Game on for Zammy

Zammy with his children Lisa, 9, and Brandan, 7.

For the first time in it’s history, the St Albans Football Club has celebrated a player who has notched up 550 games.

Reserves coach and senior player Zamir ‘Zammy’ Muhtari played his 550th game at the weekend.

“I can’t believe it in a way,” Zammy said last week.

“It’s not something you set out to achieve.

“The last few days [before the game], I’ve been really overwhelmed by family, friends and people in the club. They’ve all been sending me messages. You feel the love, yeah.”

Zammy, 39, said he started at the club aged eight.

“My [late] uncle Frank played at the football club and I just followed in his footsteps.

“I used to ride my bike to training all the time. I was happy to play with friends and be part of a team environment.”

Zammy said it wasn’t until he reached his teens that he began to really carve a career out of what has become a lifelong passion.

“I started getting recognised and trying out for inter-league sides and getting more and more serious and playing at a senior level. I played my first senior game at 17.”

Zammy described the week as one of the biggest in his life.

“I’ll look back on this as an individual achievement and something I’ll be able to reflect on one day and be a part of the club’s history,” Zammy said.

“My uncle [Frank] would have been very proud.”