Bulls footballers display character to overcome major challenge

Senior Ipswich City Bulls player Zygan Condie fittingly scored the final goal of Ipswich City’s character-testing season. See why his team displayed trademark commitment.

Long-serving Ipswich City Bulls footballer Zygan Condie is leaving his playing options open for next season. Picture: David Lems

After 18 years of tremendous service, Ipswich City Bulls stalwart Zygan Condie faced the inevitable question he tackles at the end of each season.

Are you retiring?

He provided an answer his Ipswich City Bulls teammates will welcome.

After some previous plans to stand down only to return weeks later, Condie left his options open for the restructured 2022 Football Queensland Premier League 4 competition.

With three-year-old son Lennox and six month old daughter Ahri, he has family to consider.

“I’m not 100 per cent convinced I will give it up yet,’’ Condie said.

“Whether I’m going to go metro or go another round (in a higher league).’’

How his body feels in the pre-season will also help answer the all-important retirement question.

Condie, 36, fittingly scored the final goal of Ipswich City’s character-testing season which ended with a 2-1 victory over New Farm United at Sutton Park on Sunday night.

Condie nailed the winner in the final minute.

“I got a bit lucky I guess,’’ he said.

After being in the precarious relegation zone for a number of weeks, the Bulls escaped demotion with a 3-3 draw with Logan Metro on September 18.

A last game win at their home field was extra satisfying.

“After such a horrible first half of the year and sitting last for two thirds of the season, we are quite happy with how we finished,’’ head coach Norbert Duga said.

Condie agreed after the Bulls managed to climb into eighth.

“In the last four of five games, we come away with a fair few points,’’ he said.

“We definitely were in a relegation battle for quite a while.

“It was not our best season but not our worst.’’

Ipswich City Bulls footballer Zygan Condie stuck with the side during his relegation battle. Picture: David Lems

Browsing over the players the Bulls had this season, it was hard to believe they were even in relegation trouble.

That was highlighted by the Bulls upstaging fifth-placed Ripley Valley in the first local derby this year.

Bulls centre forward Sam Chesterfield is also the league’s leading goal having netted 16 this season.

telling losses.

“We always could score goals but when you had a team with players coming in and out, it was hard to get any sort of defensive co-ordination together,’’ Condie said.

Ipswich City Bulls footballer Zygan Condie defends against Ipswich Knights striker Matthew Haspels during a trial match this year. Picture: Gary Reid

With his young family to look after, Condie conceded he was less committed with training this season.

However, the loyal Bulls footballer never gave up when the team was doing it tough.

Having first played for the Bulls in 2003, Condie still enjoys the camaraderie of his team and being a senior player.

“I love it,’’ he said.

“If I didn’t have family life to contend with, I would 100 per cent keep playing.

“I think my body is in good enough shape to keep playing.’’

The long-time attacking leader praised the dependable Bulls players still there in the final game.

“Some people just left and never come back and there were a core of probably 15 of us that stuck it through,’’ he said. “In the end, we got a few wins and enjoyed it really.’’

That included Sunday night’s captain Chris Denman and former skipper Joel Munn who battled on after injury.

Munn was rewarded with his first goal of the season in the final game.

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