THEY say every upcoming Big Blue is the ‘biggest ever’.

Australia Day’s clash, however, has a compelling case, given the Premiers’ Plate stakes at play, with Melbourne Victory eight points adrift of undefeated Sydney FC.

One man in a position to judge the rivalry’s growth is the only player left playing in the fixture who was there on day dot.

Victory boss Kevin Muscat was on the park on August 28, 2005, and Adelaide United skipper Eugene Galekovic was behind him, in goal.

But David Carney is the only active Big Blue playing member still going around from that opening night 1-1 draw, which fittingly featured strikes from Dwight Yorke and Archie Thompson in front of a 25,208 wide eyed, curious fans.

“I remember it being a great crowd; the atmosphere was brilliant,” Carney, who came on in the 58th minute for David Zdrilic, told foxsports.com.au this week.

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28/08/2005: Dwight Yorke (2nd L) celebrates his goal with Ufuk Talay (2nd from R) & David Zdrilic (R) Source: News Limited

“It was a quality game. Archie was in his prime. We had Dwight Yorke who was world class. It was a great spectacle for the fans. Dwight pulled a lot of the fans then. Now the fans are coming because there’s a lot of history between us both. There have been a lot of fantastic games.”

Having arrived at Sydney FC to trial, Carney might have dreamt – but hardly expected – that the A-League, and Big Blue would surge into what it has, or that he would go on and represent Australia at a World Cup, and play in the Premier League and Dutch Eredevisie.

“I didn’t expect it to be the way it is now,” he admits.

David Carney in season 1. Source: News Limited

“Credit to both teams, Melbourne Victory were there first, ahead of City, and Sydney were there before Western Sydney. It seems we are the biggest clubs in the league. The rivalry has built up over what has happened over the years.”

But that was then. This is now, and Carney admits the ambition of winning silverware at the club that turbocharged his career 12 years ago is of huge motivation.

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“I think Sydney is where it started for me. It’s where I feel comfortable. I had great times winning it, my career went on from there. It’s where I’m comfortable at the minute. It just shows on the park. I enjoy playing my football in front of Sydney fans. I love everything about the club.”

He adds: “I was speaking with Alex Brosque before the season; we both didn’t know how much we had left.

“(We said) ‘let’s finish it off with the bang’. It’s still early doors, still concentrating game by game. So far, everyone has been excellent.”

A Premiership-Championship push is the perfect symmetry for Carney, whose journey truly kick started during that first season under Pierre Littbarski.

But, as his career comes full circle, he admits that he does sometimes wonder ‘what if’.

Sheffield United beckoned in 2007, before the height of his career at Twente in Holland, and then Blackpool, in the Premier League.

David Carney back at Sydney FC. Source: Getty Images

“If I could have my time again, I wish I could have had a crack without my shoulder injuries,” Carney admits.

“People might think shoulders aren’t important in football - I can honestly say (shoulders) are.”

Carney was part of Twente’s historic league triumph while in the Netherlands, but it was at those two top tier clubs that his shoulder started to really play up, to the point that as he was coming off contract at Blackpool, he had to miss the last few months of the season to fix it.

“When I was at the good clubs, like FC Twente, I had bad luck (needing) a shoulder operation.

“I then went to Blackpool, but most of the games, or training, my shoulder kept coming out, so I had to get another operation.

“It put a downer in terms of staying at the top level. I was really fit. I was doing one of the most kilometres in most of the teams I was playing in.

Sydney FC's David Carney. Source: News Corp Australia

“I do feel a bit unlucky. I’ve had three shoulder (reconstructions) on the same shoulder. I felt that took its toll on me a bit.

“It took the edge off me in a way; I maybe relied on things I knew I was good at and it got me by.”

From there, Carney tasted second division Spain with AD Alcorcon, Uzbekistan with Bunyodkor, a failed stint in Iran with Persepolis and the US with New York Red Bulls between 2011 and 2014, before returning to the A-League with the Jets.

David Carney of Sydney FC. Source: AAP

He would have loved his CV to be less eclectic, but has a bag of life experiences instead.

“I have great memories; as a kid I always wanted to play in the Premier League. To make my debut at Newcastle United, playing out there, getting the feeling and the atmosphere (was great). Even playing at Sheffield United, I was playing well under Bryan Robson, scored in the FA Cup when we beat Oldham 1-0. Memories like that, they stick with you, the atmosphere in England is the best in the world.

“FC Twente, being part of a team that won the championship for the first time ever, knowing what we had to go through, and all the mind games to be champions, holding your nerve in the last game. They’ll always stick by me.

“It all sort of felt like things were coming up, offers were coming up, at the time I fell into them. I probably made a few wrong decisions at the time, jumping into things.

“I can’t take anything back, it is what it is. I’ve had a lot of good experiences. I’m happy to be home now though, looking forward to the future now and the focus is purely on Sydney.”

That focus, of course, is on maintaining an undefeated streak. If they do, against their oldest rivals, a Premiers’ Plate looks inevitable.

Carney has a great record against the Victory, but may have to bide his time on the bench again at Etihad Stadium on Australia Day.

That, in itself, gives a hint as to why Sydney have been so successful.

“We’re really well structured, everyone knows their role. I honestly can say whoever comes in can do the job, we have so much quality that anyone can do that.

“We’ve got a good backroom staff, fitness coach, good balance with players.

David Carney in Socceroo colours. Source: AFP

“I would probably say the biggest thing is the team harmony. Everyone really gets along really well. No one ever has arguments or disconnection, that’s so important for winning a championship.

He added that that’s kept players like himself hungry.

“I hate sitting on the bench - I want to be out there doing things. You’re not always happy every game. It’s one of those, when you get your chance, you need to deliver. There’ll be times I’ll be called upon and need to deliver. It’s important you stick together.”

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