When a young David Little pulled on his first set of footy boots to play junior footy for the Tathra Sea Eagles Australian Rules Football Club in 1988 he had no idea that at 37 he would still be playing for the very same club, with 278 senior games to his name and a life membership.
The Little family and the Tathra Sea Eagles club are almost one and the same, as Rob and Val and sons Doug, Anthony and David have been an important part of the club since the day it was established over 30 years ago.
Along with David, or “Croc” as he is more affectionately known, unexpectedly receiving life membership, the Little family’s involvement in the club was acknowledged at the recent end-of-season presentation with the Best and Fairest award being renamed the Little Medal.
“It was a bit of a shock to be awarded life membership and I’m very humbled,” Croc said.
Croc has an obvious love of all things to do with the club as it was such a big part of his life as he was growing up.
Now a father of three sons and a daughter Croc hopes his children will also experience the same idyllic childhood, with Saturdays spent together as a family at the footy ground among friends.
“I love the area so much,” he said.
“I have done the moving away thing but came back here because there is nowhere better, which is why I’ve been with the club for such a long time.”
This season was a difficult one for the very proud and successful club, which has almost become an institution in the town of Tathra.
Croc said the start of the 2014 competition was not ideal with seniors’ numbers at an all-time low due to people moving and retirements.
So he and a few others who had not intended playing put their hands up and were once again running out on the field in the maroon and white colours.
“We realised that there needs to be more focus on junior numbers coming through for the club’s future, so we are doing all we can to get this happening.
“My son and daughter are now playing Auskick and we are starting to get really good numbers.
“Next year my wife and I will devote more energy into getting more kids involved.
“I also plan to get into the committee side of things.”
Will that mean he is hanging up the boots now?
“We shall see. If the club re-establishes its self and we get a few numbers in the seniors again then I would be quite happy to just concentrate on the juniors program, or if there is even a two’s side running around then yes, I’ll be in that.
“If the ones are a bit short again I will play to make up the numbers, but it does get harder with age and you feel a hell of a lot sorer the next day!
“I often find it quite amusing now when sitting in the change rooms knowing that I have been playing seniors footy longer than some of the ages of the younger ones in the team.
“And I have a laugh sometimes when on the ground and I’m up against a 20-year-old who makes it look like I’m standing still when I’m actually running at full pace!
“I have won premierships with my team mates and now I can watch my kids run around, kicking the footy about with their friends and enjoying the sport.”
Croc described the Tathra Aussie Rules club as “a great, friendly and family-oriented club”.
And if his passion is anything to go by the future of the Sea Eagles looks very bright.
“Having grown up with the club it’s like family… it’s in the blood,” he said.
Melinda Cairns Hack
Last Modified on 02/02/2015 15:37