Mario De SANTA ANA, as the name may suggest, was born in Spain in 1960 and migrated to Australia with his parents at the age of 2. For the next two years Cooch was at the Maribynong Migrant Hostel and then with his family moved to Laverton. Although the young Mario played the round ball game he was introduced to our game in school and around the Laverton neighbourhood. Cooch actually played competition soccer until he was asked to play for the Laverton Under 17's, initially to make up numbers but he played out the year and obviously stood out because he was then invited to try out for the Williamstown Under 19's for season 1979. Cooch played that one year with Willy 3rds and was then promoted onto the Williamstown Senior List in 1980 under the coaching of the former spectacular high marking Footscray rover Merv HOBBS. Mario informs that he played about 10 senior games with Willy in the old V.F.A. while he was beginnning his employment with the Human Services Department. Mario is still in this field but now with the Child Protection Services Division based in Shepparton. After leaving Williamstown and the V.F.A., Cooch transferred to the Newport East Football Club who were in the powerful Western Suburban Football League and had four years with "the Easts" who were based only a hop step and a jump from the Strand Hotel in Douglas Parade. It was in this establishment and footy club that Cooch met former Shepparton United player Garry GIBBS and from this friendship Cooch came up the Demons in 1984 - Mario played in the United grand final runner-up sides of 1985 and 1986 but then enjoyed the next two years when United won the flags. In 1988 Mario was assistant Coach to Richard WARBURTON as he played mainly as a defender. Despite the desire to stay and try for the hat-trick of flags, Mario was appointed Coach of the Strathmerton Club who were then in the Murray Football League. He had two years at the helm of the Strathy Bulldogs and then in 1991 he transferred to the Colbinabbin Football Club along with Phillip "Toot" MORGAN and Stevie WILSON. Colbo were premiers in 1991 which Cooch remembers with much joy. In 1992 Mario returned to Shepparton United where he coached the Reserves in '92 and 1993 where the Demons Twos were premiers over Shepparton with a 110 point win in the grannie! It was thought then that might have been Mario's last game but he has kept himself pretty fit since and has played in the odd game here and there and even as recently as last year when he helped out the United Reserves. Cooch joined the United Management Team in 1994 and spent 6 years on the Committee which includes 2 years as the President in seasons 1996 and 1997. In season 2000 Mario joined the Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association and also joined with the Wangaratta Umpires and spent the next 5 years as a Central Umpire throughout the Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray regions. Cooch mostly enjoyed umpiring but returned to Coaching in 2006 when he took charge of the Shepparton United Third XVlll and held this position until the end of the 2009 season. In 2007 Mario was the Assistant Coach our our GVFL Under 18 representative team and then last year was appointed as the Coach of our Under 18's and will again this year fulfull this important role when we take on the Ovens & Murray lads at Lavington on Saturday 22nd May. Cooch has also been sought out by our Senior Representative Coach Peter WHITE to be an assistant coach with our Senior team.
Mario is passionate and extremely keen about the development of our young players resulting in his appointment at League level. Mario in fact takes his role a step further and often works one on one with extra training with youngsters who want to take the next step. Perhaps a good example of of this is work Cooch put in with Western Bulldogs rookie Jamieson DANIELS who Cooch recognised from Jamo playing in the Under 14's with the Wanganui Secondary College. Jamo came to United and then played in the Schoolboys carnival and then two years with the Murray Bushrangers in the T.A.C. and with Shepparton United. Now, young Jamo is in his second year with the Bullies down town. Congratulations Cooch, this is a terrific achievement by itself but to add that to your over thirty year involvement in playing, coaching, umpiring, administering and now back coaching is a wonderful involvement.
Mario's favourite things :- A.F.L. Club Footscray (but not over the top); A.F.L. Player :- Nathan BUCKLEY GVFL / Country player :- Gary KITTO Hardest opponent :- 3 times Morrion Medalist Garry COOPER Holiday spot :- Streaky Bay, South Australia Food :- marinara pasta Drink :- a nice glass of Chivas Regal on the rocks
Last Modified on 26/07/2010 20:39