The latest round of an annual end-of-season trip by a Sydney-based soccer club has spotlighted a new way forward for the sport in Orange.

The weekend tournament earlier this month marked the seventh visit to Orange by Lindfield FC for a weekend of football and fun hosted by local club Barnstoneworth FC. Held at Brabham Park, the friendly round saw Barnstoneworth take on Linfield teams in an over-35s match and over-45s game. There was also a President’s Cup match with Barnies A, B and C grade players facing off, together with the Barnies Women’s side taking on the CSU Cocakatoos.

Barnstoneworth Orange club president Wayne Stephens said Saturday’s games highlighted local moves towards re-starting a local age-based competition in Orange next season.

“Orange had a successful over 35s football competition for many years, but lately, teams with older players have had to take their chances playing in the local C-Grade comp,” Wanye Stephens said. “That’s still a fun competition, but there are challenges as well.

“Older players still have the advantages when it comes to experience and strategy, but it’s tough week-by-week having to chase the speed of a 16-year-old player.”

Wayne believes the lack of an age-based competition is why many older players hang up their boots.

“The beauty of soccer is that it’s a sport you can keep playing for much longer than other contact sports, but it’s still got to be attractive,” he said.

“I’m pleased that the ODFA, the local football association, are looking seriously at over 35s and 45s comps again next season.

“The over 45s competition where Linfield play in Sydney has three or four divisions. We won’t be that big in Orange for a while, but it does point to the potential popularity of an age-based comp here in Orange.”

Saturday’s matches also had a men’s health focus with Barnstoneworth club member and business sponsor Tim Denham believing ongoing opportunities for men to play sport can play a big part in keeping men healthy.

“At the North Orange Pharmacy I see many men dealing with the impact of loneliness and depression,” Tim said. “Playing in a sporting team can be a lot of fun, but it’s also an important opportunity for men to stay active and to spend time with other men.

“When blokes get together to play a game there’s inevitably the social side of talking about the game and whatever else is happening in their lives, at work or at home.

“As a community, I think we need to discover new ways of keeping men healthy and that includes finding opportunities for men to keep playing sport longer. At Barnstoneworth we’ve got a number of players in their sixties who are still playing each week, and that says a lot about the club and what’s important to members.”

Fundraising over the weekend will lead to a $1500 donation to the local Lifeline service.