Glenn Lockhart will be playing football at the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games for the 10th time since 1998.
Tuesday 25 October
By Angela Bacic
Glenn Lockhart has been participating at the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games (JPPMG) since its inception in 1998 and will make his return to the beautiful Gold Coast for the 10th edition of the world’s biggest and best masters games next month.
The 56-year-old former Australian futsal assistant coach from Minto, New South Wales has been playing futsal and football since the age of six.
Glenn had been competing in the JPPMG futsal competition since the first games in 1998 but made the switch to football in 2010 after a successful undefeated campaign and gold medal in the 11-man game with the South Coast Rhinos at the 2009 World Masters Games.
The tight knit team have continued their love for the game by attending the JPPMG for the last four editions, despite travelling from the south coast of New South Wales.
“The masters games is about catching up with mates from all over the place,” Glenn said.
“It keeps everyone together. It’s a great event with fantastic organisation and people.”
Glenn will not only be having a sporting holiday with friends on the Gold Coast during the JPPMG but has decided to raise money for Beyond Blue, a charity educating the public about the affects of depression and anxiety.
Members of Glenn’s team have been affected by depression and are now using their favourite sport as a vehicle to bring people together to discuss mental health issues.
“I play football with a fantastic group of men, all who have faced hardship and personal battles,” he said.
“Sport keeps us alive, healthy and gives us an avenue to talk. We support each other through times of crisis.”
The team have raised more than $1,700 and will continue fundraising during the event.
When Glenn is not competing, he imparts his 50-year knowledge of the game to the next generation as the current goalkeeper coach of the NSW men’s F-League team, Inner West Magic.
His 28-year-old son is an Inner West Magic player and has followed in his father’s footsteps playing for Australia.
“My son, Dean, recently played for Australia in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Columbia last month,” Glenn said.
“It was the first time the Futsalroos have made it to the World Cup.
“He is the reason I keep playing the game. He inspires me.”
The South Coast Rhinos, will compete in the men’s 50+ football competition from Sunday 6 to Saturday 12 November at the Nerang Soccer Club.
To donate or for more information visit https://give.everydayhero.com/au/south-coast-rhinos-support-beyond-blue.
The 10th biennial Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games will be held 5 – 13 November 2016 on the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
The world’s biggest and best biennial masters games will showcase competition in 43 sports and attract 13,000 participants from Queensland, interstate and overseas.
