Ron Van de Voorde

Welcome everybody to episode 48 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. It is heart warming to watch the football community submitting items and then interacting on the social media pages. It is a credit to our community that people continue to contribute, comment and reminisce. And for this I am thankful and grateful.

On the podcast front, I am always overwhelmed and appreciative that people are still putting up their hand to be interviewed. I have a passion and desire to record the Illawarra’s footballing history. Each person that comes forward allows me to continue this podcast. So thank you for downloading this podcast and thanks to all the interviewees who give up their time.

Ron Van de Voorde is our interviewee in episode 48. Ron grew up in Woonona in the late 1950s and started playing junior football with Woonona Junior Soccer Club at Nicholson Park in 1964. After 11 years of junior football, Ron started his senior football journey with Bulli Soccer Club in the under 18s. After Bulli he played with many clubs, was coached by the best in the Illawarra and played alongside many great players. His senior career spanned 18 years and in this time Ron amassed over 360 plus appearances and just over 100 goals predominantly in first grade.

Ron’s journey is fascinating and he is open about his thoughts on his time at each club. In particular it was great when Ron discusses his grand final winner against Shellharbour in 1981 and about his double winning year at Bulli S.C. in 1986. My sincere thanks go out to Ron for giving up his time for this interview, it was an absolute pleasure and honour to listen to Ron.

Finally I would like to say thank you to Ron’s daughter Marissa who sent through some fabulous pictures, which we have used in the podcast graphic. And I would like to thank Emma and Josh Faulks as they greatly helped in setting up this interview. And in particular Josh my brother he has been a great support of the the Football United vs Soccer City project in the social media space and in the podcast so thanks a lot to him. In this interview there are a few expletives probably five or six so if you do have younger listeners in or around you while you listening to this podcast, please be aware of that. Please enjoy this episode!