Border Mail |
CLINTON Gilson thought he was passionate about his football — then he arrived at Mitta United.
While the veteran midfielder has seen plenty of emotion during his 250-plus match career at Lavington, North Albury and Rand-Walbundrie, he said it was taken to another level in the Mitta Valley most Saturday afternoons.
“It’s unbelievable,” Gilson said.
“I have played at passionate footy and cricket clubs before but the club just hates losing and the supporters demand success, which is probably why they have built such a great culture and won so many premierships over the years.
“You hear it about Osborne in the Hume league and it’s the same at Mitta.”
While the passion invariably puts added pressure on the coach to get results, Gilson considers himself fortunate to have a strong support crew with former coach Phil Packer and chairman of selectors Graham Gration running his bench.
Gilson has the Blues in the mix for the double chance with eight rounds remaining but admits a lapse in concentration could be disastrous in the run home.
“I’m really enjoying it,” he said.
“It’s a bit daunting going to a club which has had so much success but Phil and Graham have been great and blokes like Hughie Giltrap, Brendan Duncan and Lawrence Hodgkin are great sounding boards.
“We are going OK, but it’s the most open competition I have ever played in.
“Our plan is to get into the qualifying final and see what happens after that.”
Gilson started his football at Lavington and managed 20 senior matches before crossing to rival Ovens and Murray club North Albury, where he played in the Hoppers’ 2004 premiership under Corey Lambert.
He was struck down by a knee construction in 2006 and that was where he was introduced to coaching.
“I was in hospital after my reco’ when Corey came to visit and asked if I would be interested in taking care of the midfield group while I was out injured,” he said.
“I jumped at the chance. I enjoyed it and, looking back, that’s probably where I got a taste for coaching.”
Gilson returned to playing in 2007 before being lured to Walbundrie as assistant-coach by Dale Smith for 2008.
He took over from Smith the following season and hasn’t looked back.
“It’s something I enjoy,” he said.
“I’m lucky to have had a couple of really good mentors in Corey and ‘Rat’.
“The hardest part is the recruiting as it’s getting harder and harder each year.”
