[VIDEO] Woodsmen AFC | Footy on Fridays

Author // Georgina Auton, Place Graceville

If you drive past the Sherwood Football Club on a Friday evening, it’s bustling with life.

Home of the Western Magpies AFC team, the club is always busy with people of all ages working, spectating and playing.

Bystanders will crowd the sidelines, clutching hot chips, while others sit at tables and watch the game from afar, beer in hand as they cheer for their little one’s team.

As the sun goes down, after the kids’ games finishes, the grownups come out to play.

The Woodsmen AFC team is a group of local blokes from their twenties to forties who originally joined together, looking for something to do on a Friday night.

Craig “Knackers” Nipperess formed the team in 2009 and says it has become a great part of the Sherwood community.

Since then, the support for the team has grown.

Even people who aren’t one of the 22 players often come along to train with the team to increase fitness or to support them in games.

Partners, wives and kids wear Woodsmen supporter gear providing a real sense of comradery as the team warm-up before taking to the field.

This group of big ‘kids’ often crack a cold one (or two) after the game and enjoy the social atmosphere that comes with being part of the team.

We spoke to some of the team about why they love playing for the Woodsmen.