Andy Cygan regards Gunnedah FC like a father regards his child.
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He has watched with pride as the club he helped form five years ago grew into a strapping Premier Division threat.
After a slow start to the season, Gunnedah FC moved into the top four for the first time after beating Moore Creek 7-3 at home last weekend.
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And at Quirindi on Saturday, they can take a big step towards securing a finals berth by beating the fellow top-flight newcomer in a penultimate-round clash.
"We've gone through a fair bit this year," Cygan said. "And we always said that we should be top four.
"We knew we had a hard start, but a good run in. And we're hoping that Quirindi and Kootingal [their last-round opponents] don't shock us." He added: "You just never know ... these teams are all pushing for that fourth spot."
Fifth-placed South United and sixth-placed Moore Creek meet this weekend and are both two points behind Gunnedah FC, while Kootingal are a point further adrift.
Cygan is "really pleased" to see the club's growth. Steered by what he said was a "very small" committee, Gunnedah FC won two first-grade premierships in the Tamworth competition.
A new clubhouse is in the pipeline, the club owns their own fields and, according to Cygan, their junior numbers are now the biggest of any sport in town.
"It's just an honour to be part of," he said, adding: "It's a busy old time with it now."
Cygan's wife, Helen, is Gunnedah FC's secretary and their three children play for the club.
Mine work brought the couple to Gunnedah early last decade - just as it had lured them to Australia in the noughties. The son of a Yorkshire coalminer, Cygan - an electrician - has worked underground for 25 years.
He came to Australia when the death rites were read to Yorkshire's mining industry - first settling in Moranbah in Central Queensland, before moving to Gunnedah. Throughout it all, footballer has been a constant in his life.
Australia has been good to the Cygans. He and Helen came here with a labrador, and now they have "three Aussie children". "I just love it," he said. "I think it's the best place to be - an amazing place for the kids to live. The schools are good, love the town that we're in."