Since 1991, Dunbar Rovers (named after a Paddington Hotel) have been one of the most successful…read moreteams in the Eastern Suburbs Football (Soccer) league. Having started off with one team, there are now 15 plying their trade at various levels, including over 35s and over 45s teams as well as 2 women's teams. Trials are held at the beginning of each year, usually around the middle of January, for all of the teams - but if you want to be considered the Premier League team, you'll need to be pretty decent (there are a few semi-pro, former pros wandering this league)! Trials usually attract pretty big numbers, so don't be too despondent if you don't make it into the team you were going for. The various levels do cover most abilities though, so there's a good variety of players. The season cover the autumn/winter months with games for the Premier League and PL Reserve teams taking place on a Saturday, while all other games are played on Sunday - which can be unpleasant following a big Saturday night! The home ground is technically the Reg Bartley Oval in Rushcutters Bay, but games take place at plenty of fields all over the Eastern Suburbs, so you may have to travel but it's never too far.

One of 18 clubs that makes up the Manly Waringah Football Association, Mosman Football Club runs…read morefootball programs for children of all ages, all the way through to adult mens and ladies. Just to be clear, in this multi-lingual arena, Football in this context is soccer - the beautiful game, lead participation ball sport in the world, spread through parks and fields from the Carribbean to Colombo. MFC is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. For really keen youngsters it has pathways through to higher levels of football at representative and premier league level via MWFA, but it also caters for the masses, with the suburb a wave of blue through winter, littlies to oldies bedecked in distinctive whale-blue kit, clomping through the shops and streets in muddy boots. No rest in summer either, with an over-subscribed five-a-side competition run two nights a week at Georges Heights. The Club secures coaching for all its teams, whether it be a dedicated parent or an assigned senior player. Scarce field resources are carefully shared - though a battle persists for these - to ensure all teams have the chance to improve their skills and be sure that the Mosman Whale is well represented in finals week at Cromer Park.

According to my mother, beach volleyball is just an excuse for boys to watch girls in bikinis…read morejumping up and down. Now I've watched the games in action at Manly Beach, and the level of fitness and prowess of the girls makes them well worthy of watching ... regardless of the fact that most do look deservedly good in their bikinis. May I say that the men playing also generally look pretty fin, and more to my taste. All that jumping up and down on the sand is certainly good for something. NBVA operates a number of volleyball courts on the beach and they're almost always well used. Social players cant rent the courts or join playing groups, or there are more formal programs including lessons and competitions. During the summer there are teens programs too, and kids have progressed from here to higher levels of competition in the sport around the country. It's all huge fun, quite difficult, but a great way to keep fit in an incredibly beautiful setting, with the perfect excuse to wash off in the sea afterwards. Just don't tell where you find the sand in the shower later on ...

Home of the mighty Wakehurst Tigers, Wakehurst FC (Football Club) is the largest amateur soccer…read moreteam on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The sheer size of the club means more and better resources, plus more opportunity to play at the exact level for you or your child. However, the size of the club doesn't mean an impersonalised experience - as anyone who has interacted with the club would know, its management and board are friendly and accommodating souls. My entire family has, at one stage or another, played football for Wakehurst and proudly worn the orange and black stripes. It's a very family-orinted club, with parents on the sidelines no matter the age that you're watching. It also retains focus on the local area - sponsors are Belrose businesses that enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the mighty tigers. The club has all ages - from under fives to AL (Amateur League, meaning over 21) to over 45's. There is an opportunity to play at all levels, from the very good under 21 1's, to the very average. Women's and men's soccer is equally prioritised and given a fair go. Equipment and resources are all good, as are the costs of playing - definitely not prohibitive. Get out there and boot the ball around!

My family was connected with Wakehurst Football Club from 1970 - 1975. We lived in Frenchs Forest…read more Our eldest son Hans, who played in a Wakehurst junior team asked me if I could be a coach for them and I did that. A year later I was asked to coach the senior team, and I took that on. Not long after I was playing for the senior team, enjoyed it very much. But that was 40 years ago. We left for Lismore in 1975 and came back to Sydney in 1999, played tennis then in Frenchs Forest, later moved to Pearl Beach. I now have a grandson, aged 20 who is a very keen soccer player and looking for a club. He is a student at Macquarie University, has come back from Manila not long ago where he played first division. Who should he contact if he could play for Wakehurst? Klaas Woldring woldring@zipworld.com.au Ph 4341 5170 Mob 04078 34518

Home of the mighty Wakehurst Tigers, Wakehurst FC (Football Club) is the largest amateur soccer…read moreteam on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The sheer size of the club means more and better resources, plus more opportunity to play at the exact level for you or your child. However, the size of the club doesn't mean an impersonalised experience - as anyone who has interacted with the club would know, its management and board are friendly and accommodating souls. My entire family has, at one stage or another, played football for Wakehurst and proudly worn the orange and black stripes. It's a very family-orinted club, with parents on the sidelines no matter the age that you're watching. It also retains focus on the local area - sponsors are Belrose businesses that enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the mighty tigers. The club has all ages - from under fives to AL (Amateur League, meaning over 21) to over 45's. There is an opportunity to play at all levels, from the very good under 21 1's, to the very average. Women's and men's soccer is equally prioritised and given a fair go. Equipment and resources are all good, as are the costs of playing - definitely not prohibitive. Get out there and boot the ball around!