Drop ten, turn and face Quilty’s Football Yarns 55 Australia - Opportunities aplenty

Drop ten, turn and face

Quilty’s Football Yarns 55

Australia - Opportunities aplenty

Growing up in Hackney and going to school in Bethnal Green, in the sixties and seventies was always interesting. If you are a basic optimist, you tend not to see adversity. So it was with me. I grew up near Vicky Park, went to a lovely Primary School in Lauriston Road and snagged a place at Parmiters Grammar in Approach Road near the Old Bethnal Green Chest Hospital. We moved from Swingfield House to Laxfield Court in 1966. It was part of the new Suffolk Estate in Pownall Road. Everyone was in a similar boat usually coming from older council flats or out of condemned houses in Shoreditch or Hoxton. We lived in an exotically named ‘maisonette’ up on the second floor. The flat had both an upstairs and downstairs. Class was undoubtedly an underlying element in London society but as an 11 or 12 year old, it wasn’t necessarily at the front of my mind. In later years Hackney gained the name ‘Dustbin of Europe’ which has always made me laugh. I do remember thinking as a kid, thoughts such as, ‘Why do people on TV sound different to me’ and being pleasantly surprised to ever hear my locality mentioned on TV which wasn’t very often! Looking back on our BBC Children Talking; ‘Day trip to Calais’ programme we all sound like ‘Inner London’ children in 1965. 

Upon reflection, it probably said more about the norms of mainstream media at that time than anything else, that made people sound that particular way.  The way you speak was always a differentiator in the UK, not just on a class level but also in a regional sense. Even today when I meet a British person somewhere in the world I can usually pick where they come from within a 20 mile radius. The differences in accent around the UK are immense for such a small place. Living in Leeds, for four years as a student, certainly made me stand out every time I opened my mouth. A particularly dangerous thing especially away at English football matches!

Going to work in the City of London at seventeen years of age had been an eye opener. Financial markets were already undergoing big changes as early as 1973. Stockbrokers were traditionally Public School educated but that was changing. My cousin, Johnny Hill, was a Comprehensive School attendee up until the age of 15.  He went into the City and literally made a million. Not sure whether his school, Cardinal Pole, ever invited him back but they ought to have done. Johnny was a trailblazer in his way by going into a work environment which had long been the domain of a narrow group of ‘well educated’ people with posh accents.

Anyone who has read anything I have written thus far will know that I am a basically optimistic person. Thus, when I recall some situations, that optimism was tested.  I always remember starting on the Stock Market and being told openly by some of the administrative staff that my accent would hold me back. “They won’t allow you to come in and take ‘their’ jobs, you don’t talk the way they do”. Those sad people would not realise that ‘education’ would actually help me get on rather than hold me back. Enrolling for and passing the various Stock Exchange examinations helped me progress in both periods I worked there 1972-5 and 1986-90. Becoming a Registered Representative and Registered Trader stood me in good stead and at the ‘front’ of change. Markets were adapting to new technology and the advent of cockney ‘barrow boys’ as traders became increasingly prevalent. As I have mentioned previously the Stock Exchange certainly tried to hang on to many of its traditions. The archaic language of the market, its conventions and prejudices were really challenged by globalisation. ‘Big Bang’ in 1985 allowed foreign banks and brokers to trade on London Markets. The Americans, especially, without actually realising it, shook up the way things were done. ‘Money’ rather ‘Old School Tie’ becoming a big differentiator. In 1987 we saw a massive rise in the FTSE 100 followed by the October crash. Up until that point ‘life was indeed imitating art’ because cash flowed freely, lunches were long and boozy while bonuses and pay were amazingly high. For a short while, “Greed was good”. By the time I left County Nat West in 1990 I felt the whole Stock Exchange culture had altered forever. Sitting in the ‘redundancy holding room’ in January 1990, I had the realisation that of the eighty people I was with, I was probably the only one to have a ‘fall back’ career, I was qualified  teacher and that is what I returned to once more. 

Emigrating to Australia in 1992 was a breath of fresh air in terms of opportunity. Terrie and I took our two children 3 and 18 months, half-way around the world, to start a new life. The fact that we started off on a caravan park for twelve weeks may be viewed by some as shocking but to me it provided a foundation for valuing everything we eventually got, we certainly benefitted from the experience and numerous work and friendship opportunities stemmed from that place.

When I eventually got my first permanent job out at John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong I fortunate enough to meet one of the main mentors in my life, Don Sykes. In the that first year Don revealed to me a whole possible pathway in the area of Business and Economics. Having studied Economics at Leeds University, worked on the Stock Market and established my own Newspaper based business, made me as qualified as most to teach these subjects. The thing that Don showed me was that in Australia and Sydney in particular, there were opportunities in and around Education. Don Sykes was a multi-published author for Longmans being the ‘Guru’, publishing numerous Business Studies texts over a period of years. One of the first things Don got me involved in was HSC Business Studies marking. This was a lucrative activity for the 350 markers in our subject but just as importantly it was a wonderful ‘educational networking and in service’ activity stretching over two weeks in December. It was usually located at one of the Sydney showgrounds at Moore Park, Alexandria or eventually the Olympic precinct. Marking certainly had a system and more importantly an intangible culture that determined the way our course was to be taught and developed. Like anywhere, there was an hierarchy at marking. Fortunately, in my second year I was made one of the Senior markers who ran a team of twelve teachers based on a particular question in the paper. Working with 350 other teachers on Business Studies marking, certainly opened one’s eyes on the range and styles of practitioners in our subject. The fact that marking participants came to sessions straight after working a full day at school was testing. Marking went from 4.00 – 8.30 and included a full day Saturday. The higher you advanced up the hierarchy the less actual marking you did but conversely you were involved for more days. In 1999 I was selected to be Assistant Supervisor of Marking working with the Supervisor and one other. Our job was to go in a few days early, receive the paper and set up the process which would last another two weeks. I can’t really imagine getting such an opportunity in the UK but in Australia I found that if you could do, what you said you could do, little would hold you back. Following on from HSC Marking I was also appointed to be one of the first Advice Line staff for Business Studies. Don Sykes encouraged me all along to take such opportunities as they arose. Working in a Catholic Systemic School we were users of the CSSA Trial examinations. Thus, when Don suggested I go on the committee that wrote that paper, I keenly accepted. The fact that hundreds of schools used the CSSA trial paper was kudos for John Paul II (and later St Pius X College) that their staff were involved in such academic pursuits in addition to teaching. After a couple of years on the committee I was asked to take over as the paper’s convenor. A role I did for almost a decade. 

Whilst at John Paul II, good friend Paul Czeleski, took me along to Meadowbank TAFE to meet the Dean of Studies. As a relatively new immigrant to Australia with a mortgage a bit of extra work was useful. An opportunity to teach there, arose several nights a week. The courses were electives for Accounting Students, Business Economics or Financial Markets, both of which I was very comfortable presenting. Over the next nine years I did round work trips initially taking in Berowra – Blacktown – Meadowbank – Berowra and then in later years Berowra – Chatswood – Meadowbank – Berowra. This TAFE lecturing experience with adult students gave me an alternative view of my job but was rewarding in a new way. I felt sorry for many of the students on the course because by ‘weeks end’ they were exhausted having already done a full day’s work followed by lectures until 9.00pm. In the early 2000’s I stumbled into a role Lecturing to HSC  Business Students doing commercial revision courses at Sydney University. I had never pictured myself at a lectern in front of 300 people but here I was. The money was useful but the ‘free parking vouchers’ we received for Sydney University themselves possessed considerable currency! Working with Don Sykes certainly shaped my experience of work in Australia. He had opened up numerous academically based opportunities for me. One such role was presenting on Globalisation for the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) down at Knox Grammar. Talking to students is one thing but actually presenting to your peers is something else. I shouldn’t have worried because the talk went well. That is until the end of day bell went at 3-00pm. There I was, with my presentation up on the big screen when suddenly the screen started to disappear up into the roof. It was electronically putting itself away! To make things worse I didn’t realise it was happening until someone at the front pointed it out to me. Fortunately, I only had a bit to go and winged it until the end. Probably the thing I am most proud of with my association with Don is when he asked me to co-author a text book with him in 1999. ‘Case Studies in Australian Business’ was published by Hodder Headline and formed a text to be used in the HSC Business Studies course. It did involve lot of work but enabled me to access my own network of friends and acquaintances in the Sydney business world. Derek Kirk at Top Hat Foods and Danone ; JB at Leica Instruments; Dave Bleasdale at Howard Smith; Paul Ryan at Dow Corning; Anthony Seaegg at Datacom/Microsoft Services; Jim Cronin at Ludowici; Chris Duck at Commonwealth Bank; Craig Burkill at Australian Communications magazine; Paul Squires at SMART research, Ian Johnson at the Hawksberry River Oyster farms and Colin Strang with his connection at Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, all gave us brilliant access and enabled the text book to take shape and ultimately be published. A proud moment. 

Australia has certainly opened its arms to me and my family in terms of opportunity. Terrie has worked for two Trans-National Corporations, both for a period of seven years. Working with the Foods CEO at Unilever and then at Novartis North Ryde, as the Site Manager and prime mover in the transformation of the business across into its $80m new premises on Waterloo Road. More recently she has worked with The SAN Hospital Foundation down at Wahroonga. All interesting jobs where opportunity was offered and taken. Dan has made a teaching career, coming through Macquarie University initially as a History teacher before showing versatility in qualifying to teach in that doyen of subjects, English. Cassie worked for seven years in Nursing Services at her alma mater Sydney University, before getting her Business MBA through that University and is currently an academic writer for Western Sydney University.  Yes, Australia has provided good opportunities for us all. 

For me heading up the Economics Business Commerce and Geography (EBGC) department at SPX for two decades is the best evidence of that. Terrie and I agree. We don’t believe the UK would have offered a chance at the same. It is a hypothetical question but that is what we believe to be true for this Cockney boy and girl away from home. Of course, football coaching opportunities deserve a whole chapter to themselves and eventually that’s what they will get.

http://stevenqoz.blogspot.com/?m=1

Drop ten turn and face 54

Drop ten, turn and face

Quilty’s Football Yarns 54

Two Cup wins

Season 2017 was one we entered with considerable anticipation. For the first time since 2005 we appointed joint captains for the 1st XI, James Kellendonk and Alec Vinci. Both had played for the side previously, James for his third season. As ever we had our full programme of trials and competitions arranged but in this year we had two new ones. The first involved our Queensland tour. Since 2004 we gone up to play either the original Southern Skies Tournament or in later times the re-badged High Energy Tournament. Both involved our squad staying at the wonderful University of Queensland campus and taking on a range of Australian, New Zealand and International sides. Historically we had played teams with players from Africa, Noumea, New Zealand, Malaysia and Korea. Sides also came from every state in Australia including NSW where we regularly took relatively local rivals. This year was to be different because the Tournament was actually one organised by the EREA, again including sides from every state. It also took place in April rather than mid-year..

Kicking off the year we took on the usual range of local club sides and schools. Berowra, Saints Utd and HFC All Age and St Michaels U21’s. We also played Asquith Boys High and St Augustine’s who both play in different competitions to ourselves. Five wins and a draw were a good return as we made ready to fly to Queensland. St Laurence’s were to host the EREA competition and for the first time we stayed away from the University staying in serviced units and providing our own mini bus transport. I’ve never been one to write off coincidence’s but this tour was to mirror that of 2014 in every way.  A great effort by the boys saw us play five games in three days against sides from Canberra, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. As in 2014, we once again shut out all the opposition, St Edmund’s 

1-0; St Columban’s 5-0; St Paul’s 3-0 and St Patrick’s 1-0 which put us into the Grand Final v St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, who came from the Brisbane GPS Competition. A partisan Queensland crowd certainly let us know just where their loyalties lie! In what was a very tough match we led the whole game until the last minute when Terrace forced an equaliser. History repeating itself! We were forced into extra time and the penalties only conceding a goal in the last minute of the week, just as in 2014. Adversity and resilience were two of the words that came to mind at the time. The partisan crowd did their best to influence the outcome but midfielder Nathan Mellino stepped up to put away the final penalty and we were the inaugural EREA Cup winners.

Returning to Sydney we had the annua,l two day, St Andrew’s Cup the following week out at Valentine Park.  Wins against St Spyridon’s and Shore followed by a 0-0 draw with Riverview landed us in the semi-final. Unfortunately, we ran into a very strong Oakhill side and went down 2-0. Up until this point we’d actually gone 17 games unbeaten in season 2017. This St Andrew’s Cup defeat sent us into a bit of a form slump because we went down by 2-1 in three consecutive games against St Aloysius; Oakhill and St Spyridon’s in the ISA followed by a NSWCIS Cup defeat to Pacific Hills. Fortunately, our recovery was as impressive as the slump had been worrying, because wins over Chevalier; St Pats, Oakhill; St Andrew’s and St Spyridon’s put us in ISA finals contention all without a goal being conceded! Because our Queensland tour had taken place in April rather than mid-year, it brought about the need for a new Tournament to be arranged by ourselves out at Oxford Falls. The 'July Cup' which was dedicated to my dad who had recently passed away, ‘The Sid Sanderson Memorial Trophy’. Riverview, the Kings School and Sydney Grammar all took part. Three good victories over these GPS sides lift the trophy and set us up well for the ISA run in. An away draw with St Pats preceded two clear wins over St Andrew’s and Chevalier. Finishing second on the ladder we faced St Spyridon’s in the semi-final. In a truly topsy-turvy match we came from behind to eventually win 8-3 booking a place in the ISA Final. 

As I have said multiple times in this series of reflections, we run our Football program a particular way. We have always endevoured to get the best SPX players to play for the college, be they anything from Year 9 to 12, club or Rep players, they are all welcome. In 2017 we went down 4-0 in the Grand Final to Oakhill who were the best team in the competition. We had already faced them in both the St Andrew’s Cup and the ISA regular season. Unfortunately, our co-captain Alec Vinci was down to play for Manly on this day in their finals games. Fight as much we could we were already several goals down by the time he arrived to play for us. In over 20 seasons my luck had usually been good having players available, so am in no position to complain. A quality player, Alec went on to play for the NSWCIS at the All Schools Championship and then captained Central Coast Mariners Youth side after school. Alec is still pursuing what he loves, playing in Germany today. Oakhill fully deserved their victory on the day, but our boys were disappointed not to have got closer. One particular player, Scott Browning shed a tear at the end as a young, Year Ten student. Fortunately for Scott, that bitter memory in 2017 was to be put right in 2019 when he emulated his brother Luke to lift the NSWCIS Cup. Scott himself going on to be currently playing as captain of Sydney FC U20’s. In spite of the ISA Final defeat we had one more game to play because Chatswood High invited us over to be their first opponents on their brand new astro-turf all weather pitch. As ever, we’ll go anywhere for a game!

The ‘management team’ of parents, Heidi, Margaret and Enya had done us proud setting the standard in ISA culinary entertainment and communications. It was also time to say goodbye to media powerhouse Danny John and his wife Tanya. Sam John had put the finishing touches on his families playing involvement at SPX representing the ISA along with Chris Kastropil, Lachie Back, Scott Browning, James Kellendonk Charlie Hammond and Alec Vinci. Danny John had reported on amazing SPX success in his time through Shoot Tackle and Goal. The journalism and photography have been outstanding, while the fanzine itself truly mapped our ups and downs, as one of school football’s best sides of that period. Danny reported on a 2013 ISA win; a 2014 NSWCIS Cup win; a 2014 High Energy Cup win; 2016 High Energy Cup win; and in 2017 wins in both the EREA and July Cups. The gratitude of Simon Yue and I to Danny John is hard to express in words. Communications from Danny were unmatched in schoolboy sport. Finishing season 2017 we had collected two trophies. Co-captains Alec Vinci and James Kellendonk had done a fine job, the latter playing over 100 games for SPX in three seasons. Youngsters Liam Tachjian, Jack Berte, Andres Nolan and Scott Browning had enjoyed playing for SPX and would be stronger for the experience. Nathan Mellino, Andrew Kelly and Diego Cuadros and Matt Hettler said goodbye having played significant roles all season. On the goalscoring front youngster Robbie Leonardi got 14 while Julian Di Ciano got 12 and Alec Vinci 10. Our 2017 top-scorer was Connor Brannan with 20 goals who I rate as the SPX player with the hardest shot in my time at the college. In the wash up our season looked like this:

Played 38 Won 26 Drew 5 Lost 7 Goals for 109 Goals against 35.

Drop ten turn and face 53

Drop ten, turn and face.

Quilty’s Football Yarns 53

Two finals, a Cup win and taking on International Schoolboy Representative  competition

In season 2016 Chris Woo was our 1st XI Captain and a fine job he did. The squad was a strong one with numerous Rep players. So with this in mind, it is important to consider the sacrifices the boys made because for the school alone they amassed 33 games. As ever we entered the early season St Andrews Cup. This is always a good test because it brings together twelve of the strongest sides in Independent Schools football. This year we started well downing both Barker and Sydney Grammar 4-0 but missed out in the final to a late goal against St Aloysius. Further trials against St Pius Old Boys, HFC Armenia, Riverview, St Augustines, Kissing Point and Sydney High set us well for our opening NSWCIS game against Kings, a game we won well.  Moving on to the start of the ISA competition, we ran up six consecutive wins including 1-0 away wins over both St Pats and Oakhill. A 5-1 NSWCIS Cup quarter final victory over St Philips Newcastle, was apt revenge, for a semi-final reversal against that college back in 2008. Keeper Chris Kastropil was playing for his second consecutive season, while the Di Ciano brothers Alex and Julian an opportunity to play together both making the ISA Rep side. Alex went on with Mitch Whalley to play for NSWCIS, the first time since Daniel Bateup and David Prentice in 2002, that we had we two spots in the squad. Robbie Leonardi, James Kellendonk, Alec Vinci and Chris Woo all turned out for the ISA side.

With the ISA policy of ‘no night finals’, since 2009, the significance of the NSWCIS night matches, has really taken over as that opportunity for SPX to showcase not just its fine, competitive football but also the undoubted school spirit and fanatical support. Thus, playing Moriah College was one such opportunity to shine. A NSWCIS Cup semi-final under lights out at Valentine Park, FNSW headquarters. Moriah were the existing holders of the Cup and my good friend Dome Helene was coach of the side. Oh what a night! Hundreds of SPX students came out to get behind the boys. Our boys were outstanding on the night matching the champion Moriah team throughout. A Pius goal was controversially before the game went into extra time at 0-0. Penalties looked to be the solution until in the last minute when their champion player, Ryan Blumberg, scored a late, late, winner to sink our dream. Ryan was well known to my-self. He had played the previous year in my All Schools Championship winning, CIS side. After this year’s competition he went on to win a place in the International Nike Academy, eventually joining Charlton Athletic in England.

The buzz of the semi final once again demonstrated how far our Football programme at the college had come. The boys had given their all and come so close. Fortunately, we were given a chance to put things right going away to Queensland for the High Energy Cup the following week. 

In the HIgh Energy Cup we eventually prevailed, after going down 3-2 initially to Africa United we got a 9-3 win against African Unity. This was followed by a 3-2 win over Kings which put us through to the final on the second day against the same side. In a tense, pressure filled match our main striker Harry Clay took a sharp chance to seal a tight 1-0 win. Captain Chris Woo and SPX  lifted this Cup for just the second time in 12 years.

 This was to be no ordinary tour because for reasons beyond our control several schools had withdrawn from the tournament and it would be a four team, two-day competition. Resourceful, as ever, we quickly arranged three additional tour matches including one Brisbane side St Laurence’s  who we downed 6-1 and State League outfit Ipswich City Bulls. This was great game against an older side played on Astro-turf and was kindly arranged by old mate and ex SPX teacher Lee Addison. The 2-1 win saw coach Chris Semaan take the field for our side, something the boys enjoyed immensely. 

Returning to Sydney with silverware is always special.

We are proud at SPX of our good standing in the football community. It was very encouraging then when I got a phone call from the New Zealand Schoolboy International side coach, asking if we wanted to play them in a midweek tour game. As any who knows me will attest I will take my sides to play anyone. We had previously taken on the ISA side and the NSWCIS sides providing opposition but this was a whole new level. As it turned out the weather was terrible and we ended up playing the game down on the ‘all weather’ at Miranda. The background to this invitation was that New Zealand had games arranged with Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, NSW Schoolboys and Australian Schoolboys. When the Wanderers dropped out someone told them to ring St Pius X Chatswood. How good is that! In what was a good game we went down 5-2. I pulled in a couple of Old Boys on the night, Dan Makerry, Ben John  and a very young Scott Browning all turning out to help.

While the New Zealand fixture was a high point in the season, our bread and butter, the ISA was to prove a step too far in 2016. A couple of wash outs against SCECG’s and St Andrew’s  meant we had little opportunity to improve our 6 1 and 1 record finishing second. The single defeat had been a 1-0 reverse at home to Oakhill. A semi-final tie at Oxford Falls with St Pats started so well going with us going ahead but going eventually going down 4-1 at the final whistle. Disappointing as this was, we had had a competitive season bringing home silverware from Queensland. Our squad of 17 included; 

Chris Kastropil; Alec Vinci; Jarrod Chater; Harry Clay; Sam John; James Kellondonk; Jake Saunders; Chris Woo; Alex Di Ciano; Julian Di Ciano; Roberto Leonardi; Diego Cuadros-Garrot; Mitch Whalley; Anthony Kelly; Nathan Mellino; Lachlan Back; Daniel Warren

Once again Danny John had kept us all entertained with his brilliant editions of Shoot Tackle and Goal while Rachel Woo captured the key moments in our season pictorially. 

Our record was; Played 33 Won 20 Drawn 4 Lost 9 

For 89 Against 52. 

Goalscorers; Clay 14; Leonardi 12; J DiCiano 7 Vinci 6

Drop ten turn and face 52

Backing up on a season like 2014, or 2012, for that matter, is always a task. Our SPX 1st XI in 2015 certainly put in a full shift playing a total of 36 matches, the first of these in late January and a season running until late August. People may look back on this particular season and judge that in spite of finishing top at the round robin stage, of three competitions, we weren’t able to land the trophy lifting blow, in any of them. In the wash up we had two Grand Finals, a semi and a quarter final and I can proudly say we never died wondering in any of them.

As has been written elsewhere, 2014 had been the culmination for a squad which had travelled together across many seasons at SPX.  Because of this it meant that in 2015 we only had six players surviving from the previous year, involving eleven new players coming in. We made ourselves very busy playing 17 games by the end of April. Captain, Ben John was playing his third year of very successful 1st XI football, and along with his right-hand man, Vice-Captain Alex Drake, they had won the ISA Championship, Queensland Cup and the NSWCIS Cup in that epic 6-1 victory over Barker.

In 2015 our two-day St Andrew’s Cup campaign saw us make the final with wins over St Aloysius, Sydney High and Oakhill. In the event we went down 3-1 to a well drilled Waverley side, our only loss in those 17 matches. Our ISA competition began in May with four good wins over SCECG’s St Andrew’s, St Spyridon’s and Oakhill, quickly followed by a win and a draw over St Pat’s. Looking good we defeated Redeemer College in the NSWCIS Cup before stumbling in the Quarter Final to Newington College. Fortunately we had little time to dwell on that result because we jetted off to Brisbane for the High Energy Tournament. Wins over Pembroke of Adelaide, Clairvaux of Queensland came either side of two hard fought wins over the two African club sides who were competing. Brisbane has a large refugee community from various African countries, two of which competed regularly in the High Energy event. As is the way in a whole week of tournament play, attrition can play a role. In spite of topping the classification rankings we did not make the final. Early on we had comprehensively downed Barker College but facing them in the Semi-final we went down 2-1. With just a third-place finish at stake we lifted to defeat St Peter’s of New Zealand finishing with a win.

Returning to Sydney we ran off three quick ISA victories over SCECG’s, Oakhill and St Andrew’s earning a semi final spot against the Men in Black of Strathfield. A 2-1 win was enough to avenge our exit at the same stage the previous season. We were in the ISA final against Oakhill College. As unbeaten Minor Premiers we went into this match in good shape. In normal time the two sides played out a 1-1 draw with extra time also failing to deliver a result. Ominously their keeper had had a blinder in the match. In the shoot-out both keepers including our Greg Frelingos, were amazing. Seven of the first eight kicks taken were saved before we hit the post and ended up losing the shoot-out 2-1!

At the time many people voiced their opinion that this was an unsatisfactory way to decide a season long competition. As much as I hate to lose, I couldn’t complain because my sides have won Championships a number of times in exactly that way! JPII in the MCS in 95’: SPX in the ISA 09’; SPX in the NSWCIS Cup in 12’; SPX in the Queensland High Energy Cup in 14’ and SPX in the NSWCIS Cup in 19’. In addition, we have generally been very successful in shoot outs generally. You have to take the good, with the bad. As they say in Israel, “Sometimes for me, sometimes for you”.

In 2015 our parental support was amazing. Anyone looking back at the media offerings I have put up in this series of Football Yarns over the years, couldn’t fail to notice the professionalism added by Danny John and Rachel Woo. Simon Yue and I often celebrate the media help we have had across the seasons by parents and teachers. Neil Chapman, Roula Ravenscroft and Matt Stearn, Rachel Woo, Antonio Saraceno and Andrew Giles all contributing to the visual history of our 1st XI. Danny John creating, our very own Magazine, ‘Shape, Tackle and Goal’. Danny’s commitment to keeping players, parents and coaches aware of happenings around our season was awesome. Nick Refenes finished the season as our top goal-scorer with 25 while young striker Harry Clay got to 21 before a season ending injury. Ben John and Alex Drake the leadership team deserve special mention. They had played since Year 10 and we calculated that they had played at least 113 games for the SPX 1st XI in that time, winning 83, drawing 19 and losing just 11. An achievement unlikely to be registered in any other school sport or at any other school in Football.  Many of our SPX players at this time quietly told me that they were always thankful that Ben played for us! His commitment to the cause being scary. I always reminded Alex that he was the calm player in the family, his brother Matt from 2007 was also a very committed player like Ben! Great servants Daniel Makerry, Luis Facchin and Luke Browning all finished up, the latter going off for a successful scholarship sojourn in the USA,  studying and playing football at American University in Washington DC.

For me personally 2015 was a great season at the Schools Representative level. I was fortunate enough to work as the Coach of the NSWCIS Opens side in the All Schools Championship. Working alongside Steve Fochesato of St Pats and SPX old boy Simon Aitkin, we led the side to win the Tournament and be crowned Champions for the first time in over twenty seasons. Anyone who knows this NSW Schools competition would be aware that the NSW State Schools usually dominate proceedings with their two sides. In a strange aligning of fate, I had actually won this tournament previously, 21 years earlier in 1996, while working with the NSWCCC squad which include both Nick and Leo Carle.

Our 2015 All Schools Championship win was delivered by what was the best side I have ever coached in my career. In a way I wish I knew beforehand how good they would be, an amazingly talented team. In a team of champions we had three Lachlans’, Roberts, Hughes and Scott. The former played for Australian schoolboys, the middle one for Sydney FC and the latter for Western Sydney Wanderers. Ryan Blumberg, the skipper went on to win a Nike Scholarship and play in the UK with Charlton. In the tournament we were unbeaten but the most memorable game was that verses the NSW 1 side who we downed 5-2 after trailing 2-0! Another great season of football memories

A copy of our NSWCIS team game in the NSW All Schools win v NSWCHS I is here on YouTube

https://youtu.be/NduKWimJzp0

Drop ten, turn and face. 50 Quilty’s Football 50 St Pius X 1st XI Football 2013 ISA Champions

Following on from a record breaking side, in a record setting year, is invariably difficult. Our 2013 St Pius X 1st XI Football team were faced with exactly this challenge and may I say from the outset they made a wonderful attempt at doing just this.

As ever we started early, very early. Our first trial match took place on February 10th less than two weeks after our return in Term one. For the next six Sundays we played an array of sides from both club and school backgrounds.

We played ten trials in all before the end of Term One. Notable victories included a 2-1 win against Riverview, a 5-3 goal fest against Northbridge U18’s and a 3-1 win over St Augustine’s who no longer play ISA football. Other tests included a 2-2 draw against a strong CAS side down at Knox and a full blooded 5-5 draw with the SPX Old Boys team. Our only defeat in Term 1 was a surprise 0-2 reverse to St Aloysius on a quagmire pitch at Tyneside. For the punters amongst us, SPX don’t go so well when the centre circle is muddy!

As in previous years we participated in the two day St Andrew’s Cup competition down at Oakhill College. In a tournament which included twelve of the top Independent School sides we placed 5th despite only suffering one reverse. This placed us in the Plate final where we defeated Barker 1-0. We had beaten GPS opponents Shore and High while winning a 4-3 thriller against hosts Oakhill.

Our return after the break saw us defeat the Kings School 4-2 on their historic ‘Wanderers Oval’ which was the acknowledged site of the first ever football match played in Sydney in 1880. Measuring ourselves against GPS and CAS opponents is always a good test.

These 16 trial matches played by SPX 1st XI set us up well for the ISA season. Regular competition wins were recorded against Redlands 3-0; Chevalier 3-0;  St Andrew’s 4-1; Redlands again 5-0, Chevalier again 3-0 only being punctuated by a hard fought 1-1 at home to St Patrick’s College. Before the end of Term Two we also managed a 5-0 victory against Hills Grammar in the CIS Cup Competition where we were current holders.

As we came to the half-way point of the year we headed off up to Brisbane to participate in the annual Southern Skies Tournament. Four staff, Simon Yue, Leisa Proc, Richard Lacey, Steve Quilty and sixteen students made the journey and we spent a week away playing sides from Sydney, Brisbane, Country Queensland and for the first time opponents from French Caledonia. The whole week format enabled us to play 8 matches in all. In the opening round robin we downed Sydney Grammar 2-0; Shore 2-0; Barker College 1-0; Scots College 2-0; and previous year’s winners St Peter Claver 5-0, with our single loss coming against the French Caledonians by 1-0. This was a great match allowing our players to experience a style of opponent who was quick, skilled and tricky. As things emerged later, these South Pacific boys won the whole thing with their energetic play that won the hearts of everyone who saw them. Unfortunately for us, progress was not to extend beyond the semi-final stage because although we had comprehensively accounted for them earlier on, we were thwarted by Scots College in the semi-final, the game finishing 0-0. In the ensuing penalty shootout we were beaten missing out on a chance to play a final against the French Caledonians. We finished 3rd overall beating CAS based Barker 4-2. Captain Nicholas Morabito and Lachlan Pollett were named in the Team of the Tournament.

In spite of our disappointment at falling over at the penultimate stage we returned to Sydney ready and prepared for the second half of the ISA season.

Once again we produced some fine performances. Wins over Oakhill 3-1; St Andrew’s 10-0 and Oakhill 2-1 were again punctuated by a 2-2 away draw with St Patrick’s College.

St Pius 1st XI  were again thwarted in a penalty shoot-out when drawing 2-2 with Knox Grammar. Oh what might have been! We led here until virtually the last minute and good opportunity to retain the CIS Cup was gone.

As is the way in football we were soon made to refocus because we were also in the semi-finals of the ISA Competition. Oxford Falls the venue and a comprehensive 3-0 victory over St Andrew’s saw us reach the ISA final for third year in a row.

As are the vagaries of Finals football as ISA Minor Premiers we were actually required to play our ISA Final against Oakhill out at their facility! This had indeed been the situation in 2012 when we won the Premiership the previous season.

On a warm afternoon the Grand Final was played at the unusual time of 3.00 O’clock in the afternoon. Several hundred supporters were on hand to witness a tense affair.  After twenty minutes of tight chanceless football striker Claudio Rosano announced his entry into the match with a cracking strike from his first touch of the ball! Just when St Pius X looked likely to add to this score Oakhill pounced on a hesitative defence to equalise just before the half time break.

In a stop start second half tension seemed to be influencing the flow of the game until Rosano snuck in with a deft touch to put St Pius X back in front, 2-1. Oakhill were now down a man and were wilting on the big pitch. Vice-captain Luke Capra soon put the game beyond down with an unstoppable drive from 20 yards. At last St Pius X were beginning to play their confident possession based game and could have extended their lead but for some brave keeping from the Oakhill custodian. 

Relief was the most tangible emotion for everyone at the end of the ISA Grand Final. In a season that had involved 38 matches we had secured a major trophy, the ISA Shield was ours for the second successive season, the first time we had achieved this. Captain Nicholas Morabito was Player of the Season, while Claudio Rosano was named the ‘Shahab  Kargarian’ most valuable player in the game by the final by match officials.

Another great season alongside  fellow coach Mr Simon Yue in season 2013. It is brilliant working with him. 

Goalscorers: 

Rosano 21; Esposito 15; Olivieri 14; Morabito, Bersee 8; Desa, Drake 7; Capra 5 ; Richardson 4

The team : Lachlan Pollet (goalkeeper), Greg Bayer (right back), John Chapman (centre midfield), Adrian Prieto (centre back), Will Richardson (left back), Nicholas Morabito (centre back), Joel Olivari (attacking midfielder), Luke Capera (right midfield), Jayden Milat (centre midfield), Alex Drake (right midfield), Nick Bersee (attacking midfield), Claudio Rosano (forward), Joe Esposito (forward), Tom Higham (left midfield), Chris Desa (left midfield) and Ben John (centre back).