Welcome everybody to episode 39 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. I would like to sincerely thank all the interviewees, listeners and the soccer public of the Illawarra and around Australia and the globe who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages. It is appreciated.

This episode’s interviewee Jan Cupa was born in 1957 in Barnsley, Yorkshire to an English Mother and Polish Father. In Yorkshire he played soccer informally amongst his friends in the village where he lived. Jan was 10 years old when he migrated to Australia in 1968. His Family first lived at Fairy Meadow Hostel and it was here where he first played organised soccer with the Fairy Meadow Hostel Soccer Club.

After leaving the Fairy Meadow Hostel Soccer Club, he then played junior soccer with Fernhill JSC at Reidtown and then went on to join Fairy Meadow in 1974 to play senior soccer as a 17 year old. After four good seasons Jan’s next move was to the Figtree Soccer Club where he spent most of his soccer life as a player. After 20 odd years of playing as an attacking player and helping West-Figtree on the committee, Jan left to play a bit of amateur and pub soccer.

In 2007 Jan re-joined the Illawarra soccer fraternity by being a team manager at Fernhill Football Club. It was here where he stayed for over 10 years helping out the youth and reserve grades as a team manager and additionally helping the club out where he could.

Jan was great to interview and I loved hearing about the clubs, coaches and players he spent time with, in particular the West-Figtree Soccer Club where Jan spent over two decades. And as can be heard by two former West-Figtree team mates he was well liked and respected. Thanks to Jan for allowing me into his home, I respect his hospitality and time. Please enjoy this podcast.