 1999 |accessdate=17 August 2010 }}
=Philippines=
Shortly after the Olympic qualifiers, Gunn was called up to the full national team for the 1999 Southeast Asian Games. He played in two of the Philippines' three matches during the tournament; against Myanmar and Laos.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/sea99-det.html |title=South East Asian Games 1999 Details |author=Courtney, Barrie |website=RSSSF |accessdate=17 August 2010 }}
Gunn featured again for the Philippines during the 2000 Tiger Cup. He played in the first two of the Philippines' three matches but was only used as a substitute.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/aseanfull00.html |title=ASEAN ("Tiger") Cup 2000 (Thailand) (Full Info) |author=Morrison, Neil |website=RSSSF |accessdate=18 August 2010 }} It would be his last international appearance until 2006.
In 2006, he was called up again by the Philippines, now coached by Aris Caslib, for the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup. Again only playing in two of the Philippines' three fixtures; against India{{cite web |url=
http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/competitions/fixtures/1062.pdf |title=Match summary: Philippines – India |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |accessdate=18 August 2010 }} and Afghanistan.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/competitions/fixtures/1065.pdf |title=Match summary: Philippines – Afghanistan |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |accessdate=18 August 2010 }} They failed to advance from the group stage and the two appearances he made would be his last at international level. However, later that year, he would be part of the Philippines squad that was to compete in the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship qualification tournament but was sacked by then coach Aris Caslib one week before the qualifiers for speaking out on the terrible conditions of the training venue and the coaching methods.{{cite news |title=RP booters tired from training? |newspaper=Manila Standard Today |page=D2 |date=15 November 2006 }}
On 10 May 2011, it was reported that Gunn would be returning to the national team for the start of their preparations for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification first round tie against Sri Lanka.{{cite news |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/05/10/11/azkals-begin-training-world-cup-qualifier |title=Azkals begin training for World Cup qualifier |author=Manotoc, TJ |work=ABS-CBNnews.com |publisher=Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network |date=10 May 2011 |accessdate=12 May 2011 }} However he would not play in a full international match, with his last outing with the national team being the scrimmage against the Central Philippine University's football team in Barotac Nuevo which ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news |title=Azkals settle for draw in friendly vs CPU booters |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/3523/azkals-settle-for-draw-in-friendly-vs-cpu-booters |accessdate=28 July 2020 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=25 May 2011}}
Coaching career
After his retirement, Gunn became a coach under the Philippine Football Federation and is a holder of a FFA C License. He was an assistant coach of the Philippines U23 led by Jim Fraser and team manager Jeff Cheng that played in the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers.
Triathlon
After retiring from football, Gunn has shifted focus to triathlon and is aiming to represent the country at the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Personal life
Gunn's mother Viol Noval is from Liloan, Cebu.{{cite news|last1=Motus|first1=Bobby|title=SOFA – State of Football, Addressed|url=http://www.philstar.com/cebu-sports/713052/sofa-state-football-addressed|accessdate=13 March 2015|work=Feel the Game|publisher=The Freeman|date=5 August 2011}} Gunn is married and has three daughters. By 2020, Gunn has settled back in Australia in Sunshine Coast, Queensland and owns Australia Wide GPS & Radio Installations, a GPS communications company.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{NFT player|pid=9911}}
- [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/G/GU.html Australian Player Database – GU] at OzFootball.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunn, Leigh}}
Category:Australian people of Filipino descent
Category:Filipino people of Australian descent
Category:Soccer players from Sydney
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Filipino men's footballers
Category:Philippines men's international footballers
Category:Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC players