The Moment – 1:0 FFA Cup Dreaming

BlogSport

26 Nov

Nick Hegarty (Captain/Midfielder) - Hume City FC on the eve of the FFA Cup semi final against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on 28th October 2015.

HUME CITY FC HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLE YEAR COMBINING THE NPL REGULAR SEASON WITH DOCKERTY CUP DUTIES AS WELL AS THE BUILD UP TO THE 2015 WESTFIELD FFA CUP.

As a photographer I have found myself by chance covering quite a few of their games and have grown to love the passion of the players, supporters, family and friends who turned up during those cold winter nights, with the hope that they would progress through to the next round. As a Photographer I know how cold it can get!

Shooting on the sidelines in the pouring rain, losing the feeling in my fingers and toes all while making sure I don’t miss the chance to capture THAT shot, that is why I do what I do. I feel responsible to capture all the glory, disappointment and drama so the players and supporters are left with images which will live in their memory forever.

I have never felt aligned to a club as a supporter, but watching those Hume City players put in everything they had to chase their dream of an FFA Cup run, well I couldn’t help but admire their commitment, desire and ultimately their never say die attitude, that got them so far. You can’t help but become a fan.

The dedication of these players to do their best whilst balancing family and work commitments is hard to comprehend. I recall looking at their faces after the Brisbane Strikers game had gone to penalties, and they looked absolutely spent. I kept thinking to myself “how on earth do they front up to work tomorrow?” Staring at defeat against Brisbane Strikers FFA Cup round of 32 they manned up and came home with the win. These players give everything they have to follow their dream of playing football, to please their fans and bring success to a club that has been so welcoming to me.Hume are a photographers dream, they know how to celebrate a goal, in fact Markelis and Schroen could run a workshop on goal celebrations to other players in the league. I assure you when you are freezing on the sidelines and one of these guys hit’s the back of the net you get excited and pray it happens in front of you.

Just days before Hume City’s FFA Cup Semi-Final against Melbourne Victory I was given the chance to speak to the players, and found out why the FFA Cup meant so much.

“Pick one moment from an FFA Cup game and describe how you feel it defined the journey so far?”

This gallery will serve as a timeless reminder to the players of that moment in time, and also my gratitude to be involved in such a wonderfully welcoming and humble group of players.

Here’s an unused quote from Rexhepi which sum’s up the feeling: