Call to Arms for proud soccer dad

FOR years Wayne Gordon would stand on the sidelines of the Sutton Park soccer pitch and cheer on his son Justin - he never missed a game.

But that voice fell silent six weeks ago when the proud father lost his battle with pancreatic cancer aged just 55 years.

Later this month the Ipswich City Bulls soccer team will sport yellow armbands in memory of Justin's father for the Cancer Council's Call to Arms initiative.

“He was always here, he came to every game,” Justin said.

“I wanted to do something in memory of him.”

Call to Arms aims to tackle cancer by raising awareness of the risks the disease poses to men.

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in Australia with half of all men developing it before they are 85.

Justin said the sports field was the perfect place to drive the message home.

When the 24-year-old approached his team-mates and club management, they jumped at the chance to honour the memory of Mr Gordon.

He had been a familiar and much-loved face at the club.

“Everyone was there for me and there was a lot of support,” Justin said.

“It will stir up a lot of memories when I run out on the pitch.”

At 5pm on July 26 Justin's team will kick off against Parkridge, but off the field donation tins and a Last Man Standing Raffle with a prize of $400 will aim to raise funds for vital research.

City Bulls president Brad Hockins said Justin was a versatile player on the pitch but was showing some serious talent off the field too.

“He wanted to put his hand up and do something for the community so as a club we were right behind him,” Mr Hockins said.

The first match of the day kicks-off at 1pm.

• To make a donation call Justin Gordon on 0422 457 512. To play a Call to Arms fundraising match visit calltoarms.com.au or call

1300 656 585.