Birth more important than Ritchie’s 400th

Ritchie’s wife Shannon is due to give birth to their second child in the coming weeks - a sibling for little Scarlett - but doctors believe it could come early.

“I’d probably have to turn up next year and play one game or something like that,” Ritchie laughed.

“As long as Shannon doesn’t have the baby on Sunday, we should be right.

“They think she’s a couple of weeks ahead of schedule.”

If all goes to plan, Ritchie will play his 400^th senior AWFA match against Albury Hotspurs at Alexandra Park on Sunday.

It’s been a long journey for Ritchie – he turns 36 in November - who has played at two clubs.

He made his debut as a 15-year-old at St Pat’s, playing defensive midfield.

But by the mid-2000s, Ritchie was looking for a change of scenery, which brought him to Albury United.

A switch to centre back under master coach Scott Kidd paid huge dividends.

Ritchie won back to back cups with the Greens, and was named best-afield in the triumph over Albury Hotspurs in 2005.

“I’d been at Patties for 10 years,” Ritchie recalls.

“We had some success and dropped off.

“I went away to have a bit of success and to see how far I could go.

“They were two very successful years and United seemed the best fit at the time.”

While Ritchie had differing fortunes at the two clubs, they were equally enjoyable times.

“The first year when I was 17 we (St Pat’s) made the grand final, but we lost the grand final in golden goal to United,” Ritchie said. 

“That was the second grand final St Pat’s had been in. United took off and St Pat’s lost a heap of players.

“Both were pretty ordinary teams up until then.”

Success has been rare at St Pat’s, but there’s been plenty of talent through the door.

Ritchie rates Tony Iverson as his best teammate, and Damien Ruitenberg, Paul Brunec and Zac Walker as his hardest opponents.

He’s been a junior and senior coach at St Pat’s, and has loved every minute of his time there.

“The best part of it is having those lifelong friends,” Ritchie said.

“I’ve made a lot of friends over the 20 years at Patties.

“It’s almost like family.

“Most of my family are life members at Patties, I’m one of the few that aren’t.”

While he won’t walk away from the club after this season, Sunday’s game is likely to be his last in the top grade.

“This will be 400 and out I’d say,” Ritchie said.

“I’ll still be around, but it will be my last senior game.

“The body is certainly telling me it’s time.

“Even after some training sessions I’m in pain.”

St Pat’s will be hoping to finish a disappointing season with a win for one of their favourite sons.

The club’s second last on the table but will fancy its chances of beating Hotspurs.

Hotspurs beat Patties 3-2 back in round 9.