07/06/2026
Winter Football Season. The Goosey, The Grind, and Growing Older (Gracefully…-ish)
With the Fifa World Cup about to hit the world and NZ with a bang, I thought it may be a time to discuss a little bit of my world and the background around the tracksuits you may have seen at the club…
Sport is one of those funny things. At 10, it’s about scoring goals. At 20, it’s about winning. At 40+++… it’s about keeping the hamstrings attached and the mind sane.
Because here’s the truth:
Sport is one of the few constants that quietly does the heavy lifting, keeping both your body and your head above water. No matter the age, the stage, or how many coffees it now takes to get moving in the morning. And that’s where this story starts.
Not just with football, but with why we still turn up. So, before anything else… this is a bit about me (for a change, you all know how much Real Estate Agents LOVE talking about themselves).
I’m currently running around in Division One Over 40s (yes, running is a generous term along with the over 40 part), still chasing a ball like it owes me money. And along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to be recognised with the Seddon Trophy at Western Springs Football Club, a life member honour that means a huge amount.
Because clubs like that… they’re not just where you play, they’re where life happens in between everything else.
Enter: Western Springs- Bravo G.C. (Goosey Company or GC’s)
Out of the slightly dusty, slightly questionable ashes of the Over-40s “Mercenaries”… something better (and far less subtle) was born. Bravo G.C. — Goosey Company.
Founded in 2023, and in true Auckland fashion, we didn’t ease into it. We arrived… and promptly won both the Knockout Cup and the League. No warm-up lap. Straight to the deep end. Since then?
Unbeaten runs. Questionable decisions. Strong midweek “training blocks” (mainly based around hydration… of a different kind and chips). And now… we’ve stepped up.
Division One Over 40s. (for most 40+++). The top of the tree. Less pace, more guile. Fewer sprints, more “good positioning” (translation: standing still but convincingly).
But let’s be honest…Winning’s great. But it’s not really what this is about. It’s about the camaraderie. The banter. The fact that a group of grown men can still prioritise a Wednesday night kick-around like it’s the World Cup final. Despite mortgages, kids, and calves that ping without warning. And then… there’s the Goosey.
The Goosey (because every great team needs a uniform story). It started where all strong decisions are made:
Over a long lunch. Pre-COVID. A few drinks deep. Somewhere between logic and legend, a man in a shimmering blue tracksuit caught our collective attention… and a terrible idea became a brilliant one. “We need that.”
And just like that—the Goosey was born. Full tracksuit. Zero shame. Maximum presence. Now it’s law:
- Uniforms are mandatory
- Pride is compulsory
- Fines are inevitable
- And turning heads on Ponsonby Road? Non-negotiable
We’ve got the full range:
- The Golden Goosey (original chaos)
- The Navy Goosey (formal and now standard uniform, obviously)
- And the Black Goosey — awarded weekly to the Player of the Day, who must take it into the real world and report back… sometimes from weddings 😂 "1"
The punchline? It’s not about football. It’s about staying connected. Staying active. And having something that pulls you out of the day-to-day and drops you into something simple, ridiculous, and genuinely good for you.
Because whether you’re buying houses, selling them, raising kids, or just trying to keep up…You need something that resets you.
For me? That’s football. That’s Bravo. That’s the Goosey.
And if you’re wondering…Yes — we take it seriously. Just not too seriously. If you’ve been on the fence about getting back into sport at any age… take this as your nudge. Your future self (and your mental health) will thank you. Your hamstrings… maybe not immediately.
If you see any of us wandering the streets, come up and say…we’re all top blokes- it’s the Goosey way!
