Today on the blog we have a special interview with former player, coach and President of the Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club. Charlie was and still is highly regarded by his former clubmen and other local clubs. He played with great strength and leadership and is also a very humble and loyal man.
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| White after scoring 4 goals in a match |
Name: Charles White
DOB: 27 Feb 1980
Profession: Teacher
Nickname: Charlie
Place of Birth: Hobart
Have you always played for Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club?
I played for Albuera Street Primary, then for West Hobart Junior soccer club. We then joined Caledonians who of course joined with KIngborough to form KLUSC. I also played a season with Hobart Juventus at about Under 16 level and was actually coached by Zebras now Senior Coach Romeo Frediani.
How long were you president of the Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club?
I was President of KLUSC for a couple of years, however I was vice president for 2 or 3 years prior to that as well.
What is your favourite position to play?
I loved playing Centre Midfield when I was a bit younger, however I literally played every position on the field at Senior level, even goal keeper in a Reserves game. It's funny though, your favourite position is not necessarily where you played your best or most memorable games, I can remember great games that I played as striker, right midfield and centre back, so being versatile was the key to me playing for so long at KLUSC.
Being a physical player yourself, who is the most physical player you have ever played on?
I loved playing on Colin Shepherd as he was a massive challenge when I first started playing because he was smarter than most players and also physical with it. Snow Compagne (Devonport) was easily the hardest
player to play on, literally too big and too good in the air for me (and most other players for close to 30 years!) Recently the player that was the most challenging was Tom Roach (South Hobart) he is fast, tall, great athlete and great skills.
Who is the most talented player you've ever played against?
I played against a lot of really good players, especially when I first started, I used to mark the centre mid of other teams, players like Shepherd, Stoddart (NTE), Nicholls (HO), Hadley when at the Knights. Best Player overall though was undoubtedly Paul Trimboli who played for South Melbourne when I played against them in 1999. He played for Australia so I think that says enough, I think I played on him for 75
minutes and won one header and did not touch the ball that much!
Who is the most talented player you have ever played with?
I was lucky enough to play with some great players. Best ones were easily Ian Parker who was generous enough to teach me a lot when I first started and a great player who played until he was 40, Steve Chetcuti was my favourite though, great presence, strong and modest, I loved playing with Steve and enjoyed his friendship when he was down here.
How are you enjoying the change from your playing career to refereeing career?
I enjoy the lack of pain that I experience after reffereeing compared to playing! I enjoy being involved with the game that I loved playing, especially at a high level. For me it was not a hard transition, however I understand the difficulties that people have with referees, especially when neither party has any understanding of the role the other is trying to do. Ignorance from a player or referee is the biggest issue to getting consistency.
What was the main motivation in the switch from playing to refereeing?
I have a young family who take up lots of my time and I did not want to be devoting so much time to playing that I had in the past, coaching would of course have taken up a similar time, so reffereeing was an obvious step. I also was a bit of a critic of referees and believe that if you criticise people you should also be prepared to try and understand the job that they are doing. After reffereeing for a year, my thoughts have not changed very much, so more players should take up the whistle!
Who did you idolise when you were first starting your footballing career?
I loved Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman both at Liverpool because of their ability to play together and create a bit of magic. I also loved Georg Hagi who played for Romania, he had a brilliant World Cup when they knocked out Argentina in about 92 or 96, a player who was all left foot, yet managed to always get onto it, small, skillful and a great beard for some of his career!
What is your highest goal scoring tally in one season?
9 goals, I scored 8 a couple of years otherwise about 4 or 5 a season.
What is the most memorable senior game you've ever played in, and why?
I remember playing against Launceston in the old State League and it was memorable because I scored my first senior goal after a long run and average finish. I remember playing against Hobart United and scoring 4 goals in a half to eventually run out 9-0 winners and secure second spot for the season and I clearly remember beating the Knights 2-0 at KGV when they were undefeated all season and scoring the 2 to do that.
Having coached the Kingborough Under 19's team (in 2007?), have you considered coaching?
I coached an under 14, under 15, 2 years as Premier Youth coach and then in 2007 the under 19s. I enjoyed the challenge but the time is the biggest restriction. I do have my senior licence but no, not coaching at the moment, never say never though.
What's your favourite thing to do when you're away from the game?
Relax with my family, golf, a bit of gardening, mundane things really!
Is there anyone you'd like to thank that has been a significant part of your playing career?
I've had some great coaches, fantastic team mates and been part of a great club, too many people to thank individually, the person who supported me the most was my girlfriend and now wife (Christie) who allowed me the time and gave me the support to play, train, do my roles as president, coach etc etc, if she didn't do that then I couldn't have done much.
What has been your proudest moment in football? (Or biggest achievement inthe game?)
State Teams and playing South Melbourne was easily the biggest moments, amazing experience as SM were the Australian Champs, and then went off
to the World Club Championships to play Vasco Da Gama, Man United and here they were playing Tas literally 5 or 6 weeks before that.
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| White scored one goal in Kingborough's most memorable win in recent times. 3-0 over South Hobart |
