If ever there was a meaning of a true football fan it is embodied in long term Sydney FC Member Nick Farnington.
The 53 year old arrived in Sydney from Scotland in 2006 as a loyal Heart of Midlothian fan, but such was his passion for the game he wanted a local team to support.
“Season two was the beginning of it, we managed to get a few guys together going regularly and it grew on me year after year.
“Before you know it, you’re as fervent for Sydney FC as much as your team back home.”
Nick became a Member soon after and has lived through the highs and lows of the past 17 seasons.
Sadly in November 2021, Nick was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer but it has not stopped him supporting the club, and last Sunday there was a surprise waiting for him, laid on by Sydney FC.
“I got told we were going to one of the Executive Lounges and had been invited by a friend, we ended up in the Sky Blue Lounge and Alana’s (Nick’s wife’s friend) mum introduced me to the Chief Executive Adam Santo,” he said.
Adam and Nick got chatting and soon after, during Adam’s speech, Nick was called up on stage for a special presentation.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” he explained. “I probably would have run had I known as I’m not really one for the spotlight.
“My wife actually thought someone else in the room had stage four cancer when Adam was introducing me as she didn’t realise it was me!
“It was really lovely and getting the signed ball and the photo with Ante was really great.
“That little act of kindness and the acknowledgement you are part of the Sydney FC family was really special.”
The Sky Blues went on to win the game 4-1 against Perth Glory while the Sydney FC Women’s team narrowly lost the Semi-Final vs Western United.
“You forget when you’re going through something like this how much you can enjoy yourself and still laugh,” Nick continued.
“I really don’t drink these days because of the chemotherapy but I had four beers and it was great to see the boys get up. They could have had seven or eight. We really felt really part of the club.
“Our girls are aged four and six and we haven’t been out without them since they were born and to be out with family and friends, it was a really fun night.
“Having that five or six hours really lifted me and I didn’t think of myself as someone with cancer.
“I can’t thank Adam and everyone at the club enough, as well as Angela, Vince, Alana, Gerard, Ray, Julie and Vlad for helping to organize and making sure that Patricia and I had a great time.”
Nick’s Sydney FC supporting years have definitely seen some big highs and being a Cove Member for so long, he has fond memories.
“My most memorable moment was definitely the 3-2 win against the Wanderers when we were 2-0 down and all the goals came at The Cove end,” he said.
“It was a Saturday night and the floodlights were on. There is something special about night games when the lights are on and it was a proper release of emotion when Brosque scored the winner; it was incredible.
“Obviously winning the Plate and Championship against Melbourne was special but I’ve had a lot of really good memories.
“The first home game for Del Piero against Newcastle who had Heskey was just bizarre.
“Heskey was on the scoresheet too and for someone who comes from Europe to see them in action Down Under was really strange, but thrilling at the same time.
“It was a great game even though we got beat but you walk away feeling special and that you’ve seen something memorable.
“When Del Piero scored four against Wellington in the 7-1 win it was sensational because it’s the only time he has done it in his career.
“It was a really great game on a Sunday afternoon in front of not too many people who can say they were there.”
Nick’s love for the club is apparent in the passionate way he speaks of his memorable moments.
He has taken Sydney FC to heart despite being so far from home.
And that, along with everything his family is going through, is why we salute another one of the fabulous people who support this club.
It was a pleasure to give them another night to remember.
