Canberra’s number one FOOTBALL TRAGIC?

Meet Rod Lynes:

“If John Howard is a cricket tragic then I’m certainly a football tragic,” acknowledged Rod. “I’ve been to Four World Cups, an Asia Cup and two FA Cup finals.”
Rod’s journey started at Downer United juniors in 1969, when he was five.


“I asked my Dad about this, why I started playing. Dad was English and had played in England. He used to kick the ball with me in the backyard and when I got to five he made some enquiries about a club in our local area. There were only a handful of junior teams at that time but he found there weren’t any in our area, Downer, so he set up a team for under 6’s,” said Rod.

“Downer United was the forerunner for what is now Majura Soccer Club. Downer had two teams at that stage and there were only 29 junior teams in total across Canberra.”

And junior football had its moments.

“I remember we won a double as an Under 9 against Melrose at Watson oval and I scored the penalty to win the game,” smiled Rod.

He had the drug!

Through his teens he played with Downer which became Downer Olympic through to his early twenties. Then Belconnen United, The Shadows, and ANU completed the playing list.

Next was coaching.

“I went on a course with Eric Worthington in the early days. We were encouraged at Downer to coach the junior teams and that was how I started.”

Rod has completed many coaching certificates and awards. He also has a Sports Science degree. Always looking to learn, he took time out of his trip to see Australia 2006 World Cup to do a coaching certificate with the Scottish Football Association.

“The timing just worked out right.”

Rod has played against many in his time. Some stood out.

“I played against many in the local leagues obviously. Mick Tolarwi, Ernie Johns, Billy Bergman, Norm Holcroft. The best player I ever played against was Gerry Daly in Coventry in England. My Dad is from Coventry so when I was over I trained with them for a week when I was 19. Daly, played in two FA Cup finals for Manchester United and represented Ireland over 50 times."

When Rod wasn’t playing or coaching he was watching football.

“I lived in England for five years and travelled to over thirty league grounds. I was at the 1986 and 1987 FA Cup Finals. Coventry beat Tottenham 3-2 in 1987 remember that Keith Houchen header. A special moment for my Dad.

“The best game I’ve ever been to was the Australia Japan (3-1) game in Kaiserslautern last year. Purely because of the result but it was the finalisation of a dream. For someone who had being involved in the game for a lot of years like many people have in Canberra, to be at the first World Cup game when Australia scored and won; and the circumstances with me being a bit of a pessimist had written them off with 10 minutes to go, I have to say.

“The most disappointing would have to be an Australian game. The (World Cup Qualifier) Iran game in 1997. We went up for a big weekend. The first fifty minutes were ecstasy, Australia was 2-0 up, and then the World turned, the World caved in.

The rest of the weekend was just a painful, painful experience. I just remember after the game leaving the MCG with over 85,000 people just in a state of shock. I just went back to the hotel and went to bed.

“Football has given me an understanding an appreciation of different cultures. I suppose you could call them my World Cup adventures, I had never been to Asia before until I went to Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup and then my first Asia Cup in Thailand, and Germany last year. It’s more than just the sporting side; it’s that cultural life experience side. Japan/Korea was a real eye opener for me and I’ve taken a lot of satisfaction from my trips. I’ve learnt a lot I think.”

Rod has a long involvement in Canberra football but he would love to see the game continue to develop.

“We need a National League team. I remember being a ball boy for Canberra City at the new Bruce Stadium in 1979, in front of 6,000 people. They were trend setters back then. I think they were the only national team in Canberra.

“I’d like to see an A-League team, ultimately successful, competing in the Asian Champions League. It would give players something to aim for. I would like to see improved facilities. Last week I was talking to some hockey players about their beautiful centre at Lyneham, we still don’t have anything like that in football in Canberra. These are two of the things I’d like to see.

“Football brings people together. I have friends overseas who I would never have met without football. I’m still in touch with them. The game transcends national barriers and obstacles; it’s the game of the world.

The boy from Downer could never have imagined where his passion for the game would take him.

And with Rod one suspects the journey is far from over.

You can hear the full Rod Lynes Football Tragic interview on this week’s podcast (out Thursday 11 October) at www.nearpost.blogspot.com