Age ain’t nothing but a number for Frances Refalo

At the tender age of 53, Nepean Football President and keen footballer for Glenmore Park FC Frances Refalo understands what football means to her – this has been amplified even further due to the recent COVID-19 layoff but recent news of teams allowing to train only was a significant step in the return of our beautiful game.

“When I saw the news pop up on your Facebook page it brought a huge smile to my face as it showed that the return to playing our game was getting closer.

“A massive thank you goes out to the Football NSW Management and Staff for their hard work with their respective governing body and state government in finding a way that we can slowly and safely return to the game we all love.”

As a footballer, Refalo continues to enjoy the world game, even though she picked it up later in her years – twenty-four years on, she is yet again lacing the boots up to enjoy yet another season in the Nepean Football Association with the Glenmore Park FC.

“I started playing football late in life.

“Most people are looking at giving up or slowing down at the age of 30 but not me, I decided to buy a pair of football boots instead.

“Twenty-four seasons on and I’m still going – not as fast as I once was but still out there kicking the ball around and having so much fun with my teammates.”

Having dedicated over twenty years of her life as a hard working football volunteer also, when the winter seasons concludes, her passion for the game continues to burn bright as she is also involved in the new phenomenon that was recently introduced, ‘Walking Football’, played out traditionally in the Summer months.

“That’s right, you can’t stop me.

“Nepean FA run a Walking Football competition during the summer months from mid-October through to mid-December.

“After playing my winter competition where you play the long ball and run your heart out chasing it down, you go to walking where the ball doesn’t go any higher than your waist and you can’t run, it’s a shock to the system and the more you try not to run the more your body doesn’t do what its told.

“Walking Football is so much fun, you spend more time laughing with each other than anything else.

“I highly recommend Walking Football even if you have never played before.”

COVID-19 did throw a spanner in the works in Refalo’s continual journey as an administrator and footballer at the start of the 2020 season so the virus did impact her in more ways than one, even to the point of not being able to see her elderly mother.

“I can say that COVID-19 has had a huge impact on my life across many areas.

“I have an elderly mother and not being able to spend time with her, taking her out to our usual Sunday luncheons and just kicking back with her has really affected me.

“As the President of the Nepean Football Association, I would normally visit clubs around our district for a catch up and see if the association can assist them, I feel that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the continued relationship we as the Board of Nepean try to maintain with our grassroots clubs, but we are hopeful that with the promising news of training again, we can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”

During the football lockdown period, Refalo kept herself busy by watching football matches, cooking, and even picked up a new hobby gardening along with weekly Nepean FA Zoom Board Meetings.

“There are only so many reruns of football matches you can watch, so being typical of my European background I turned to my mother’s old Maltese recipes and started baking.

“I found an old Anzac biscuit recipe from school and baked Anzac biscuits for my street for Anzac Day.

“I spent way too much money buying things and in between all this I had a weekly board meeting, which kept me sane.

“My new hobby I picked up during self-isolation was gardening.

“I’m not one known for having a green thumb, but I managed to plant fruit trees, a small veggie patch and a herb garden – now let’s hope they survive post isolation.”

Asked what she missed most about the game, the 2018 Football NSW State Award winner said it was the lack of contact and being able to connect with her football family, teammates and clubs that hurt her the most.

“Besides playing, I missed the contact with my football family, the ladies in my team and all the volunteers from the grassroots clubs within the Nepean Association.

“I’ve missed not seeing everyone over the weekend, football at Nepean is like one big family to me and I’ve felt a massive absence without seeing this occur on a week to week basis for me.”

Not known to boast her achievements in the game, Refalo became the first ever Nepean FA female President to be elected in November 2014 due to her long service and dedication she bestowed to the game.

Refalo is a model example in her local community and often takes a mentoring role for females who wish to progress in the administration aspect of the sport.

Traditionally, each weekend throughout the football season, the ever bubbly administrator can be found at one of its many venues, meeting with club committee members, players and parents and has always been keen to listen to their concerns or comments regarding their experiences in their roles.

Her enthusiasm is contagious as she continues to pile in the long hours with her board in ensuring the game is in safe hands – even more so this year with all its obstacles, Refalo has maintained a source of confidence that the round ball game is returning soon, as long as we all continue to practice the safety measures put in place.