See, earlier this year, a bloke by the name of Essa Khan, a refugee from Afghanistan via Pakistan, was walking past a gloomy park out Auburn way when, in the semi-darkness, he spies a bunch of blokes kicking a soccer ball around. One thing leads to another. They prove to be a collection of refugees and asylum seekers, most of them on bridging visas, unable to work, and living on $32 a day ... don't keep the change. And there are many others just like them, living all around, many having come from Villawood Detention Centre – drawn from as far afield as Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Tajikistan. Khan gets busy and finds his way to the Newington Gunners Soccer Club – Newington being that suburb more or less created from the former Sydney Olympic village. With the support of not-for-profit organisation Settlement Services International, a sponsor called Synapse Medical Services, and the kindness of strangers, the team is put together, boots and uniforms bought, transport arranged and training facilities secured. They enter into the Granville comp and ...

And there is a problem from the first. See, for most of them, it is their first time actually playing on a field, with lines marked out, a referee, a formal opposition and a crowd. Through interpreters, it has to be explained to them that while the skills they have learnt playing soccer on the street and in the alleys are fabulous, those skills now have to fit within a framework of rules. Bit by bit, they start to get it. They start to win! The other teams in the Granville comp welcome them, respect them, and engage with them after matches. Last Saturday they made the final against the Granville Waratahs, at Guildford Park. And it's going to be tough. The Granville men are a tall, tough, physical team, and they have come to play! A goal midway through the first half puts Granville in front, and the Gunners go into half-time 1-0 down. But are they gunna lie down? Are they, hell! Midway through the second half, Gunners centre forward Mohammad Mohsin nails a beauty to equalise, 1-1!

Hey ...  can you see it coming? Good, because so can the Granville defence.

With seconds left on the clock, Gunner forward Hussain Qalandari jinks left with the ball and then jinks right, as the Granville defenders scramble frantically. But Qalandari's through! Just two Waratahs defenders and the goalie to go. As they close, however, Qalandri pops a perfect ball to his left and teammate Sajad Hossaini strikes it! Gooaaaaaal! GOOOOOAL! A goal for your life! The final whistle blows, the Gunners weep for joy and are congratulated by the men of Granville who, despite their disappointment, can't help but feel happy for them. In drinks afterwards, the gracious Granville captain even says that the Gunners deserved to win because they had been the best team all season, on and off the field. RAH! It is a sentiment with which proud Gunners president Shane McNeill agrees, telling me, "This group of men have shown themselves to be courageous, respectful, quality human beings. Despite the language barrier for many, they have been there every time they have been needed. Whether it be helping on canteen, field set-up or liaising with other teams and sponsors who have been overjoyed to support the club. And this whole thing shows how "the beautiful game" brings people of all races and religions together."

RAH!

Got it in one 

Try this for a stunner of a quotefollowing the NFL's weak-as-piss treatment of its players who hit women, focusing on the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice – now suspended, but initially hit himself with a wet piece of lettuce by the league. Sports Illustrated Now host Maggie Gray, in a video essay, this week nailed it: "I've never questioned my career path as much as I have this week," she said. "Is it right to cover this league? Promote it? Glorify its players? I call the commissioner, owners, 'Sir.' I've begged them for interviews. Enthusiastically covered their events. I've worked so hard to not only get to this seat, but to stay here. And while I've worked for this for over a decade, this week made me question whether I've made a terrible decision. It's made me wonder, 'Which side of this do I want to be on?' The one that, in effect, deified Ray Rice, or the one that lends a hand to his battered wife? The beloved shield the NFL seeks to protect is bloodied and bruised – just like Janay Rice, Kasandra Perkins [killed by Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher in a 2012 murder-suicide] and all the other women who suffered in silence at the hand of an abuser ... For so many years I've wondered, 'Am I worthy of covering the NFL, a job so many people would love to have?' Now after this week, I'm wondering if the NFL is worthy of me."

Bigger and better things

The Rugby Club in Crane Place? They sold it on Tuesday, to a group of Chinese developers for a lazy $21million between friends. Settlement in a year. Good move. That building, as great as it is, costs too much to maintain. And with that money, they will be able to find new, modern digs.

Sign o' the times'

Here is an actual sign posted at a golf club in Scotland.

Tips:

1.         Back straight, knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart.

2.         Form a loose grip.

3.         Keep your head down!

4.         Avoid a quick backswing.

5.         Stay out of the water.

6.         Try not to hit anyone.

7.         If you are taking too long, let others go ahead of you.

8.         Don't stand directly in front of others.

9.         Quiet, please ... while others are preparing.

10.       Don't take extra strokes.

Well done.  Now, flush the urinal, wash your hands, go outside and tee off.

Team of the week

Penrith Panthers. Led by the much-maligned Jamie Soward — who played like Wally Lewis on a good day — they put the sword to the Roosters and joined Souths in the NRL's final four.

Wallabies. It wasn't pretty but they still won against Argentina, in front of a very ordinary crowd on the Gold Coast of 14,281.

Lismore Glee women's A-grade hockey team. Won their 14th consecutive premiership.

Joeys. The Junior Burger Socceroos qualified for next year's under-17 World Cup in Chile.

Wagga Brothers under-12 rugby league team.  After beating their Gundagai opponents 26-18 last Saturday at Coota, they have now clocked up three-straight premierships and, more importantly, displayed good sportsmanship throughout. Congrats to them and their coach, Paul Luff, who has been with them all the way since the under sixes!

Phoenix Mercury. Coached by Australian Sandy Brondello and led by Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips — also born and bred 'neath the Southern Cross — won a third WNBA title.

France — Switzerland. Contest this year's Davis Cup Final later in the year. Tell me when you care, OK?

Sydney University AFL division one women's team.  Backed up their 2013 premiership with an undefeated 2014 season and grand final win last Saturday.

Manly v Bulldogs. Face off tonight in the Dessie derby.

What they said ... 

"Hopefully the boys can stand up to the plate." The Bulldogs' Sam Perrett on ABC News 24, contemplating the match against the Sea-Eagles. Exactly! And it won't be over till the fat lady gives 110 per cent.

Brad Scott on his one-time Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews: "He told us to make sure ... don't have unprotected sex with your wives in January. I said to Leigh, 'I think that's a bit beyond your jurisdiction.' I laughed and he didn't." Matthews was serious, with his team making the next four grand finals, for three victories, with no one missing on fatherhood duties.

The great Bart Cummings, who has trained 267 winners in group1 races, to grandson James on training his first winner at that level: "Savour this moment. Too often you don't." (Note to self. Find out what "group1" means.)

A Swiss goalkeeper for FC Muri, Reto Felder, after sipping from his water bottle that a fan of a rival team had surreptitiously urinated in. "The idea of drinking piss is simply intolerable." Lucky he's not Australian.

Greg Norman on hurting his hand in a chainsaw accident: "Working with a chainsaw ALWAYS be respectful of the unexpected. I was one lucky man today. Damaged, but not down & out. Still have left hand." My guess is his left hand has always been the most important, anyway.

Chris Nowinski, Executive Director of the Sports Legacy Institute in the US, reacts to the news that the NFL has acknowledged in court documents that it expects just under a THIRD of its players will develop long-term mental impairment: "We have come a long way since the days of outright denial. The number of former players predicted to develop dementia is staggering, and that total does not even include former players who develop mood and behavior disorders and die prior to developing the cognitive symptoms associated with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy)."

"Reg Reagan," in the Tele, characterises Bulldogs forward James Graham: "More unpredictable than a Chinese driver trying to reverse park ... just as dangerous as well." Oh, stop it. Send Reg the email, not me. I know I have.

Max Krilich on what is happening at the Sea Eagles: "The lunatics are running the asylum. And as soon as that happens, the place is shot. The management is weak. The guys who are in charge are getting money on false pretenses."

GWS CEO David Matthews on Buddy going to the Swans: "He's a genuine rock star in Sydney ... The impact that he's having for the Swans, but more broadly for the AFL, I don't think there's anyone else in the competition who can have that impact. He really is carrying the flag, in many ways, for the AFL." Sigh. Wan look out the window. When is this going to END?

Luke Ablett in the Guardian: "Thinking back on my own time at Sydney, one of the key strengths of the club was that you were answerable to your teammates first and foremost. Of course you had to impress the coaches and you had to be playing well but  ...  you had to look your teammates in the eyes the next day and answer to them."

The Scot, Andy Murray, tweets: "Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!"

A troll, in reply, to Murray: "Wish u had been killed at Dunblane, you miserable anti-British hypocritical little git. Your life will be a misery from now on." Ugly.

ARU CEO Bill Pulver on the Eden Park mauling affecting the crowds of the Wallabies, with a miserable 14,000 turning up last Saturday night at the Gold Coast: "I think that game at Eden Park, because we all felt we were in with a serious opportunity, took the wind out of our sails a little bit. But the reality is we have lost only one of our last 11 games."

Twitter @Peter_Fitz