The full-time footballer and part-time law student shares a deeper insight into his life, from his junior football career to his studies, and his relationship and connection with other Perth-born Jets players.
When asked about his first football memory, Daniel Stynes recalled of the time he would kick the ball in his local park in Kinross, Perth with his brother and father.
“My first real memories of football are going down to the park and playing with my brother and Dad, that would be my earliest memory I have of playing,” said Stynes.
After being inspired by his older brother playing, Stynes decided to take on football himself, with Quinns Football Club as his starting ground. He played there for five years, before starting in the Perth Glory academy at the age of 13.
“My Father grew up in Dublin in Ireland and played football himself, he and my brother encouraged me to play football at a young age.”
Daniel Stynes’ professional football career began when he was playing for Perth Glory, however, he acquired a number of injuries during this time, which caused a few setbacks at the beginning of his career.
Stynes decided to take a year off from the A-league, which allowed him to readjust his focus as he learned to love the sport again. He was playing in the NPL with his brother and some mates.
“I had a lot of injuries that stalled my progress and my development and having that season out was the biggest blessing for me mentally, I was able to readjust my focus and readjust my perspective on life.
It was an important part in my career because when I came back [to the A-league] it gave me a new perspective on football, to enjoy the moments and to take it for what it is,” said Stynes.
Upon returning to Perth Glory, Stynes launched back into his A-league career where he was named in the 2020 AFC Champions league side.
In Doha, Qatar was where Stynes made his official return starting against Ulsan Hyundai FC, where he went on to score against the side who ending up winning the AFC Champions league.
“That was probably the best moment for my career so far, from coming from two months ago to playing in the NPL, to playing in a world cup stadium in Qatar, and scoring a goal against the eventual winners, that was a great moment,” said Stynes.
After playing with Perth Glory for a few years, Stynes made the move over to Newcastle for the 2022/2023 season. Stynes has caught the eye this season with some fanstatic performances for the Jets, including a contender for goal of the season with a strike against Western United in Ballarat.
“I love it here in Newcastle, it is similar to Perth as it’s a bit quieter than major cities. The transition here was quite seamless,” said Stynes.
Stynes made the move to Newcastle last year, along with Brandon O’Neill and Callum Timmins who are also from Perth. Stynes mentioned that having them here has made the transition much easier, with a little bit of Perth with him in Newcastle.
“I love the vibe of the city, the people here are lovely as well, I don’t have a bad word to say about Newcastle, it’s amazing,” says Stynes.
The Perth trio have known each other for many years, with Stynes and O’Neill’s friendship beginning from their childhood through the connection with their fathers’.
“Both of our dads emigrated from Ireland at a similar time, and met through the Irish community in Perth, they played poker together on Friday nights,” said Stynes.
The pair went through the academy system together before both playing at Perth Glory together.
“I have known Brandon my whole life, pretty much from birth, he’s like family to me.”
Although Stynes’ relationship with O’Neill stemmed back to when they were kids, Stynes always admired and respected O’Neill as a footballer, and still looks up to him.
“Brandon was always someone that I looked up to, his professionalism and his discipline, I’ve never seen something like it before.
It is why he has had such an amazing career and has achieved so much, because of the way he conducts himself is second to none,” said Stynes.
Daniel Stynes and Callum Timmins also grew up through the NTC [national training centre] together and have known each other since they were teenagers.
“As we got older we were both breaking into the first team at the same time, and both made our debuts in the same season.
We were roommates back then and still are to this day, so we spend a lot of time together and know each other very well, he’s also like family to me as well,” Stynes said.
From beginning their football careers together in Perth, it has all come full circle for the trio with them all signing with the Newcastle Jets simultaneously.
“It’s weird how we have all stuck together throughout this time, but it has been the best time too,” said Stynes.
Away from the football field, Daniel Stynes immerses himself in his studies, by undertaking his bachelor’s degree in law, in which he will complete very soon.
“I’ve been studying for around six years, and am very near to completing my degree, with only a few units to go,” Stynes said.
Stynes followed in the footsteps of his brother and sister who are also lawyers, with his other sister as a clinical psychologist. Studying was always an option for Stynes, and he knew from early on that he would go down a similar path of his siblings.
When asked about balancing his studies with football, Stynes touched on the importance of having other hobbies aside from football, and how it helps with his mental clarity.
“Studying has always been positive for me, it’s a great way to keep your mind stimulated away from football, and I’ve always found it to be a good mental distraction.
You are attaining a degree too, also enhancing your knowledge, and it gives you a backup plan if football doesn’t go according to plan,” said Stynes.
Stynes acknowledged that navigating university life took some getting used to, before finding a balance between football and study.
“Trying to balance university at the start was quite difficult, it is a massive transition from school, so I had no idea about university life at the beginning until I found a routine.”
Covid19 forced his university to move into online learning, which was a blessing in disguise for Stynes. The online transition to university meant that Stynes was able to focus on his football career in addition to completing his studies at the same time.
Stynes is content where he is at the moment with his studies and football career, and is happy to take on either pathway down the track.
By Daniella Flamiatos.
