EVER wanted to play the world game in a social setting and wrap it up with a beer? Well this is your chance.
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Warrnambool soccer enthusiast Mark Hawkins is bringing Masters Soccer League, a recreational competition for men 35 and over created in Geelong, to the city.
The MSL involves 11-player sides playing in 60-minute games with no slide tackles and a focus on mateship.
Matches are on Saturdays from late-January to March with pub gatherings, at the team's sponsor, is an option after the afternoon of games is completed.
Hawkins said a travelling Barwon Heads team, which played the Warrnambool Wolves in 2019, had passed on the idea.
"We have had masters on Monday nights for a couple of years at Harris Street Reserve and the guys in Geelong reached out to us about starting a league down in Warrnambool," he said.
Hawkins said the first step was gauging the interest of players and from south-west pubs wanting to sponsor the teams.
"We are looking for players across the south-west including Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland sorts of areas," he said.
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"We've also reached out to Corangamite. We are looking for guys over 35 around the area who are interested in playing.
"We're looking to get six teams for a full afternoon with games. We're prepared to compromise on the age group and if we have to start with six of seven-player sides instead of 11 to get this going.
"By not running a full season there is not a big commitment like in the winter. It's whatever works for them."
Hawkins said they are open to anyone joining.
"We want to find people who might not like the competitive side of full-on senior team football but want to keep active or like to play football," he said.
"The level of skill doesn't matter it's all about keeping active and having some fun playing games. We don't mind who wins and then we will go have a chat and drink a beer afterwards.
"It's about getting a bit of fun back into playing sport.
Anyone interested can register to play at https://bit.ly/35Hhs4g
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