Drop ten, turn and face. Quiltys’ Football Yarns 19 A shot at the top

Drop ten, turn and face. 

Quiltys’ Football Yarns 19

A shot at the top 

As people will know football has been a long journey for me. One of my ongoing motivations has always been bringing together groups of players to be competitive and hopefully bring home a few trophies. This applied equally whether I was playing or coaching. As already shown with Berowra Over 30/35’s this was a long story of often being strugglers. Then, in 1998 the stars aligned and suddenly we recruited five or six new players to become super competitive. Kissing Point were still the benchmark but at last we were up there with them. From the back we had a fine keeper in Branko Lolich, who was big, strong and confident. Nuggety utility player Derek Kirk had played a good level of football in both Scotland and New Zealand. He added that ‘X factor’ in terms of experience and a rocket shot. Three skilful / strong midfielders also came to play in Steve Scott, Mark Williams and Craig Barry. Adding some grunt to the midfield was Irishman Noel Hopper and compatriot wide man Kevin Cronin. Mark Salkeld, Lindsay Spooner and "Honey monster' Dave Bleasdale improved the defence. Dave Parker added some athleticism up front but we still based the attack around a renaissance ‘Frank Worthington’ in Jimmy Everitt. Jim was always tantalisingly unpredictable. We filled in for a side with eight players one time and he took the keeper out  badly at a corner. The female supporters of the Brooklyn side charged on and wrapped him up in the goal net pushing and verbally assaulting him. They had not liked being called ‘Brooklyn Harridan’s’ Two other stories that in some way illustrate the upgrade in intensity were our regular season clashes with new side Mt Colah and the North Sydney 'poms'. All of these games took place down at Foxglove Oval and while never condoning violence, in these two matches our boys stood up for themselves.  Playing North Sydney was always an experience. Like us they had a high proportion of Brits and Irish players, usually playing good football. Their Brits and Irish were just fresher off the boat. As a matter of fact I knew and lived  alongside several of them in England. Danny Ewin, Monty, Johnny Smith and Gary Dawkins were all Hackney boys. 'Mouse' and 'Maggot' were also from the old country. On the day of the match Algy ‘Ice Cool Rowan’, with whom I went to school with in Bethnal Green, sparked a mass brawl centre field. Being injured for much of the season with a knee injury, I was on the sideline. Many could be named but won’t. Safe to say at least two players from each team were sent off and both teams had to lodge a ‘bond’ of $600 in order to play again.

In the initial Mt Colah game, there some shocking push and shoves. The crowd spilled over onto the pitch several times and again both sides finished short. Nothing to be proud of but just an indication that these old timers were becoming grumpier not friendlier in old age. In that game we smashed Mt Colah 5-0, which unfortunately, only added spice to the semi-final later in the year. In another tough at times brutal contest we won through to the Grand Final but unfortunately played a massive price with Derek Kirk sustaining a broken foot whilst being fouled. That said we still had a strong squad for the final against Minor Premiers Kissing Point. Personally, I was still out injured and Derek was on crutches. In the game we started very well, took the lead then after an hour went two up. From the sideline I was calling the changes. With a big squad I tried to get everyone a run and we were doing well. Then, as is the way with champion sides, Kisso came storming back. We conceded a good goal but then started to lose our grip, as the opposition won and scored a penalty to make it 2-2. In the heat of battle Jimmy Everitt got a yellow and unfortunately a follow up second to be sent from the field. Regular time finished and extra time couldn’t split the teams. In a penalty shoot out that is remembered for all the wrong reasons, we only scored one of our five losing 4-1! Jimmy, Derek and myself were the usual penalty takers but all on the sideline for this shootout. Over the years much has been said about this ‘Final’ opportunity that we missed. We went very close but in truth went down to the' Over 35’s' club of the decade, in Kissing Point. Being Champions from 1994-99 which was 6 years in a row, just proves the point. There was our opportunity that we passed up in 1999. As sometimes happens in club football eras come and go. Kissing Point lost their dominance and we were never able to challenge again at Berowra, half of us actually going down to play at Wahroonga for a few seasons. The millennium turned over and at forty-five years of age I was proud to still be playing. Little did I know then but I would actually play on for another twenty years!

As a sad postscript to this post we heard today, 27th May 2020, that good friend Jimmy Everitt has passed away. Fond memories of playing with and knowing you over 27 years. RIP ♥️⚽️