FOR the past 26 years, there has been few constants for the Kootingal Kougars Football Club.
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Since its inception in 1993, the club has seen its fair share of good times and bad.
However, one of the few constants the club has enjoyed is the support of dedicated club member, Mick Barber.
Serving the club as a coach, player and administrator, Barber is about to enter rare territory.
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On Saturday, the 42-year-old is set to pull on the jersey for his beloved Kougars for the 400th time in the club's third grade team.
"It's hard to believe that I'll be lining up for game number 400, it's been quite the journey," Barber told the Leader.
"I took about five or six years off in the middle to focus on my referring duties for Northern Inland Football, so it could have probably happened a few years ago.
"But to be honest, I just really love the game and the club, so it's a real honour to be notching up my 400th game."
Barber will become the second member of his family to reach the 400 game milestone after his brother Richard celebrated the feat in August last year.
"One of the great things about the Kougars is that is a real family club," Barber said.
"Throughout my time there I have had the chance to play alongside my brother, father, uncle and nephew.
"There's not too many places where you can do that and while we may have had trouble recruiting players to the club in the past, that family spirit has always helped keep it strong."
Barber said he had fond memories from the club's "early days".
"Things were pretty tough at times when the club first got going," he said.
"A lot of people put in a power of work behind the scenes to help keep it going.
"I can remember a lot of us would often have to play both first and reserve grade on the same day to make sure we had enough numbers.
"However, while it was tough at times, it was always a lot of fun and the bus trips to away games were always a highlight."
With the club going into recess in 2002, Barber turned his attention to refereeing, a passion that was close to his heart.
"I refereed for quite a few years there and really enjoyed the experience," he said.
"It was great to not only get a front-row seat to some of the best players in the competition, but to pass on my knowledge to the younger referees was very rewarding as well.
"But the draw to come back and play with my brother and his son, my nephew, was too strong so here I am playing again."
As well as serving on the Northern Inland Football board of directors, Barber has also turned his attention to the coaching ranks.
"At the moment I'm coaching my young one's under-8 team," he said.
"It is a bit of a controversy though because it is a Tamworth FC team, which causes a bit of a stir whenever we play a Kootingal team.
"All the jokes are in good fun and it brings me a lot of enjoyment to be involved."
Barber said there was "so many people to thank" for helping him reach the 400 game milestone.
"Honestly I wouldn't have been able to go this long with the patience and understanding of my wife, Natalie," he said.
"She and my entire family have been so supportive and I just can't wait to have a run with the boys on Saturday and hopefully celebrate a win afterwards."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
