Romein family plays big role in Red Devils' history

BY GAVIN MCGRATH
12 Aug, 2010 12:00 AM

AS THE Ballarat Red Devils prepare to celebrate 1000 league matches, the name Romein has been a fixture in well over half of them.
Current reserves coach and former goalkeeper Rick Romein is the Haymes Red Devils' games record holder, playing 441 senior matches for the club.

On Saturday, he will watch three of his sons - 25-year-old captain Josh, Tristan (20) and Aaron (22) - play the club's 1000th game against Williamstown, at Trekardo Park.

In addition, Jake (18), will play in the reserves.

With Josh having played 120 senior matches and Rick's brother, David, also a long-serving player, just under 600 of those Red Devils' matches have featured at least one Romein in the line-up.

"I hadn't thought of it like that. That statistic actually shocks me," Rick said.

"I have four sons playing on the day, three in the seniors which is a thrill for me. The whole family will be at the 1000th game. It is a big family occasion really.

"I think we're a very good chance for a win, especially given the conditions. The Melbourne teams hate coming to Ballarat."

For the Romein clan, the Ballarat Red Devils have quite literally been a family club. Rick and his brother, David, played alongside each other and, on occasion, up to four of Rick's sons have been on

the park at one time.

"Me and my brothers have grown up at this club," Josh Romein explains.

"A lot of our life experiences come from this club. We've all probably seen a lot of Dad's games too, so that's a lot of time.

"Sometimes it is difficult for my brothers and I. As a captain, I have to make that gap and show no bias, and take the family factor out of it. Tristan and Aaron are team mates when we are out on the

field rather than brothers.

"At the end of the game though, we are a family: win, lose or draw."

Josh Romein, a midfielder, is 11th on the club's top goal scorers' list, with 37.

Rick has scored one goal: from a penalty. Curiously, as designated penalty-taker Josh has missed one penalty in his career so far.

Aaron, meanwhile, has followed in his father's footsteps, as the first goalkeeper in the line-up.

Rick's other son, Shaun, plays for Sunshine-George Cross in the Victorian Premier League.

BALLARAT RED DEVILS

TOP 20 GAMES PLAYED

Rick Romein 441

Wayne McNeight 381

George Horvatek 352

Wayne Sandford 346

Donny Gunn 344

Gerry Rykers 343

Les Ives 282

John Kennedy 279

Martin Vissers 264

Harry Arts 252

Pat Kennedy 252

Theo Arts 251

Pommy Smith 242

Steven Work 241

Garry Hollywood 239

Tony Coxall 238

Lyndon Glare 234

Nick Karametis 216

Chris Karameros 211

Duncan Smith 209

TOP 20 ALL-TIME GOAL SCORERS

Nick Karametis 131

Hughie Rattray 109

John Kennedy 93

Donny Gunn 84

George Horvatek 83

Martin Vissers 57

Pommy Smith 51

Charlie Payton 49

Ashley Whitehead 46

Pau Den Ouden 43

Josh Romein 37

Stan Burns 34

Peter Sammut 33

Garry Hollywood 33

Steven Work 33

Duncan Smith 30

Lyndon Glare 26

Luke Armstrong 26

Victor Vranasic 25

Shaun Romein 25
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/general/romein-family-plays-big-role-in-red-devils-history/1911122.aspx?storypage=0