THEY’RE tired of chasing 18-yearolds around the football paddock.
This weekend, at least, veteran footballers from around southern New South Wales have the chance to pick on others their own size.
A dozen teams of over 35 soccer players will converge on Cookbundoon playing fields for a round robin tournament, commencing tomorrow.
Although most of the footballers aren’t as fit as they were in there heyday, a competitive spirit on the pitch remains. What happens on the field will stay on the field, however, organiser Darell Orton says.
“We can play at a level where we’re not chasing 18-year-olds around, we can play a standard that keeps us going,” said Orton, who’ll line up for the HATS – the Highlands and Tablelands.
“It’s just good fun. It’s about having a few beers after the games.
Things might get a bit competitive, but it’s nothing too serious.”
While the wily footballers won’t contend with swift teenagers, the standard of play should be quite high.
The Kambah Old Boys, a mob from the south of Canberra, looks the team to beat.
The Old Boys are reigning gold medallists from the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.
The Canberrans must wrest the shield from Goulburn United, last year’s eventual champions, and the Nerds, 2011 plate winners. Carloads from Temora, Albury, the South Coast, Canberra, and Southern Highlands are expected for the competition.
Two Goulburn teams will compete.
The Post understands the most senior of the footballers is 65 – and is still capable of showing his teammates and opponents a thing or two.
Competition commences at Cookbundoon from 10am tomorrow and 9am on Sunday.
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