As far as respected Border sportsman go, Tony Iverson is right up there.
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A stalwart of the soccer community, Iverson died suddenly on Friday, January 11, aged 54.
Iverson is estimated to have played around 800 junior and senior games for his beloved St Pats Football Club, after commencing in its inaugural year 1974 as a 10-year-old.
Hes been remembered by close friend and St Pats vice-president Paul Power as the best player the club will ever see.
Iversons pace, skill and goal-scoring ability was a handful for opposition defenders even right up until last year when he was causing havoc as part of Patties over-35s side.
St Pats has taken steps to ensure his name is forever remembered at the club by retiring the No.8 jersey from senior and over-35s competition a first for the AWFA outfit.
Tony was a true gentleman, hed do anything for anybody, Power said.
He was so passionate about football in general and especially St Pats.
I know he had a couple of years away when he was younger, but he was always around the club.
He was president, he was treasurer, he was everything else.
He actually brought me onto the committee and he brought the president (John Mahoney) on, he was a mentor to everyone on the committee.
He was so passionate about youth development, he helped out with the kids and coached them.
He was just a huge asset to St Pats Football Club.
He got along with everybody and was so passionate about everything he did.
Power said Iverson had planned to continue playing with the over-35s again this season.
Tony may have lost a bit of pace, but he was certainly one of the best finishers Ive ever seen, he said.
Hes done it all, hes won trophies and best and fairests and theres an Iverson Medal (for the thirds men best and fairest) thats named after his family.
He always went onto the pitch with passion and to win every game, but he never let it spill over.
He treated everybody with respect, if he won it was fair and square, but if he lost he was a true gentleman about it.
Out of all the players that have been at St Pats throughout the years, he would have to be the best player we will ever see.
We dont think that there will ever be anyone fit enough to wear his jersey.
Its the first time weve ever done something like that, so it shows the respect for him.
Along with his time at St Pats, Iverson served as deputy chairman of Murray United for the past two seasons.
He was passionate about creating a sustainable pathway for higher level competition in the region and ensuring talented youth had the best opportunities.
But Power admitted his greatest memory of Iverson was seeing him get to play alongside his son, Curtis.
Curtis went across to Murray and came back for one year, so Tony went back to the thirds as an overage player and was able to play with him, Power said.
He held his own and went onto the pitch as a mentor to the rest of the kids.
The fact he got to play with Curtis, he talked about it forever.
Iversons generosity was unmatched by anyone at the club.
If anyone was ever in trouble, hed be the first one to help out, Power said.
If we needed something, Tony would organise it.
He didnt just talk the talk, he walked the walk as well.
He did a lot of stuff people didnt know about, whether it was funding, organising sponsorships and all that stuff people didnt have time for.
Hed always find time to help the club.
He just loved football, he loved the club and loved helping people.
Iverson is survived by wife Lisa, daughter Abby and son Curtis.
A date is still to be confirmed for the funeral.
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