Spectacular send off for long-serving touch football coach
There was no way his players were going to let Manly touch football coach Barry Gibson go out any way but as a winner. And boy, did they give him a send off to remember.
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He’s been with them through thick and thin so when Barry Gibson decided to finish up as coach of the Manly touch football open women’s team it sparked a flood of tears - and ice.
Gibson’s side sent him out a winner after 16 years with a team which has boasted multiple Australian, New Zealand and state representatives players.
Manly beat Eastern Suburbs 5-4 earlier this month to claim the senior state cup at Port Macquarie.
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“We had a lot of incentive to send Barry out on a high note,’’ said captain Sarah Peattie from Manly.
“For me personally, I’ve been playing here with him for 14 years, since I was 13.
“And the core of the group has been together for around nine years with Barry coaching us through all the way.’’
Gibson, who will continue to coach other sides including the Ryde premier league boys side and Pymble Ladies College players, said he was delighted his players had come back from a mixed lead-up to the event to claim the state cup.
“It was a great way for me to go out,’’ said the Ryde based coach, who owns a fencing business.
“It was so good. Just inspiring.
“It was emotional leading up to it. I’m not really an emotional type.’’
Making it extra special was Gibson’s niece Tayla Clifford scoring in the finale.
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“It’s so sad to see him go. There was no way we were going to lose that game,’’ said Clifford, who lives at Rouse Hill.
Gibson said he has loved every minute of coaching the Manly women and watching them develop into leading players.
“Coaching is about personality. They listen, their work effect is incredible and they all strive together as one unit,’’ he said.
“There’s also been a lot of commitment from them. They are really great.’’
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