FOR some, it was the love of the beautiful game that was enough to make them pull on their dusty footy boots, strap on their old shin pads and limber up for one final shot at glory.
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For others, it was business as usual and an opportunity to have some fun, as they hit the park in the summer sun.
Whatever the case, there was just one catch for this soccer tournament, and that was you needed to be over 35-years-old.
The veterans soccer tournament, which was held at Goodhew Park over the weekend, brought together over 200 soccer players from around NSW and the ACT.
Many made the trek for the two day tournament with their families, and for nearly all of them, it was an opportunity to enjoy the game they loved with likeminded competitors.
“They enjoy it, being here and just playing at a level they are still competitive with,” tournament organiser Darell Orton said.
Fourty-eight-year-old Orton, has for the last five years in conjunction with and help from the Goulburn Strikers FC, been organising the tournament as a way of giving back to the game.
“I had been going to masters tournaments in other areas and I thought it was a good idea.
“It not only gets people into the game but also brings people back into the game.”
Fourteen teams took part, with ages ranging from currently playing 36 and 37-year-olds to Wagga’s 61-year-old Cole Payne.
Narellan’s Ben Hogan had made the trip down and like 10 other teams, stayed the night in Goulburn.
“The whole tournament has been really good and pretty well organised, no complaints about anything,” he said.
“We also managed to have a few beers at the Astor last night.”
Hogan’s team, the Narellan Rangers, eventually fell to tournament shield champions Belconnen United 3 -1 in the final.
In the Plate division, Bumberangs defeated Tahmoor 4 – 0 and in the Saucer Final, Goulburn United downed the UC Pumas 2 – 0.
Tahmoor won the team fair play award, and Burradoo’s Richard Stone won the man of the tournament.
All games were played with 18 minute modified halves with the Saturday being played as a round robin and the Sunday as a knockout event.
“Everyone has been great withminimal tussles. This is the sort of thing where if someone falls over they put out a hand and help them back up,” Orton said.
