Introducing Saints FC with Mitch Gadd

The 2020/21 season for amateur football in Wales was officially declared null and void meaning there has been a lack of competitive action for clubs like CSKA Sophia Gardens for almost a year now.

In the absence of competitive playing time for us, we've decided to get in touch with former player and all-round club legend Mitch Gadd to find out how his new life down under is going. We also wanted to find out a bit more about this new team, Saints FC, that we've heard he has joined.

How are you finding life in Australia after your decision to emigrate back in 2019?

Life is good, thanks. I’ve been very fortunate that we’ve not had anywhere near the same restrictions in Australia as the UK, and living right by the beach has certainly helped - both before and during the pandemic. There are things I miss back home, and lots of it still feels fairly new even though it’s been a couple of years now, but I’m fairly settled and enjoying it out here.

You have joined a local amateur team called Saints FC. Can you tell us a little bit about them and how you came to join them?

I was at a first birthday party for my nephew on my wife’s side, I think, and got chatting to one of their friends who I’d met a few times before. We got chatting about football and he mentioned the team he played for, Saints FC. He asked if I was interested in joining for the forthcoming season and the rest, as they say, is history.

The team play Saturday afternoons in the top division. (A Grade) of the church league competition. Kick-off’s usually 3pm, sometimes 1pm. They’re a really great group of guys who are superbly run by Nick McFarlane. It’s a team of a lot of fresh faces who came together playing their first season for the club last year, but we got better as the season went on and were one game off making the final, losing to the eventual competition winners (the league adopts a playoff structure after the end of the round robin games). The lads have made me feel welcome from day one.

As we play in a church league, a player from one of the teams will lead us in prayer before each game, which is strange since I’m not a particularly religious person, but it sets the tone for the game to be played in a good spirit, while still being a very competitive and keenly contested division.

Which position do you play for Saints FC?

I sometimes play in centre mid, but I predominantly played centre back last season. I know how Jordan “I joined as a midfielder” Lloyd feels now!

Who are three players from Saints FC you would bring with you to sign for CSKA if you repatriated back to Wales?

Ooh, tough one. We’ve got lots of great players in the side. Akim Atem has the ball glued to his feet, and Samuel Toledo is a tenacious midfielder who scraps for every ball in the middle. Then it’s a flip of a coin. Steve Zammit is a great captain and composed midfielder player, then Nick, our manager, is as solid as you get in goals. But maybe for the X-factor he brings I’d opt for our skilful forward Matthew Elwin.

What has been your favourite on-pitch moment for Saints FC so far?

Probably scoring on my debut. It was a late equaliser. I’d had a few chances earlier in the game and thought maybe it wouldn’t be my day, but the ball broke nicely and I smashed it home. It felt good!

If CSKA played Saints FC, who would win?

Haha, you won’t draw me into that one. Going to sit firmly on the fence and say draw. I reckon it could also depend on where the game is played - the dry and harsh surfaces in Australia, or the damper rolling greens of Llanrumney Fields.

What are the main differences you have noticed between playing football in Wales and Australia?

See above. The pitches are a lot drier. The temperature can also get hotter too, but it’s still played largely in winter, and I’ve probably played in hotter July/August friendlies in Wales. The league I play in is definitely a lot friendlier than some of the horrible b*****ds you come up against in the Lazarou League!

Then there’s the difference in competition rules with a playoff structure, plus, as I mentioned, in the church leagues there’s prayers!

Can you give us some of your favourite new slang terms that you've picked up since moving to Australia?

There’s not many I’m a fan of! My favourite phrase has come while playing cricket actually. Because I’m rubbish, I play in the lower grades. Sides sometimes try and steal a march - or, to put it bluntly, cheat, by sending better players to play down the grades. I discovered one of those players is known as a ‘burglar’, presumably because they’re stealing runs down the grades, but who knows.

Have you adopted a favourite team in the A-League?

No! I live on the Central Coast though, which is the side Usain Bolt signed for.

Do you have a message for our Bulgarian fans?

Firstly, I hope you’re all safe and well and keeping your spirits up during these tough times for everyone.

As always, thank you for your support for CSKA. They will always be my team but like you guys, I’m just a fan now too cheering the boys on. Samo CSKA!

Saints FC Official Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/saints.fc.australia/

If you are missing amateur football coverage right now and have yet to adopt an Australian side as your team to support then head on over to the Saints FC Instagram account and give them a follow!