Mandaglio was just 16 at the time and now he will celebrate his 300^th first grade game with Leeton United on Sunday. 

“I was a little bit nervous back then, but not so much for this weekend,” he said. 

“I’ll just try and treat it like any other game.”

Apart from half a season playing with a side in Griffith, Mandaglio has spent his entire football life with United. 

He said there was something special about playing with the Leeton team.

“It’s always been like a big family to me,” he said. 

“You get to play footy, but you make some great mates and meet new people. 

“The social side is pretty fun too.”

Mandaglio has spent a large chunk of his career in the goal keeper position, but when he was younger he was also a striker up front. 

His current coach – Mick Doolin – said he was “definitely the best saver of penalties l’ve ever seen”. 

His 300^th match will be played against Wagga United, Leeton’s first away game of the 2018 season. 

With many family and friends expected to turn out and cheer him on in his milestone match, Mandaglio was hopeful Leeton could bring home the victory. 

So far this season Leeton has had one loss and one win. 

“I think we’re going to have a pretty good year,” he said. 

“We’ve got a pretty good team. 

“Everyone is enjoying playing in the Wagga competition. How it’s set up is really good and there’s some good competition between the teams.”

Wagga United are yet to win a match this season, having gone down to Junee and Henwood Park. 

Mandaglio had no doubt they would be out to try and ruin the party on Sunday afternoon. 

“They are usually a pretty physical team, so I think we’ll have to on top of our game,” he said. 

“We’ll have to get a good start.”

Asked what his favourite memories of playing football for Leeton were and Mandaglio was adamant it was the friends he had made throughout the years.