Hanwood FC will have extra motivation to perform this year as the club celebrates a major milestone.
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This season marks the club’s 60th birthday.
Hanwood FC plan to hold major celebrations in June, with details still to be finalised.
Newly appointed club president Dom Testoni has had a long affiliation with the club.
He started playing in 1979 and went on to captain and coach the first grade side.
Testoni said the celebrations would look to involve everyone, from the youngest member to the oldest supporter.
“We will be looking for a lot of past players to help us celebrate,” he said.
“Throughout the year we would like to showcase the talent we have at the club.
“Our club is not just about first grade.
“We want to highlight our entire club, from the under sixes all the way through to the over 35s.
“We want to show the young kids what it means to be a part of one of the biggest clubs in country NSW.”
Pat Sergi lives and breathes Hanwood FC and has been a member for most of his life.
His roles over the years have included playing and coaching in junior and senior sides.
Sergi joined Hanwood when he was 12, and at 62 still pulls on the boots for the over 35s side.
“I enjoy watching these young kids and I enjoy playing as well,” he said.
“I don’t play as much as when I was younger. I get on the field for smaller stints now.
“I coached for a fair few years. I did first grade for a while and coached juniors as well.”
Hanwood FC were established for a few of the local men to play socially and from there it has grown to a club that boasts around 300 members across all grades.
Sergi describes Hanwood FC as close knit and while it isn’t a small club anymore, it still has that same small-club feel about it.
“I put the success down to team spirit,” Sergi said.
“Guys always stuck together and played for each other.
“It was the only thing that kept the club together back when it was smaller.
“I think if you’re playing somewhere, you’re comfortable and enjoy yourself, you stick with it.
“We’ve always had a strong following and strong juniors and have a lot of good young players at the moment.
“It’s an honour to be part of it, for sure.”
