Tamworth FC veteran Rob Jeffery may be the oldest player in Saturday’s grand final but his young club is chasing its first premiership. Photo: Rob Chappel 020612RCE01
ROB Jeffery has played and won grand finals – but not for Tamworth FC.
The 43-year-old electrician has been a bulwark in defence for FC in its four years of Premier League existence and was at it again last Saturday, helping FC to a 3-2 extra-time win over Demon Knights in Armidale.
Jeffery was rock-solid at the back for FC in the thriller and helped the club win its way to its first Premier League first grade grand final.
Last year Jeffery played in the second grade grand final for FC.
“We lost,” the veteran said after Saturday’s victory.
It’s a memory he doesn’t care to talk about, rather concentrating on this season’s successes, such as winning the PL’s Southern Conference minor premiership.
Fellow centre back Damien Puyenbroek enjoys playing beside the no-nonsense defender.
“Can you put in the story he’s vintage, an old man,” Puyenbroek, who is in his first season with FC, said as they showered after Saturday’s come from behind win over DK.
Jeffery just laughed.
“Yeah, doing well for an old character,” he responded although character mightn’t have been the exact word he used.
Words haven’t been high on his list in football.
More so deeds.
He’s been a football addict since he started at West Tamworth Public School.
“Then I played about 30 years with Hillvue Rovers,” he said.
“I might have won four or five premierships with them.”
These were both in the former Tamworth first grade competitions and the Premier League in its earlier days.
“I’ve been with FC since they started,” he said.
“I’m ecstatic to be in our first, first grade grand final.
“It was a big effort to come back twice today.”
It makes Saturday’s grand final a special day for him and his teammates and he hopes to make it a memorable one by beating the OVA Mushies, who have become the club’s major rivals in their short existence.
The first stoush between the sides of grand final week was a wrangle over who got to train on Scully Park before the decider.
In the end, Northern Inland Football stepped in and allowed TFC to train there on Tuesday night while OVA will take over the grand final venue tonight.
The Mushies are sweating on the fitness of Lachlan Browne after he came off with an ankle injury during last week’s win over South Armidale.
But on the plus side they welcome back veteran Glenn McKnight for the big one.