Introducing Marcus Rayner
Player. Coach. Life Member. Lugarno FC Legend.
Marcus Rayner was born in 1974 in Leeds General Hospital to parents John and Sandra, in the county of Yorkshire, Northern England. A county with a lot of history, it is known for its Roman and Viking heritage with the latter typifying the football career of the man most know as ‘Ray’.
The Rayner family migrated to Australia and made Lugarno their home late in the year of 1981, moving to a house in Tate Place where Marcus’ parents still live today. Their form of assimilation into the community – football.
In 1982, Marcus first donned the famous tangerine colour of Lugarno Football Club and a lengthy union had begun. Lugarno FC U8B. Dad John was the Coach, Uncle Keith was the Manager. A real family affair and a team built on community. The U8 games were played on full fields back then with 11 v 11 on the field and Marcus’ 8B team just tore teams apart. They won everything that season, crowned Minor Premiers and then later Premiers as they finished the season undefeated. Lifelong family friends were made, memories created.
Marcus attended Lugarno Public School and at the same time completed five seasons at Lugarno FC, receiving his five-year medallion. But once he left for high school at Newington College, there was a pause on his Lugarno FC career as he played football representing his school on the weekends. The long hiatus was over in 1993 when high school had ended and an 18-year-old Ray returned to the club he calls home to start the current journey that continues to this day.
In 1995, Marcus had his highlight season. It was the Lugarno FC AA2 team and they went on to win the premiership, Marcus’ second with the club. A diverse range of characters were in that team and took young Ray under their wing. Colourful characters, blue collar workers, sprinkled with some youngsters like Marcus, the team had a real bond and played summer football together also. Discipline wasn’t their strong point, but success was.
After that season Marcus was approached by Club Life members Greg Harris and Glenn Dufty, involved in the premier league set-up at that time, to trial for the team. At that time, the premier league team were transitioning out some of the older players and were looking for some young locals to step in and add the enthusiasm and fresh legs that was very much needed. He joined the reserve grade side in 1996.
The premier league set-up at the time was a little different to today’s set-up across most clubs. The premier league team was run as a squad. Every Thursday after training over a few drinks, the entire squad would be briefed on who was playing first grade and who was playing reserves. Marcus remembers it as a huge honour to be simply asked to trial for the squad and local Lugarno FC players held strong aspirations to make it to the big league. The club has plans to replicate this in the future
with all the junior development program pathways being forged and the likes of Marcus play a significant role in helping the club return to this healthy cultural environment.
Marcus spent about 15 years playing premier league for Lugarno FC and his reputation still proceeds him. Most would remember the derbies with our neighbours where Marcus spent about 30 mins on the field collectively over 10 seasons. Sledging the opposition fans whilst still playing was an art form but the man has mellowed a lot since then. Unfortunately, the yellow cards have not.
After the time spent in premier league, Marcus joined club stalwart Rob Rice’s All age team about a decade ago. Together with a few premier league teammates, the team quickly had a cultural shift and an increased standard of performance. Training is a staple for the team and the green Heineken jersey with white headband accompaniment can be seen hurtling around Gannons every Wednesday night. The team has a good core group, together with some youth and always a pleasure having as part of the club.
Marcus has seen the club evolve in a lot of ways since 1982 and the most notable has been the facilities and uniforms. As many would know, Gannons Park used to be a garbage tip and fields 1 and 2 were the first fields enabled to have football played on them. Even then the conditions were at times horrendous but today the club is fortunate to be playing on a bowling green, have a great canteen, dressing rooms, equipment to use and so much more. Uniforms have improved out of sight as well. Marcus remembers being lucky to get some faded orange football socks to play in back when he was a kid whereas these days players have no shortage of club gear to wear.
In 2013, after he had completed 25 seasons as a player for the club, Marcus Rayner was inducted as a Life Member for the Lugarno Football Club. A proud, momentous occasion and a huge honour that he holds dear as the club has been a huge part of his life.
One of Marcus’ favourite parts about representing Lugarno FC is being able to play with mates and building friendships through common interest. He also believes that the long affiliation with sponsors like Club Grandviews is imperative for both parties and especially the community. But most treasured of all for Marcus is having the honour of being part of a club that means so much to him and his extended family since they arrived in Australia all those years ago.
In 2022, Marcus starts his 35th season as a player with the Lugarno Football Club. A remarkable tenure that the club hopes continues well into the future. He will be lining up alongside good mate Rob Rice in the All Age E team. He is also the game day coach for his son Kagan’s 11A Football Focus team. His daughter Havana will run out for the U14 Girls team. His oldest daughter Olivia had a great career at Lugarno FC as well.
They say, behind every great Viking, there is a great woman and Marcus has been lucky to have Sondra by his side along the way. She manages the teams that Marcus coaches and the two can always be seen wearing the club colours on the sidelines each Saturday supporting the teams. Side by side. Always. They are part of the club and the club is part of them.