The younger boys, Colin, Graeme and Greg all played Soccer at Goddard Park  with Concord Soccer Club. The enemy was a club called Apia from the Five Dock area. 

 

Dad followed the boys along to games and got hooked, first as a coach, then manager, then club secretary and finally part of the State Board for Junior Soccer. I got hooked too. I loved  collecting and collating scores and even rang through  the district results to the Sun newspaper and eagerly wait to read them next day.

 

Colin was an outstanding athlete and excelled at soccer. He played up a year  even in rep teams and eventually played for Australia. His son, Dylan,  now is a professional soccer player.

 

Graeme and Greg were average  players but Graeme found himself in a team of "no-hopers" who just wanted a game of footy. Dad took over coaching them  and proudly called them the Concord Under 11 Mongrels. Never did I see a team have so much fun.

 

Back in the 60's there were no women's football competitions but every  Club had a Women's Social Team who played "friendlies" (if you could call them that!)  I started playing in the women's team as a 12 year old. I was too small so they put me as goalie where I played until I turned round one day and copped a ball in the face. It broke my glasses  and gave me a black eye!

 

Mum used to run the canteen at the soccer club so sometimes we could sneak a couple of lollies.  For all of us, winter weekends were long and tedious, especially for Robyn and me. I think this is when we did most of our reading.