SOCCER
WHEN Wayne “Buzzer” Gordon runs out in the colours of Peninsula Strikers next year he’ll be playing his 26th straight season of first team football. He’s won championships, promotions and individual honours and earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike at both professional and semi-professional levels.
“Buzzer” is an iconic figure in peninsula sport and the 40-year-old now has teammates who used to line the fence and cheer him on during their childhood years. His story starts in western Germany. His father was in the British army and was based in the city of Münster when Wayne Malcolm Gordon entered this world on 10 July 1984. The family returned to the UK when the youngster was four and by the time he was 14 he was playing for his dad’s pub team while his friends played at junior level.
He was spotted by Gretna coach Rowan Alexander and joined as a 15-year-old in 2000. That kick-started a playing career that has also involved stints at Albion Rovers in Scotland, Workington Reds and Newcastle Blue Star before arriving in Melbourne in 2008 to play with Chelsea Hajduk.
The chronology of his journey to Centenary Park includes Langwarrin, Dandenong City, Mornington, Dalbeattie Stars (in Scotland), Mornington again, Doveton, back to Mornington and another spell at Doveton before joining Strikers for the 2022 season.
His longevity is remarkable in a sport that can force players of his age to decide between the lower rungs of the State League structure or the Bayside League. “Having kids (Kai, 11, Jai nine and year-old Alfie) and a partner (Nicola) who understands how much the game means to you is so important,” he said. “I just love this game so much. “I love the feeling of waking up on Saturday mornings and I love going to training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “I think being an ex-professional that you just have that passion to succeed and that’s never diminished.”
It also helps to have an unshakeable self-belief. “Yeah it’s a mentality thing too. And having trust in a coach that wants you. Before my second spell at Doveton I trained with Strikers but Donn Delaney didn’t want me because he thought I was too old so I went back to Doveton and played in the NPL. It’s things like that that motivate me to prove people wrong and I just love it.”
Then there’s Kosta Drakoulakos the strength and conditioning coach at Strikers. “He’s a big, big reason I’m still playing because his passion to get players right is probably the best I’ve ever seen. “His drive and his love of seeing players succeed is beyond scary, it truly is. “His one-on-one sessions and his group sessions are incredible. “When I first went down to Strikers I had a problem with my Achilles but I just put it down to my body and me getting older but he said ‘no, let’s do these exercises’ and within six weeks I was bang on right again. “As an ex-pro I’ve had a lot of physios and fitness people but to get what we get from him at this level in unbelievable.”
There’s also an affinity between Strikers and “Buzzer” that he holds dear and the club has earned a special place in his football story. “I can safely say that going to Strikers is one of the best things I’ve done as a player. “It’s the pure enjoyment I get out of being there. “Maybe it’s because I’m coming to the latter stages of my career but having the freedom to play knowing that ‘Scotty’ has my back is a big, big thing.”
‘Scotty’ is head coach Scott Morrison and “Buzzer” speaks about his gaffer in an almost reverential tone. “I met ‘Scotty’ at Mornington when he was assistant reserves coach and I have no hesitation in putting him in the top three coaches I’ve ever had alongside Rowan Alexander and Tony Saunders (Doveton). “His man management is remarkable and that’s because he genuinely cares. “He understands when players need an arm around their shoulders and when they need shouting at. “I can look back now and safely say that I cannot believe that Mornington allowed him to walk away. “At Mornington training you’d look over at the reserves and say to yourself ‘what are they doing? Look at that training drill’. “He’s meticulous in fact when I’m finished playing I would love to work under him as an assistant to learn from him.”
But that’s at least another year away as there remains a lot of opponents, rival coaches, opposition spectators and match officials to wind up in that inimitable ‘Buzzer” manner. Rival fans are his favourite target but thankfully the matchday exchanges have toned down considerably from his early playing days in Melbourne.
“Look when I first came out here I probably had a chip on my shoulder and didn’t think much of Australian soccer so when people had a go I’d react angrily. “But nowadays you see the bigger picture. “For example when you argue with your own players it’s not personal it’s about getting the best out of each other, and if it does go too far you’ve got to work it out quickly and we do that”. “As for supporters I absolutely thrive on that because the moment they start shouting at me is the moment I know I’ve got them, and I love giving it back to them. “There was a classic this year when a guy yelled out that I was too fat and too old. “I scored not long after that and ran up to him and said ‘not bad for an old fat guy’ and his head just dropped. “It was brilliant.”
While the club’s promotion push fell agonisingly short last season there’s an expectation that Strikers will be in the mix again next year. The club already has re-signed almost the entire senior squad and there’s talk of a couple of additions to be announced soon. Although you can’t always predict which rival club will splash the cash “Buzzer” is adamant that Strikers are on the right track. “We’re happy with the progression we are making. “The team ‘Scotty’ has put together is a perfect mix of experienced boys and some really talented younger lads. “I said to ‘Scotty’ when I signed that if you build the culture the rest will fall into place and that’s exactly what Strikers have done. “We’ll go into pre-season knowing that we can challenge any team even the ones with the big money.”
Meanwhile Strikers held their presentation night last weekend and “Buzzer” has another trophy to put on the mantelpiece. Stevie Elliott won the best and fairest while “Buzzer”, Billy Rae, Jaiden Madafferi and Andy McIntyre were joint runners-up. Elliott also won the Players’ Player of the Year award with McIntyre runner-up while Riley Anderton and Tom Wood shared Golden Boot honours.
In other news Rosebud couldn’t add the State 5 Grand Final trophy to the league championship when it lost 4-1 to Heidelberg Stars at Bundoora on Saturday. Heidelberg showed its attacking prowess seven minutes in when Ahmed Abukar finished off a great move. Four minutes later scores were level as Dave Greening chased a through ball only to be felled by Heidelberg keeper Ibrahim Haibe.
In his last game for Rosebud before moving interstate Dougie Cunnison stepped up with a typically well-taken penalty and settled the nerves of the peninsula side. But in the 41st minute Andy Jerez got caught in possession and Arafat Hussein put Heidelberg back in the driver’s seat. After half-time Rosebud made a couple of changes but two golden chances for Greening and substitute Nathan Yole weren’t converted.
The ’Buds kept pressing for an equaliser and were susceptible on the break and their dreams ended with two Heidelberg goals in the final 10 minutes. “It’s been a fabulous season and to be here playing at this great venue has been an amazing experience for this team,” Rosebud head coach Stuart Johnson said. “While today’s result is disappointing our goal at the start of the season was promotion and we achieved that and are already building for next year in State 4.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 24 September 2024
