The Unlikely Hero
Andrew Redmayne’s career is a powerful narrative of resilience, culminating in one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. Forever known as the “Grey Wiggle,” his unconventional penalty shootout heroics against Peru secured Australia’s place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a spectacular peak in a journey that once saw him on the verge of retiring to become a barista. After transforming from an A-League journeyman into a multiple-championship-winning goalkeeper at Sydney FC, Redmayne’s legacy is defined by his psychological prowess in shootouts, his physical command of the box, and his ultimate proof that a player’s greatest moments can arrive when least expected.
The Story So Far
Andrew Redmayne’s path was never linear. It was a U-shaped curve, a story of profound rejection followed by an improbable, spectacular revival. Born and bred in Gosford, his talent was clear from a young age, earning him a place at elite institutions like the Australian Institute of Sport. This early promise led to a two-week trial with Premier League giants Arsenal, which was by all accounts a success. A contract was on the table until, in a cruel twist of fate, the club withdrew its offer after signing another 15-year-old keeper: Wojciech Szczęsny. The experience was “heart-breaking” for the 17-year-old and set the stage for a long wilderness period.
Returning to Australia, Redmayne became the consummate A-League journeyman. He signed his first contract with his hometown Central Coast Mariners, making a memorable debut as a substitute for the legendary Mark Bosnich in 2008. But he failed to secure a starting role, a pattern that continued at Brisbane Roar. While he was part of a squad that won back-to-back championships, his role was peripheral, making just two league appearances in two seasons. A move to Melbourne Heart (now City) finally offered consistent game time, but the team’s struggles meant his own form remained inconsistent.
His career reached its nadir at the Western Sydney Wanderers. After a solid first season as the starter, he fell out of favour. At 27, “fed up with football” and dreading the daily grind, he formulated a detailed exit strategy. Having already completed a barista course, he planned to retire, work at a friend’s cafe, continue his university studies, and play semi-professionally at night.
In January 2017, the most pivotal move of his career saved him from that premature end. A mid-season switch to crosstown rivals Sydney FC reunited him with his former youth coach Graham Arnold and goalkeeping mentor John Crawley—two men who, in Redmayne’s words, “believed more in myself than I did.” Initially a backup, he seized his chance when Danny Vukovic left, cementing himself as the undisputed number one. This stability transformed him. He became the backbone of the A-League’s most dominant era, winning three Premierships, three Championships, and two Australia Cups.
This revival set the stage for his defining moment on June 13, 2022. In the 120th minute of the World Cup playoff against Peru, Arnold made a “massive gamble,” substituting captain Maty Ryan for Redmayne, a move kept secret from even Ryan himself. What followed was pure theatre. Redmayne began his “Grey Wiggle” routine—dancing, flailing his limbs, and wiggling his hips to disrupt the takers. After Luis Advíncula hit the post, Redmayne dived to his right to save Alex Valera’s kick, sending Australia to the World Cup. His wide-eyed, open-mouthed celebration—a tribute to his daughter Poppy—became an instant, defining image of Australian sporting history.
A dedicated family man, Redmayne also pursued a life outside of football, remarkably completing his primary school teaching degree while in camp at the 2022 World Cup. In 2025, his career came full circle with a “fairytale” return to the Central Coast Mariners, bringing his journey back to where it all began.
Style of Play & Tactical Analysis
Andrew Redmayne’s goalkeeping is a compelling blend of solid fundamentals and unconventional psychological warfare. While his large frame makes him an effective shot-stopper, it is his calculated penalty-shootout antics that set him apart and challenge the traditional archetype of a goalkeeper.
The “Wiggle” is not a gimmick but a rehearsed psychological tactic developed with coach John Crawley at Sydney FC, and first used to devastating effect in the 2019 A-League Grand Final. The principle is to disrupt the penalty taker’s focus. By turning the goal into a chaotic, unpredictable space, Redmayne introduces doubt and forces the taker to reconsider their plan. Graham Arnold confirmed the substitution against Peru was a mental one, designed to make the opposition ask, “Why has he brought him on? He must be quite good.” This approach transforms the keeper from a passive target into the active aggressor in the psychological battle.
Beyond the theatre, Redmayne is a physically imposing and fundamentally sound keeper. Standing at 1.94m (6 ft 4 in), he possesses the ideal height to command his penalty area and dominate aerial duels. He is a proactive goalkeeper, comfortable operating outside his six-yard box, and statistical data ranks him highly for “Sweeper” actions and “High Claims.”
Mentally, his greatest development has been his composure, citing an ability to “be relaxed… calm in games and not get too worked up in big moments.” This allows him to effectively function as a modern sweeper-keeper in a “high risk, high reward” system, acting as the first point of attack and sweeping up balls behind a high defensive line.
Future Outlook
Andrew Redmayne’s career has entered its final, poignant chapter. Having returned to his boyhood club, the Central Coast Mariners, for the 2025-26 season, his trajectory is no longer about personal revival but about legacy. In this “fairytale” homecoming, his role will be that of a seasoned veteran, a multiple-time champion, and a national hero tasked with imparting invaluable experience to a new generation of players. While his international duties may be limited, his presence in the A-League provides a full-circle narrative, bringing his story back to where it all began, but this time as an icon of the game.
The Trophy Case (Honours)
Team Honours (Club)
- A-League Men Championship: 2010–11, 2011–12 (Brisbane Roar); 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20 (Sydney FC)
- A-League Men Premiership: 2010–11 (Brisbane Roar); 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 (Sydney FC)
- Australia Cup: 2017, 2023 (Sydney FC)
Team Honours (International)
- AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2008 (Australia U20)
Individual Honours
- A-League Goalkeeper of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21
- PFA A-League Team of the Year: 2017–18
- A-Leagues All Star: 2022
- A-League Save of the Year: 2022–23
- Sydney FC Members’ Player of the Year: 2019–20
The Record (Career Statistics)
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Clean Sheets |
| 2008–09 | Central Coast Mariners | A-League | 2 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Central Coast Mariners | A-League | 1 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Brisbane Roar | A-League | 1 | 1 |
| 2011–12 | Brisbane Roar | A-League | 1 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | Melbourne Heart | A-League | 13 | 2 |
| 2013–14 | Melbourne Heart | A-League | 24 | 5 |
| 2014–15 | Melbourne City | A-League | 11 | 1 |
| Australia Cup | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Western Sydney Wanderers | A-League | 23 | 7 |
| Australia Cup | 3 | N/A | ||
| 2016–17 | Western Sydney Wanderers | A-League | 8 | 1 |
| Australia Cup | 3 | N/A | ||
| 2016–17 | Sydney FC | A-League | 1 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Sydney FC | A-League | 28 | 12 |
| Australia Cup | 5 | N/A | ||
| AFC Champions League | 6 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19 | Sydney FC | A-League | 29 | 9 |
| Australia Cup | 5 | 1 | ||
| AFC Champions League | 5 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20 | Sydney FC | A-League | 27 | 8 |
| Australia Cup | 1 | 0 | ||
| AFC Champions League | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Sydney FC | A-League | 25 | 9 |
| 2021–22 | Sydney FC | A-League Men | 16 | 4 |
| Australia Cup | 4 | 2 | ||
| AFC Champions League | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Sydney FC | A-League Men | 29 | 5 |
| Australia Cup | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Sydney FC | A-League Men | 29 | 4 |
| Australia Cup | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Sydney FC | A-League Men | 8 | 0 |
| Australia Cup | 1 | 0 | ||
| AFC Champions League Two | 3 | 0 |