Poetic Justice for Bathurst 75 Treasurer Ian Wells

Bathurst 75 Treasurer Ian Wells recently shot to social media fame with an amazing poem to football titled “This Is My Wembley” (referring to Proctor Park) detailing how much he misses the game he ever so loves due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused chaos with our current way of life.

“I wrote the poem because our weekends now would be all football and I miss it.

“Saturday mornings would be me coaching Under 7 and Under 8 games for my two eldest boys. Sunday would be playing third Grade and having a beer afterwards, then probably back over there to watch the seniors in the afternoon while riding bikes or kicking balls with my kids.

“Proctor Park is deserted now.

“We actually love it because it’s like our own private playground, but I really miss playing football with my mates.

“I was strolling around Proctor Park one Sunday morning wishing my game was about to kick off and how it’s probably a similar feeling for professional footballers in this lockdown except their feeling it a hundred times worse because it’s their entire life and livelihood.

“But it struck me that the field and the ball are the same and that’s what unites us all especially in these down times.”

The 46-year-old father of three is a football fanatic.

Born and bred in the Sutherland Shire, Wells played grassroots football for the likes of the Caringbah Redbacks and Cronulla as a young four-year old right up to the age of twenty-three.

The Fulham fan then hung up the boots for almost twenty years before moving off to Bathurst four years ago.

It was there his football passion hit next level as his move to Bathurst with the Bathurst 75 side has seen him secure roles as the Under 7’s Dynamite coach, Under 8’s Roar coach, playing a starring role as the keeper for the third grade while being the club’s treasurer.

Now you get a better picture of how much football means to Ian.

“I’ve been involved for four years and have not looked back.

“We moved to Bathurst in 2016 and bought our house because it backs on to Proctor Park.

“I’d been painting the house for a couple of days before the family moved up from Sydney.

“I heard a cheer while eating dinner and saw lights on out the back window.

“I went over for a look and Bathurst 75 were playing.

“Wednesday night, midwinter, probably 4 or 5 degrees and four of the five committee members were there in support.

“I’d found the club I was looking for,” and the rest was history.

It’s football people like Ian that keep the fire burning with their dedication, passion and support for the best game in the world, namely football.

“Football is family, community, and mateship.

“I love spending time with my kids being active and having fun.

“I spent ten years travelling around the world, Europe mostly, Latin America and South East Asia too, made friends everywhere from playing organised and street football, watching and supporting football live and in pubs.

“I love having a laugh and a beer after the game with my teammates – I really miss that.”

Asked what his message was to the Football Family during these hard times Wells replied.

“My message to our Football Family is keep kicking a ball.

“If you’re down the park with a ball and there’s someone else at the goal at the other end, pass it to them.

“That pass is like a virtual hug.

“It’s sending a message that we’re all in this together and we’ll be back as soon as it’s safe.”

Bravo Ian lovely words echoed by a fellow football tragic, we are all in this together, we all miss our football and we all cannot wait to see it once more.

O Football, Football, wherefore art thou Football?

Check out Ian’s Poem “This Is My Wembley” below.