‘Drop ten, turn and Face.’ Quilty’s Football Yarns 26
First past the post and all that.
Entering the 2000’s SPX 1st XI were flying. We had strong squads in all three seasons including 2001-3. In 2001 Adam Demasi assumed the captaincy for the side with his brother Matt also making the squad. Vanya was back between the sticks with Prentice and McMcintosh also returning. The Mastroianni brothers Michael and Matt provided much of the midfield muscle but a gift to college appeared in the person of Daniel ‘Dubbo’ Bateup who came up to Sydney for his final two years of school and a pursuit of a career in Football.
Looking back to ‘The Collegian’ of 2001 I wrote,
“Good judges who have played a large part in SPX Football over the past five seasons have said we have had no better side in that time. As coach of the side I would agree with that statement but in the wash up we came up short in terms of trophies in the cabinet and for many that is the harshest test of success.”
In the ISA we were unbeaten Minor Premiers only dropping points in an away draw with St Pats. We proceeded to have a great season gaining doubles over Oxley, SCECG’s and St Andrew’s. Our defence was strong being marshalled by Chris-Rickard Bell at sweeper, the stylish Jason Andrijic and the Kynoch-Kelly twins, Peter and Darren being tough utility players. The wide running of Anthony Slater providing rapid go forward with Adam Demasi and Chris Toole supplementing top scorer Prentice. As is the way in football, disappointments can be like buses, and often come in pairs. So it was in season 2001. In the ISA Grand Final, we once again played St Pat’s. In a tense game with chances at both ends we went 1-0 down direct from a free kick. The crowd at Christie Park was massive and Br Leary estimated that we had the school support by a ratio of 4:1. Unfortunately after a period when it seemed we must score we again conceded direct from a free kick. Things were to get no better on the night poor discipline ruling out any realistic chance of a comeback. St Pat’s were worthy winners on the night. Within a week we had a chance to make amends when playing Barker in the NSWCIS semi final at Oxford Falls. Trailing by an early goal we stormed back with two Chris Toole goals to lead 2-1. Looking to close out the game several silly bookings were to cost us a heavy price because we had a player dismissed with ten to go. Then right on the whistle we conceded a penalty to make it 2-2. Our ten battled bravely but Barker’s star Ben Jenke sealed the game in golden goal extra time.
Season 2002 was in many ways a brilliant one. We won all ten ISA round games and a Semi Final scoring 33 goals and conceding just 13. In the NSWCIS Cup we defeated William Clarke and Kenthurst before again falling to Barker, this time at the Quarter Final stage. In the St Andrew’s Cup we again went down in the Final to Trinity. At ISA Rep level ten of our senior players made the squads. We also had David Prentice make NSW Schoolboys and Daniel Bateup the Australian Schoolboys squad. It is hard not to conclude that somewhere along the way we deserved at least a trophy as reward, but that is football. If persuading Damien Pisano to play for SPX in 1998 was important, the elevation of two of our players to State and National Schoolboy level was crucial in the development of Football expectations at the college. David Prentice was our first player to win a Football scholarship in America, studying and playing in Cleveland and Furman University’s. Daniel took a more conventional path going to play and trial in the UK and Europe. These players literally laid down dual pathways for other SPX players to aspire and we are eternally thankful for that.
This is what I wrote regarding these SPX players in 2002,
Exciting times are ahead for two of our class of 2002. Soccer players Daniel Bateup David Prentice are embarking on different routes to further their ambitions within the sport.
Daniel, who was a Australian and NSW Schools representative last year, has gone to Europe in an attempt to win a professional contract. In mid July he spent a fortnight at Gillingham, Kent and at Walsall near Birmingham, training with the first grade sides during their pre-season. He has now moved on to Glasgow where trials are being arranged with Celtic and Morton. Daniel hopes to return to London to trial with Spurs before heading off to Switzerland. His father Mark is keeping SPX abreast of developments and attributes Daniels drive to become a soccer player as the major motivation for his son.
'David Prentice, the SPX soccer captain in 2002 was also a NSW representative player last season. It is in the USA that David intends to further his soccer ambitions. David has accepted a 4 year full scholarship at Cleveland State University in Ohio to study Business and leaves for there in the second week of August. David has also won a place in Cleveland’s soccer side which competes in the countries elite college competition. He is unusual in having met the rigorous academic conditions for the scholarship and being a top level soccer player. David remarks “ There is so much opportunity in the USA. Soccer is the fastest growing sport and the college circuit is well funded with excellent facilities”.
These diverse routes to success in soccer are a useful signpost for SPX students seeking to further their development. It is often said that the school route through sport enables any of our students to reach their potential. Just ask Daniel Bateup and David Prentice.'
In season 2003 the SPX 1st XI side was led by Johnny Ruggerino a fine wide attacking player. His vice-captain was Chris Girling a tough no nonsense defensive midfielder. Between them they took the squad to an unbeaten regular season in the ISA only dropping points in draws with St Pats and SCECG’s. Once again our NSWCIS Cup run was to be halted by Barker down at Hornsby this time at the Quarter Final stage. Earlier wins over St Paul’s and Northolme Grammar had promised so much. Indeed the failure to deliver the final win after being so dominant is a topic that could be discussed infinitum. In the St Andrew’s Cup holiday competition we made the final only to go down to our old nemesis Trinity Grammar. They say that lightening doesn’t strike twice but for us a ISA Grand final defeat was suffered to St Pats after leading in the match. With the benefit of hindsight it is hard not to conclude that for three seasons in a row our self-discipline let us down because once again we finished the game with ten players on the field. Across these three seasons we can see that being skilful and talented in football may not be enough. Looking back on these seasons 17 years on, the reality is stark. In 2003 I wrote
“I am proud of what the side achieved. The fact that we have now gone 25 regular season ISA games since our last defeat in 2001 is only tempered by the reality that finals are a sticking point for us at the moment”. Upon reflection, the culture in the St Pats group was more controlled, enabling a more constant and ultimately more fruitful entity. Johnny Ruggerino, Chris Girling and Chris Shahinian all made ISA 1st XI selection which illustrated what a strong group this was. Moving on to 2004 our SPX football program went inter-state and a started fine new tradition of playing Queensland and New Zealand colleges.
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