Only The Keeper To Beat 7th March 2014 | Page 16

LUCAS HILL: SWISS EXCELLENCE

I first met Lucas when he was a 9 year old. Lucas and Max played against each other in the fierce competition of the Regionals. Lucas played for Eastern and Max played for Central. Lucas's mother Hedwig and I became friends across the divide of football field. Happy, competitive times shared by many Tasmanians.

Lucas spent three years in the Regionals being coached by John Burnett. I often bump into John and we discuss Lucas. He will be thrilled with this outcome.

Lucas next came to South Hobart as a youth player. Ken coached him and he trained at Morton's Soccer School. Here he was spotted by Dean May the NTC coach and joined their program.

After being released from the NTC Lucas rejoined South Hobart FC where he had a brilliant year in the inaugural Victory League winning the Victory League and Victory Cup and reaching the final of the inaugural NPL Cup. Lucas will also be add to his resume that when he played for South Hobart FC v South Australia's Campbelltown SC it was the first time that any Tasmanian First team side had ever beaten interstate competition. (Thanks to our own Keith Roberts for his wonderful statistics and data).

After the highs of South Hobart's year Lucas decided he wanted to test himself overseas. Ken set up a couple of weeks at

Wolverhampton Wanderers with his good friend Mick Halsall. Lucas was so close! The right place at the right time is so true. Maybe not quite the right time. He did very well and Mick wanted to take him. However, internal club politics saw this fall through. Lucas and his family have some great contacts in Hedwig's native Switzerland and Lucas travelled there.

Now 10 years after seeing Lucas run round at the Hobart and Launceston