Canberra Old Boys
Masters of Football
Every year since 1994, the Canberra Old Boys Football Club has been competing in Masters Games tournaments across Australia and overseas.
Along the way, the Old Boys have been crowned World Masters Games (WMG) Champions twice - Melbourne 2002 (over 45s) and Auckland 2017 (over 60s) - as well as picked up WMG silver and bronze medals - Brisbane 1994 (over 45s) and Torino, Italy 2013 (over 55s).
In between WMGs, the Old Boys regularly compete in the Australian Masters Games (AMG) and Pan Pacific Masters Games (PanPacs), each of which are held every 2 years. Most recently, the Old Boys Over 60s and Over 65s teams both won silver at the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide 2032.
Over the period since 1994, the Old Boys have accumulated a medal tally of 12 gold, 14 silver and 5 bronze.
Many of the Old Boys players have been, or are, associated with Canberra based football clubs Tuggeranong United FC and Burns FC. Other players have come from other Canberra clubs, as well as from around Australia and overseas. The page PLAYERS lists all those who have played for the Old Boys in WMGs, AMGs and PanPacs since 1994.
While the make-up of the Old Boys teams has changed over nearly three decades of playing, the nucleus of the group remains the same. Three players - Alan Froud, Alan Greenslade and Bill Hardie - have played in just about every tournament in which the Old Boys have participated, including 7 WMGs.
A number of Old Boys players just cannot get enough football and regularly join up with overseas teams to play in various international tournaments.
The Old Boys always play in the oldest age group, starting with the O45s in 1994 and subsequently being ‘promoted’ to older age groups as they have been created to meet increasing demand from ageing masters footballers. The Old Boys now play mostly in the O60s and O65s age brackets but are looking to play O70s in the next year or so.
While the Old Boys have enjoyed some success on the football pitch, the tournaments have always been great social occasions off the field, with strong friendships and camaraderie being established, not only within the Old Boys group, but also with many opposition teams and players.
International opportunities have also been brilliant as they allow players (and their partners) to see a little bit of a country and experience a foreign culture, as well as enjoy themselves playing football. The Old Boys believe that they are very fortunate and privileged to have been part of such a wonderful journey to date. Of course, the Old Boys’ story will come to an end at some point. In the meantime, it is hoped that anti-flammatories and sports medicine practitioners will keep the Old Boys on the football pitch for a few more years yet!
Read the Inside Sport article (2017) about Canberra Old Boys https://www.insidesport.com.au/news/canberra-old-boys---masters-of-football-479191