TAMWORTH FC grand final goal-scorer Damien Puyenbroek is a relative newcomer to the sky blues but appreciates the efforts of the club over the past four years.
He arrived from South Australia this season and gave TFC the extra muscle to win the club’s first premiership.
TFC beat Oxley Vale Attunga 2-1 in the decider on Saturday.
“It’s great,” Puyenbroek said.
“We’’ve worked really hard for it.
“But we made it hard for ourselves.
“It was a good first 15 or 20 minutes and then they got on top of us.
“And it was hard in the last 15 or 20 as well.
“It was hard all game.”
After skipper Tim Smith made no mistake from the penalty spot early in the game and gave Tamworth a 1-nil lead, Puyenbroek made it 2-nil when he used his considerable height to steer a header in from a free kick.
That set piece was something the sky blues had been working on.
“To get a couple of goals in the semis and then to get one in the grand final is great,” Puyenbroek said.
“Luckily I got a good ball.
“A few weeks ago we decided that we weren’t using my height enough and we worked on some things.
“For it to come off was really good.”
Little separated the two sides during the season but TFC had the better of the grand final.
An own goal gave the Mushies a sniff but the sky blues held on for a deserved win.
“The midfielders worked hard,” Puyenbroek said.
“Tim Smith worked really hard all game.
“Will Kam on the right was very good.
“He started to get in behind them and that’s when we looked most dangerous, when he got the ball.
“When he didn’t, that’s when we dropped off I think.”
Puyenbroek has been a formidable figure in TFC’s defence this year.
While he is a blow-in, a number of his teammates have been part of the new club since its inception and they have helped take it to the top.
“It’s only my first year in Tamworth,” Puyenbroek said.
“I’ve found my feet at this club and they’ve been very accommodating.
“They’ve only been in it four years but they’ve worked very hard and they’re very professional about it.
“It’s been good for me.”
He said that winning the title was a special event that does not come along too often and the club would celebrate it accordingly.