SOCCER
The Moe United Soccer Club will take a trip down memory lane next month when its Latrobe Valley Soccer League premiership team comes together for a 30-year reunion.
Paul Kane played in the victorious 1988 side, which also went on to claim the cup, and said a celebration was long overdue.
“We didn’t do a 10-year reunion and we didn’t do a 20-year; I don’t know why,” Kane said.
Moe took out the league with two games to spare and Kane said the astute tutelage of coach Andrew ‘Banana’ Bednarski was largely to thank.
“I remember Banana was full on into fitness,” he said.
“We had a massive preseason and then did another one in the middle of the year, which I reckon helped us a fair bit.”
What the side lacked in age it made up for in tenacity and youthful exuberance.
“We had about six kids in the side that were only 18 and it was just a really good blend,” Kane said.
“We just had a really good bond and we all stuck together.”
A 4-2 win over “arch-rivals” Warragul was a firm favourite memory of the season for Kane and coach Bednarski.
“To win the league and the cup … is probably not done that often,” Bednarski said.
“I took on the job because I opened up my mouth a bit and said ‘I’ll take it on’, but I had no expectations because all these blokes we 18 or 19 and we were a young side.
“It just all fell into place. It’s a long, hard season but we had some experience in there as well.”
The Moe United Soccer Club 1988 premiership reunion will be held at the club on Saturday, July 7 from 5pm.
The club’s women’s side, which also won the double in 1988, is also encouraged to attend along with any reserves players.
For more information, phone Paul Kane on 0419 549 622.
