AS a soccer goalkeeper, Australian international film and TV star, Anthony LaPaglia, was no mug.
He played keeper for Adelaide City and West Adelaide in the old NSL competition in the 1980s and also for Hollywood United in later years.
In June 2007, he added the Byron Bay Rams to his playing resume.
LaPaglia was staying in Byron Bay while his wife, Gia Carides, was shooting the ABC TV drama, East of Everything.
Through various football contacts, he got in touch with Rams coach, Peter Ware and asked about training and playing for the Rams.
Ware was more than delighted to have him at the club, but told him there would be no special treatment. No training, no game.
LaPaglia started training with the club and he didn’t hold back, throwing himself into the sessions.
I spoke to him at training one evening at The Rec Ground and he was more than generous with his time and answers to my questions.
However, before he could line up on the pitch with the Rams, he had to get a clearance from his Hollywood club and the world governing body. FIFA.
The clearances came through and they could not have come at a better time for the Rams who, with some players away and injuries, were struggling for numbers.
Coach Ware slotted LaPaglia straight into the Premier Reserves side and put regular keeper, Ryan Gray, up front for the game against Workers at Oakes Oval on a Saturday night.
The new keeper kept a clean sheet in the Rams 5-nil win and in the process he made several crucial saves, including a one-on-one diving effort at the feet of one of the Workers strikers.
Coach Ware said his newest recruit led by example, organising the defence at the back with plenty of talk.
Before the game, the Hollywood star talked to his new team-mates “with passion and enthusiasm”.
Despite the media attention at Oakes Oval, Ware said LaPaglia didn’t want a fuss made of him.
“He just wants to play football,” he said.
PHOTO: Anthony LaPaglia training at the Byron Bay Rec Ground.