In our latest feature, CDSFA was all ears as we picked up some sage advice from the two oldest men playing in the Association this season.
Both Vic Koutsokeras and Adrian Herbert are 73 years old, they were both born in February 1948 and arrived in Australia in the early 1970’s.
Born in northern Greece, a 24 year-old Vic emigrated to Australia in 1972 in search of a better life after years of turmoil in his home country.
Originally from North London, Adrian arrived on Australian shores two years before Vic.
The pair have gone on to forge highly successful careers in their respective industries and are still fighting fit playing the game they love.
Over 45/5 A Marrickville representative, Vic, was rather a late bloomer in the football department, having only begun his career as a 39-year-old after years of supporting from the sidelines.
“I started late, not as a youngster. I came to Australia from Greece in 1972. There was no time for sport when I left Greece and there was no time for sport when I came here [Australia]. I really started sport in my 30’s and the sports I were playing then were tennis and squash,” Vic said.
“When I was 39, I always loved soccer. My park sport was soccer and so I started playing for Kogarah Waratahs All Age at 39 and I played there for three or four years. After that I continued with soccer all along up until now with Kingsgrove Apollo and then playing Sundays, I didn’t like that, so I joined Marrickville.
“It [Marrickville] will be my last team and I will stop playing when my body tells me.”
Photo: Vic Koutsokeras (left) and Adrian Herbert in their respective Marrickville and Abbotsford jerseys.
Sitting side by side at the park bench at Pratten Park, the limelight was now on Adrian as he shone some insight into how he fell in love with the world game after growing up cricket mad.
“I loved cricket. I used to go up to the park with all the cricket gear and go set up the pitch. All the kids used to come down but then eventually by the time it got dark, they all disappeared and I had to pick up all the bloody gear and drag it home,” Adrian said.
“One day, I thought bugger that! I’ll play in the soccer team. I worked hard at it; I never had any natural talent whatsoever but I got to a reasonable level.”
Since arriving down under, Adrian took a break from football before turning out for Beecroft in the Northern Suburbs Association. Following a short spell there he ended up at Abbotsford with a brief period spent in between at Five Dock.
His Abbotsford team recently disbanded due to a lack of numbers but that did not stop him from signing up for another year as he was allocated to a much younger group of guys.
“The club just put my name onto one of the other team lists. I turned up to one of the matches, they all sat there and you could tell they were thinking, ‘Who’s this old fart?’. I said, ‘I’m your extra player, I know you don’t want me, don’t worry I’ll be coming along to every game.’
The COVID shortened season acted as a blessing in disguise for Adrian who decided to extend his playing career into 2021.
“I told them last year, I’m giving it up. My body’s stuffed but they said that I’ve got to keep going, have at least one more year.”
“So, that was last year. I told my wife that this is it, I won’t play again next year.”
Both men have been extremely fortunate in the injury department with neither having suffered anything too serious to date.
Vic’s active lifestyle sees him stay fit all year round, not long ago he even doubled up on the Saturday by playing a game of tennis before heading out to his football match.
“I played tennis, started at 12 and finished at 2. It was a hot day and then I went to the park and played a full game and then I said to myself, ‘Don’t do that again!’
Sport is something which Vic has valued throughout his life and he sums it up when he admits that he’d be lost without it and very upset and down because it lets off a lot of steam.
Photo: Vic and Adrian side-by-side.
Adrian is also a firm believer in the benefits of sport as he informs us of his Sunday morning ritual over summer.
“We’ve got a casual game, 8:30. As long as I’m around I go to that and that’s what makes me think I can go another year.”
When posed the final question about what advice they had for the younger generation, it was Vic who took the reins.
“I think for the younger generation, find the sport that suits you best and go. Not only do you keep your body going, but you also get friendships and you socialise. Nothing better than having a good social group.”
By CDSFA Communications Officer – Samuel Greco Schwartz
