A game, A Community, A Home

Since even its earliest form, football—soccer, calcio… whatever you call our beautiful game—has held an unparalleled power to connect: to connect people, to connect communities, and to bring together worlds that otherwise might never have met. It’s a universal language—and Hugh Montgomery’s story serves as a testament to that truth.

In 1970, Hugh, a then 26-year-old Northern Irish lad, arrived in the Burdekin, knowing no one in the region except his Northern Irish wife and soulmate, the late Hilda McCrea, who had followed him to Australia.

But as well as his wife and a couple of suitcases, Hugh brought with him an intense love for football—he lived and breathed it.

From representing the Northern Ireland Schoolboys to sharing the pitch with all-time great George Best, Hugh had an already decorated career, which continued in Australia. Here, he represented the Hollandia Lions (Brisbane), Irish Club (Mt. Isa) and Olympic FC (Townsville), before moving to the Burdekin to represent what is now Burdekin FC in 1972.

After a rough Townsville Premier League season in 1973, the team would win their first premiership under the guidance of Hugh just two years later. A player-manager at the time, Hugh began to establish a winning culture at Burdekin FC, which quickly endeared him to the local community.

“When I first came to the Burdekin, probably one third of the population was Italian, and Italians love their soccer, so they began to love me quite quickly,” he said.

“I remember I scored a goal once to win us the premiership, and (My Italian friend’s) dad ran out, picked me up and put me on his shoulders!”

After hanging up the boots in 1978, Hugh would continue to sporadically coach the first-team until 1992, winning two more premiership titles as well as a further four trophies in other competitions.

Beyond his illustrious career as a player and manager, Hugh would long stay involved in the club, eventually becoming its first ever life member—a reflection not just of his contribution and deep roots in the club’s story, but of his connection within the Burdekin.

And that connection is yet to fade.

“My wife, my family and I made the Burdekin our home… and they made sure we felt at home, too,” he said.

“For two-and-a-half years (before Hilda’s passing) in 2020, I couldn’t go anywhere—I had to stay home and look after her. But, a lot of my ex-teammates still came over every Friday afternoon, and all we’d do was take the p*** out of each other! That’s the camaraderie we had.”

And that’s the essence of it all.

Because it isn't the kind of language you learn on Duolingo. It’s not even necessarily one you learn at all. It’s this inexplicable binding mechanism that transcends words; that nod to the random bloke in the mall that’s wearing the same jersey as you; that bond felt amongst the chaos of a packed stadium; that effortless connection with a group of strangers who invite you into their game of soccer-tennis on the beach. Or, that force that leads a small North Queensland community to embrace a Northern Irish immigrant as one of their own.

Whether that even qualifies it as a language, I don’t know. Maybe it isn’t one. But it is beautiful. And Hugh Montgomery’s story serves as a prime example of just how the “Beautiful Game” earned that moniker.

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“I‘m forever grateful that I always had the full support of my wife and family”—Hugh Montgomery

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Montgomery established a winning culture at Burdekin FC, which quickly endeared him to the local community. Photo credit: Jacob Casha

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