‘We must catch up.’ How many times do we all say this, but it rarely actually happens?
Several generations of footballers in Western Australia both male and female have finished playing in the State League, or what is now the NPL, and many rarely see their former team mates or opponents again; admittedly some may not want to!
The clubs in the main only call back past players to celebrate a famous cup or league victory. Few if we are honest keep a reliable database of past players so are unable to invite them back for special occasions. Which means that the only time these players catch up is when they accidentally bump into each other, or when they attend a funeral.
Following a comment on social media about how his dad has not been well of late, and the only thing that brightens him up is talking about football Callum O’Connell decided to reach out to the football community.
As a result of that post and the number of people who contacted him Callum O’Connell along with Mickey Brennan have set about organising a football reunion. The aim being to bring together people who played in the same team or against each other for an afternoon to reminisce, tell tall tales and hopefully motivate people to come again and catch up.
This reunion is not restricted to male players but female players, referees, team managers and administrators at the various clubs. All are welcome.
The hope is to have a focus on a few key moments in the history of the game such as the Marah Halim Cup and of course the birth 30 years ago, of the Perth Glory, whose players and coaches in the main came from local clubs.
Callum’s dad John O’Connell, has probably done more to promote the game of football than anyone else in Western Australia in the past 50 years. John played and captained Western Australia, and played for Swan Valley, Morley Windmills and East Fremantle Tricolore. He then went into coaching and sharing his love of the game.
He served as a Board Member in the 1990’s for the Soccer Administration of WA, which ran the state league prior to the creation of Football West. He was also the driving force behind the establishment of the Football Hall of Fame Western Australia who are having their latest induction in November, For tickets to this event click here.
However, it was before the internet and Optus and Foxtel that John brought football to the people of Western Australia on 6NR with the British Football Show every Saturday night throughout the season; some commitment. He would also present a show on a Sunday on the State League competition each week. He then moved to Information Radio 990, and Fremantle Radio.
No one should need an excuse to come along as it is a chance to catch up with old friends and rivals and debate the quality of the competition, and individual players. For all those who used to play but do not have time to go to games today, or are tied up coaching their own children today, this is a great one-off occasion to wind back the clock amongst like-minded former players, coaches, referees etcetera.
For those of you who ever listened to John on air, played alongside him or were coached by him, wouldn’t it be nice to brighten up his day by coming along and repaying the man who gave so much to the game? That should of course not be your only reason for coming, but it is a reason for coming as you have no idea who else’s day you may brighten catching up after so long.
There has always been a rivaly in football in Western Australia and often even mistrust.
This event is being held at Perth Azzurri’s Dorrien Gardens. There were several reasons for this. One being geographical. It is a good central location that everyone knows.
The second reason is the club offered the venue for the occasion at no cost to Callum and Mickey. They have even agreed to put on a buffet meal at cost for everyone attending. It should be pointed out that Perth Azzurri is not making any money off any of the tickets sold.The ticket price is simply to cover the cost of the food and the club preparing it.
Hopefully players from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s will take the time to come along as the hope is that if this is successful it may become a regular event each year so that past players do see each other more than every few years and not just at funerals!
Tickets are available by scanning the QR code on the poster attached.
