22-07-2025
They made a career switch nine years ago to build something special. The moment has arrived
Alex Gillespie and Dan Yaxley have been there for some of Cooks Hill United Football Club's biggest occasions.
But nothing is likely to compare to an appearance in the Australia Cup round of 32 against Adelaide Croatia in Adelaide on Wednesday night for the club's long-serving players.
Cooks Hill and Weston, who will be hosted by Victorian National Premier Leagues (NPL) heavyweights Heidelberg United on Wednesday night, are into the final stage of the nationwide knockout soccer competition for the first time.
The opportunity is huge for one of Northern NSW Football's oldest clubs and one of its youngest.
"It's massive because this is one of the biggest moments in my career, to get a chance like this," Gillespie told the Newcastle Herald.
"There's probably not too many years left in the legs, so it will definitely be a good experience and one that will give us that bit of a professional environment.
"That is something that Zoro [coach Chris Zoricich] has had most of his career and will give us a little bit of a taste of it."
The 34-year-old centre-back was among a group of players who joined Cooks Hill in 2017 determined to build something special.
They helped spark a premiership threepeat in Northern League One after the club had finished eighth in Northern NSW Football's second-tier competition in 2016.
Promotion to the top-flight NPL followed in 2022.
Now, eight years on, and in their ninth campaign in Cooks Hill colours, Gillespie, Yaxley and Daniel Clements remain from that group and are set for another milestone moment.
"That is why we thought we were so successful for so long, because we had that good, core group," Gillespie said.
"We had Daniel Yaxley, Nick Russell, who hung up the boots this year, Ash [Balcomb], who is coaching our reserve grade now, Dan Clements.
"We kept that core group for a while, and we're just trying to hang on as long as we can.
"It's been good keeping the boys together, the older group, to sort of pass the baton to the younger boys who are coming through now."
Cooks Hill, founded in 1997, booked their maiden appearance in the Cup play-offs by pulling off a stunning upset to beat NPL Northern NSW (NNSW) heavyweights Broadmeadow 2-1 in June.
Magic are defending NPL NNSW premiers and champions and share the competition lead with Edgeworth on 50 points.
Cooks Hill, who's highest finish in NPL has been seventh, are eighth on 21 points, four points below the top five with five games to play.
"The boys stepped up big for that game, and it shows that big moments can win the game, which is what we're hoping for in Adelaide," Gillespie said.
"We don't see why we can't keep this run going."
READ MORE:
Broadmeadow and Edgeworth have both previously made it through to the Cup's round of 16, and Yaxley, 31, hopes Cooks Hill can also achieve the feat.
"Anything can happen in the Cup, which is why it's so exciting, and, now that we're here, we just want to soak it in and make the club proud as well," Yaxley, who plays wing or fullback, said.
"There are so many people that work so hard for the club, volunteers, that it will be a good opportunity to do it for them as well."
Cooks Hill and the Bears are NNSW Football's representatives in the Cup's main draw, where they join 21 other qualifiers from NPL competitions around the country and 11 A-League clubs.
Weston progressed after beating Edgeworth 1-1 (3-1) on penalties following an epic 120-minute exchange.
George Stephens produced some goalkeeping heroics in that match, denying three successive Edgeworth attempts from the spot to seal the win and etch his name in Weston folklore.
But, in a blow for the young shot-stopper and the Bears, Stephens has been ruled out of the Cup clash on Wednesday night due to concussion.
Weston will take keepers Jack Butler and Gerard Roebuck to Melbourne.
Like the Bears, who were founded in 1907, Heidelberg United have a rich football history.
They were a founding member of the old National Soccer League and have reached the Australia Cup quarter-finals on multiple occasions.
Heidelberg are top of the NPL Victoria standings while Weston (37 points) are third in NPL NNSW.
Both games kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Wednesday night and are being streamed through Football Australia's YouTube channel.
Alex Gillespie and Dan Yaxley have been there for some of Cooks Hill United Football Club's biggest occasions.
But nothing is likely to compare to an appearance in the Australia Cup round of 32 against Adelaide Croatia in Adelaide on Wednesday night for the club's long-serving players.
Cooks Hill and Weston, who will be hosted by Victorian National Premier Leagues (NPL) heavyweights Heidelberg United on Wednesday night, are into the final stage of the nationwide knockout soccer competition for the first time.
The opportunity is huge for one of Northern NSW Football's oldest clubs and one of its youngest.
"It's massive because this is one of the biggest moments in my career, to get a chance like this," Gillespie told the Newcastle Herald.
"There's probably not too many years left in the legs, so it will definitely be a good experience and one that will give us that bit of a professional environment.
"That is something that Zoro [coach Chris Zoricich] has had most of his career and will give us a little bit of a taste of it."
The 34-year-old centre-back was among a group of players who joined Cooks Hill in 2017 determined to build something special.
They helped spark a premiership threepeat in Northern League One after the club had finished eighth in Northern NSW Football's second-tier competition in 2016.
Promotion to the top-flight NPL followed in 2022.
Now, eight years on, and in their ninth campaign in Cooks Hill colours, Gillespie, Yaxley and Daniel Clements remain from that group and are set for another milestone moment.
"That is why we thought we were so successful for so long, because we had that good, core group," Gillespie said.
"We had Daniel Yaxley, Nick Russell, who hung up the boots this year, Ash [Balcomb], who is coaching our reserve grade now, Dan Clements.
"We kept that core group for a while, and we're just trying to hang on as long as we can.
"It's been good keeping the boys together, the older group, to sort of pass the baton to the younger boys who are coming through now."
Cooks Hill, founded in 1997, booked their maiden appearance in the Cup play-offs by pulling off a stunning upset to beat NPL Northern NSW (NNSW) heavyweights Broadmeadow 2-1 in June.
Magic are defending NPL NNSW premiers and champions and share the competition lead with Edgeworth on 50 points.
Cooks Hill, who's highest finish in NPL has been seventh, are eighth on 21 points, four points below the top five with five games to play.
"The boys stepped up big for that game, and it shows that big moments can win the game, which is what we're hoping for in Adelaide," Gillespie said.
"We don't see why we can't keep this run going."
READ MORE:
Broadmeadow and Edgeworth have both previously made it through to the Cup's round of 16, and Yaxley, 31, hopes Cooks Hill can also achieve the feat.
"Anything can happen in the Cup, which is why it's so exciting, and, now that we're here, we just want to soak it in and make the club proud as well," Yaxley, who plays wing or fullback, said.
"There are so many people that work so hard for the club, volunteers, that it will be a good opportunity to do it for them as well."
Cooks Hill and the Bears are NNSW Football's representatives in the Cup's main draw, where they join 21 other qualifiers from NPL competitions around the country and 11 A-League clubs.
Weston progressed after beating Edgeworth 1-1 (3-1) on penalties following an epic 120-minute exchange.
George Stephens produced some goalkeeping heroics in that match, denying three successive Edgeworth attempts from the spot to seal the win and etch his name in Weston folklore.
But, in a blow for the young shot-stopper and the Bears, Stephens has been ruled out of the Cup clash on Wednesday night due to concussion.
Weston will take keepers Jack Butler and Gerard Roebuck to Melbourne.
Like the Bears, who were founded in 1907, Heidelberg United have a rich football history.
They were a founding member of the old National Soccer League and have reached the Australia Cup quarter-finals on multiple occasions.
Heidelberg are top of the NPL Victoria standings while Weston (37 points) are third in NPL NNSW.
Both games kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Wednesday night and are being streamed through Football Australia's YouTube channel.
Alex Gillespie and Dan Yaxley have been there for some of Cooks Hill United Football Club's biggest occasions.
But nothing is likely to compare to an appearance in the Australia Cup round of 32 against Adelaide Croatia in Adelaide on Wednesday night for the club's long-serving players.
Cooks Hill and Weston, who will be hosted by Victorian National Premier Leagues (NPL) heavyweights Heidelberg United on Wednesday night, are into the final stage of the nationwide knockout soccer competition for the first time.
The opportunity is huge for one of Northern NSW Football's oldest clubs and one of its youngest.
"It's massive because this is one of the biggest moments in my career, to get a chance like this," Gillespie told the Newcastle Herald.
"There's probably not too many years left in the legs, so it will definitely be a good experience and one that will give us that bit of a professional environment.
"That is something that Zoro [coach Chris Zoricich] has had most of his career and will give us a little bit of a taste of it."
The 34-year-old centre-back was among a group of players who joined Cooks Hill in 2017 determined to build something special.
They helped spark a premiership threepeat in Northern League One after the club had finished eighth in Northern NSW Football's second-tier competition in 2016.
Promotion to the top-flight NPL followed in 2022.
Now, eight years on, and in their ninth campaign in Cooks Hill colours, Gillespie, Yaxley and Daniel Clements remain from that group and are set for another milestone moment.
"That is why we thought we were so successful for so long, because we had that good, core group," Gillespie said.
"We had Daniel Yaxley, Nick Russell, who hung up the boots this year, Ash [Balcomb], who is coaching our reserve grade now, Dan Clements.
"We kept that core group for a while, and we're just trying to hang on as long as we can.
"It's been good keeping the boys together, the older group, to sort of pass the baton to the younger boys who are coming through now."
Cooks Hill, founded in 1997, booked their maiden appearance in the Cup play-offs by pulling off a stunning upset to beat NPL Northern NSW (NNSW) heavyweights Broadmeadow 2-1 in June.
Magic are defending NPL NNSW premiers and champions and share the competition lead with Edgeworth on 50 points.
Cooks Hill, who's highest finish in NPL has been seventh, are eighth on 21 points, four points below the top five with five games to play.
"The boys stepped up big for that game, and it shows that big moments can win the game, which is what we're hoping for in Adelaide," Gillespie said.
"We don't see why we can't keep this run going."
READ MORE:
Broadmeadow and Edgeworth have both previously made it through to the Cup's round of 16, and Yaxley, 31, hopes Cooks Hill can also achieve the feat.
"Anything can happen in the Cup, which is why it's so exciting, and, now that we're here, we just want to soak it in and make the club proud as well," Yaxley, who plays wing or fullback, said.
"There are so many people that work so hard for the club, volunteers, that it will be a good opportunity to do it for them as well."
Cooks Hill and the Bears are NNSW Football's representatives in the Cup's main draw, where they join 21 other qualifiers from NPL competitions around the country and 11 A-League clubs.
Weston progressed after beating Edgeworth 1-1 (3-1) on penalties following an epic 120-minute exchange.
George Stephens produced some goalkeeping heroics in that match, denying three successive Edgeworth attempts from the spot to seal the win and etch his name in Weston folklore.
But, in a blow for the young shot-stopper and the Bears, Stephens has been ruled out of the Cup clash on Wednesday night due to concussion.
Weston will take keepers Jack Butler and Gerard Roebuck to Melbourne.
Like the Bears, who were founded in 1907, Heidelberg United have a rich football history.
They were a founding member of the old National Soccer League and have reached the Australia Cup quarter-finals on multiple occasions.
Heidelberg are top of the NPL Victoria standings while Weston (37 points) are third in NPL NNSW.
Both games kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Wednesday night and are being streamed through Football Australia's YouTube channel.
Alex Gillespie and Dan Yaxley have been there for some of Cooks Hill United Football Club's biggest occasions.
But nothing is likely to compare to an appearance in the Australia Cup round of 32 against Adelaide Croatia in Adelaide on Wednesday night for the club's long-serving players.
Cooks Hill and Weston, who will be hosted by Victorian National Premier Leagues (NPL) heavyweights Heidelberg United on Wednesday night, are into the final stage of the nationwide knockout soccer competition for the first time.
The opportunity is huge for one of Northern NSW Football's oldest clubs and one of its youngest.
"It's massive because this is one of the biggest moments in my career, to get a chance like this," Gillespie told the Newcastle Herald.
"There's probably not too many years left in the legs, so it will definitely be a good experience and one that will give us that bit of a professional environment.
"That is something that Zoro [coach Chris Zoricich] has had most of his career and will give us a little bit of a taste of it."
The 34-year-old centre-back was among a group of players who joined Cooks Hill in 2017 determined to build something special.
They helped spark a premiership threepeat in Northern League One after the club had finished eighth in Northern NSW Football's second-tier competition in 2016.
Promotion to the top-flight NPL followed in 2022.
Now, eight years on, and in their ninth campaign in Cooks Hill colours, Gillespie, Yaxley and Daniel Clements remain from that group and are set for another milestone moment.
"That is why we thought we were so successful for so long, because we had that good, core group," Gillespie said.
"We had Daniel Yaxley, Nick Russell, who hung up the boots this year, Ash [Balcomb], who is coaching our reserve grade now, Dan Clements.
"We kept that core group for a while, and we're just trying to hang on as long as we can.
"It's been good keeping the boys together, the older group, to sort of pass the baton to the younger boys who are coming through now."
Cooks Hill, founded in 1997, booked their maiden appearance in the Cup play-offs by pulling off a stunning upset to beat NPL Northern NSW (NNSW) heavyweights Broadmeadow 2-1 in June.
Magic are defending NPL NNSW premiers and champions and share the competition lead with Edgeworth on 50 points.
Cooks Hill, who's highest finish in NPL has been seventh, are eighth on 21 points, four points below the top five with five games to play.
"The boys stepped up big for that game, and it shows that big moments can win the game, which is what we're hoping for in Adelaide," Gillespie said.
"We don't see why we can't keep this run going."
READ MORE:
Broadmeadow and Edgeworth have both previously made it through to the Cup's round of 16, and Yaxley, 31, hopes Cooks Hill can also achieve the feat.
"Anything can happen in the Cup, which is why it's so exciting, and, now that we're here, we just want to soak it in and make the club proud as well," Yaxley, who plays wing or fullback, said.
"There are so many people that work so hard for the club, volunteers, that it will be a good opportunity to do it for them as well."
Cooks Hill and the Bears are NNSW Football's representatives in the Cup's main draw, where they join 21 other qualifiers from NPL competitions around the country and 11 A-League clubs.
Weston progressed after beating Edgeworth 1-1 (3-1) on penalties following an epic 120-minute exchange.
George Stephens produced some goalkeeping heroics in that match, denying three successive Edgeworth attempts from the spot to seal the win and etch his name in Weston folklore.
But, in a blow for the young shot-stopper and the Bears, Stephens has been ruled out of the Cup clash on Wednesday night due to concussion.
Weston will take keepers Jack Butler and Gerard Roebuck to Melbourne.
Like the Bears, who were founded in 1907, Heidelberg United have a rich football history.
They were a founding member of the old National Soccer League and have reached the Australia Cup quarter-finals on multiple occasions.
Heidelberg are top of the NPL Victoria standings while Weston (37 points) are third in NPL NNSW.
Both games kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Wednesday night and are being streamed through Football Australia's YouTube channel.
