How Monday night football became a community

LIFE, family and work commitments can get in the way of things that bring adults joy, but one group of men are pushing back against the temptation to do nothing.

Heath Levis has been running Dad Bods in Ocean Grove since 2019. It started when he realised he and his mates needed an outlet.

They no longer had the time or capacity to continue their local football careers like they once had but stepping away from sport entirely didn’t feel right either.

So Levis began running low stakes, non-contact football games on a Monday night.

Six years later, Levis has built a community where men can spend an evening together having fun and creating friendships beyond their usual bubbles.

“It’s just a bit of fun for us, and it’s an outlet for everyone,” Levis said.

“It’s been good as a fitness thing for a few of us and a mental health thing as well, just having a break and having a chat with some other blokes.”

At the core of Dad Bods is a no judgement, no pressure mentality.

Each week a message goes out to an ever-growing group chat to see who wants to have a kick or a run, and if enough people say yes, then it is on.

Shared through word of mouth only, Levis estimates close to 100 men have come down at least once since the group began.

Together they have created new friendships and a community network that has been called upon for everything from home improvements to school pick up help.

“It’s opened everyone and the only rule is ‘Don’t be an idiot’,” Levis said. “We’re not here to get injured or anything; we just want to have a run around.

“We all go through different things and mental health has hit the community, especially the last probably 10-15 years, so this is an outlet for blokes.

“You can have a run around and have a chat with a few blokes at the end of it, and just let your hair down.”

Ray Berry joined the group two years ago after a friend invited him down to play in a non-contact football game one Monday night.

He said the group welcomed him straight away and he is now a regular attendee.

“Meeting new people through sport means you have a shared common interest, and it makes it so much easier,” Berry said.

From chats about football comes conversations about children, work amd life.

Berry cherishes the friendships he has built.

“I’ve met so many people,” Berry said. “I’m playing with teachers from my kid’s school and we have a great relationship now.

“You’re seeing people around the street and at other sporting events and stopping for a chat – I’ve just made so many new friends out of this group.”