They were born in Baghdad and lived in Istanbul and Athens before eventually moving to Wagga, where they began their local soccer careers with Lake Albert.

They later moved to Wagga United, then to Tolland, and back to Lake.

The frequent changes of scenery were both refreshing and exciting for the Gardners.

They relished the new challenges.

But the novelty eventually began to wear off, and the Sharks’ two leading goal scoreres are now ready to call Lake Albert home.

“Dad coaches juniors now and my younger brother and sister both play here,” Fred said.

“So I didn’t want to leave, we were always moving but we’ve found our home here.”

Fred says the first-grade side has become like extended family. 

“We’re all like family there, everyone knows everyone quite well and we all catch up during the week and things like that,” he said. 

Henri was quick to echo his brother’s sentiments.

“It’s so family orientated here, most of the guys on the team have brothers, sisters or kids playing at the club,” he said.

“We even go out and train on Wednesdays where everyone comes along.”

Of course, winning helps too.

The pair of prolific goal scorers have led the Sharks to the last two grand finals, claiming the 2016 title with a thrilling come from behind win over Cootamundra, before going down to Henwood Park on penalties last year in one of the greatest Pascoe Cup grand finals in recent memory. 

But that agonising grand final loss has tormented Henri more than most, after missing two crucial penalties in the decider.

“That one will stay with me forever,” he said.

“I was taking penalties all year and didn’t miss one, but somehow missed two in the final.”

However it only serves to fuel his quest to go one better in 2018.

“That’s always the plan, every year we play,” he said.

“We just have to make sure we don’t concede too many goals and make things harder for ourselves.”

For Henri, it will be a season of exorcising the demons of the past. 

For Fred, it will be about regaining confidence in the knee which troubled him for much of last season.

And for Lake, it will be about confronting Henwood Park and reclaiming that spot on the competition’s mountaintop that they believe is rightly theirs.