‘Like a second family’: record holder Carlos Gomez celebrates 150 years of North Geelong

After more than 50 years at North Geelong Football Netball Club and a record 417 games, Carlos Gomez still turns up every week.

As the Magpies celebrate their 150th anniversary this weekend, the 64-year-old says the club remains like a second family.

Gomez joined North Geelong as a 15-year-old after kicking the footy around with mates at school and wanting to become more involved in the game.

“I started my career late I guess, but I felt so welcomed right from the very start,” he said. “The senior players would talk to you, there was no cliques and I just fell in love with it.

“Dad would load 10 of us into the station wagon and take us to training, and we’d sink our teeth into it.

“Being born and bred in Geelong, it made us proud to be part of a local club with such a great history.”

The man, affectionately known as Chima, went on to play 417 games across 29 years of senior and reserves football, primarily on the half back flank.

He debuted in the seniors as an 18-year-old in 1979 and still remembers his first assignment.

“It was such a highlight. I’ll never forget it,” Gomez said.

“We played St Peters, and I played on Stephen Wells – the now Geelong recruiter. He kicked eight on me. No one has done that to me ever since.

“It was a big learning curve, but I just loved it.”

Gomez said there were countless highlights across his playing career, with one comeback victory against Geelong Amateur in the mid-1980s remaining a favourite memory.

“We were four goals behind with eight minutes to go,” he said.

“I got chucked on, kicked a goal, and bang we smashed through another four. It was one of the best wins I’ve ever had.”

More success followed, with Gomez captaining North Geelong to a premiership in 1996 before helping secure another flag in 1997.

He added a third reserves premiership in 2002 after receiving a late call-up for the grand final.

While the premierships remain special, Gomez said it is the friendships and traditions around the club that stand out most.

One memory in particular is the club’s famous “Sunday barrel” tradition.

“The pubs weren’t open on a Sunday, so we’d walk a lap together, and then it was time to have a beer and a barbecue at the club,” he said.

“We’d play cards, talk amongst each other and drink. It was just super special.”

Gomez said being the club’s games record holder and having spent more than 50 years at North Geelong filled him with immense pride.

“That’s my 15 minutes of fame, really,” he joked.

“The club has been just the best thing for me. It’s like a second family.

“When you come to a reunion, it’s like we never left each other’s sight.”

Gomez still gets down to North Geelong every week to watch the seniors and support his daughter, who coaches the under-17s.

“The club is in really good shape, coming off that senior flag last year,” he said.

“We are starting to get the cohesion together this year, and they’re playing some good games. Fingers crossed we can lift the cup again.”