Last weekend a team of ten well-seasoned footballers (soccer), comprising of both current and former Cooroora United Football Club players combined with a few Coolum Beach Walking Football players, travelled down the Bruce Highway to take part in the prestigious Redlands Coast 7s competition.
The squad, playing as the ‘Old Cooroovians’, boasted an eclectic blend of five English players, three Scots, one American, and one Aussie, all participating in the Over 55s division.
Despite not playing together regularly, the Old Cooroovians put in a surprisingly impressive performance on the first day, securing two wins and one loss, which saw them sitting third on the tournament ladder. Spirits were high going into the second day, but with tired legs and a few sleep-deprived players, maintaining their winning form proved challenging.
However, it turned out to be a day where expectations exceeded ability, and the team could only manage a draw and two losses. But, despite this, they still had done enough to secure a place in the Plate Final.
In a nail-biting final, the Old Cooroovians battled valiantly but couldn’t find the net, even after the extra time of extra time, leading to a tense penalty shootout.
Unfortunately, they fell just short, finishing as runners-up in the Plate competition. While missing out on the silverware was disappointing, the team’s performance exceeded expectations, and they walked away with their heads held high.
More importantly, the players had a fantastic time, filled with plenty of laughs and a few well- earned drinks to ease the disappointment.
The Old Cooroovians would like to thank Cooroora United Football Club for providing the playing kit and training facilities and Coolum Beach Walking Football Club for the loan of marquees to keep us cool and lending an alternate ’away’ strip.
With more Masters’ tournaments on the horizon, the legend of the Old Cooroovians continues to grow. If you’re interested in dusting off your boots and reliving your glory days by playing over- 55 or over-60 football then get in touch with Donald at cooroovian@gmail.com
