Former Newcastle Jets captain, Nigel Boogaard has signed for Charlestown Azzurri ahead of the 2022 NPL Northern NSW season.
The 34-year-old centre back, who amassed 275 A-League appearances across stints at Central Mariners, Adelaide United and the Jets announced his retirement from professional football at the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign.
The defender, who grew up in the Hunter Valley told NBN Sport he couldn’t wait to get going at the club he supported in the local leagues as a youngster.
“I’ll always kick a ball around, I love it too much to not, but I felt like I had a responsibility also to give back to football,” Boogaard said.
“It’s given me so much, it’s given me a career, a life, a lifestyle, it’s been amazing.
“Not only did I follow the Breakers, but when it came to a local team, they (Azzurri) were my team, so I’m excited to sign with them for next year’s competition.”
Boogaard isn’t the only former A-League player to sign on at Lisle Park ahead of the 2022 season with Jacob Melling also committing to the Azzurri for next season.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who played for Central Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City & Adelaide United joins Charlestown after spending the 2021 season at Terrigal United in the Central Coast Premier League.
Azzurri currently sit in fifth in the NPL Northern NSW NPL with just two rounds of action left to play in the 2021 season.
The competition is currently on hold as a result of the state-wide COVID enforced lockdown in New South Wales.