He played at the highest level for 15 years but, even at the age of 37, Rockdale City player-coach Paul Reid still loves a derby.
The Suns host local rivals Sutherland on Sunday afternoon looking to wrestle back The Leader Cup from the Sharks and keep their own top two hopes alive.
Rockdale were 4-2 winners the last time the teams met in round nine and remain on course for one of the club’s highest league finishes since entering the top division.
Reid, who played professionally in England with Brighton & Hove Albion and Bradford City and the A-League with Adelaide United and Sydney FC, told the Leader he still found it easy to get up for a derby.
“When I was at Brighton we played against Crystal Palace. In England it’s actually a really big [rivalry],” he said.
“I remember one at Selhurst Park we beat them 1-0. We had more than 2,000 travelling supporters and on the coach on the way home [we heard] the supporters were basically staying there and giving the Palace fans stick in the local pubs.
“I’ve played in grand finals and big games in my career but in terms of atmosphere and feeling that was one of the top three [games in my career]. Even now I’m 37 and I hate losing. It doesn’t matter if it’s at training or on a weekend.
“And I especially don’t like losing derbies because it’s not just for your club but also your fans because they’re the ones who come and support you. And it’s not a good feeling to be losing a game to a team who are just around the corner from you.”
Sutherland started the season slowly but have begun to show what they are capable of, highlighted by a 2-2 draw with runaway leaders Sydney United 58.
Reid said there was no chance of his side taking the Sharks lightly.
“We’ve always had a really good rivalry,” he said.
“Being a local derby [The Leader Cup] is something you want to have at the end of the year.
“The last few weeks they’ve tightened up defensively and started to get some encouraging results. It’s been an inconsistent year for them. They started very slowly but we know they’re definitely a team that shouldn’t be down where they are.”