Since 1991, Dunbar Rovers (named after a Paddington Hotel) have been one of the most successful…read moreteams in the Eastern Suburbs Football (Soccer) league. Having started off with one team, there are now 15 plying their trade at various levels, including over 35s and over 45s teams as well as 2 women's teams. Trials are held at the beginning of each year, usually around the middle of January, for all of the teams - but if you want to be considered the Premier League team, you'll need to be pretty decent (there are a few semi-pro, former pros wandering this league)! Trials usually attract pretty big numbers, so don't be too despondent if you don't make it into the team you were going for. The various levels do cover most abilities though, so there's a good variety of players. The season cover the autumn/winter months with games for the Premier League and PL Reserve teams taking place on a Saturday, while all other games are played on Sunday - which can be unpleasant following a big Saturday night! The home ground is technically the Reg Bartley Oval in Rushcutters Bay, but games take place at plenty of fields all over the Eastern Suburbs, so you may have to travel but it's never too far.

One of 18 clubs that makes up the Manly Waringah Football Association, Mosman Football Club runs…read morefootball programs for children of all ages, all the way through to adult mens and ladies. Just to be clear, in this multi-lingual arena, Football in this context is soccer - the beautiful game, lead participation ball sport in the world, spread through parks and fields from the Carribbean to Colombo. MFC is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. For really keen youngsters it has pathways through to higher levels of football at representative and premier league level via MWFA, but it also caters for the masses, with the suburb a wave of blue through winter, littlies to oldies bedecked in distinctive whale-blue kit, clomping through the shops and streets in muddy boots. No rest in summer either, with an over-subscribed five-a-side competition run two nights a week at Georges Heights. The Club secures coaching for all its teams, whether it be a dedicated parent or an assigned senior player. Scarce field resources are carefully shared - though a battle persists for these - to ensure all teams have the chance to improve their skills and be sure that the Mosman Whale is well represented in finals week at Cromer Park.

Home of the mighty Wakehurst Tigers, Wakehurst FC (Football Club) is the largest amateur soccer…read moreteam on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The sheer size of the club means more and better resources, plus more opportunity to play at the exact level for you or your child. However, the size of the club doesn't mean an impersonalised experience - as anyone who has interacted with the club would know, its management and board are friendly and accommodating souls. My entire family has, at one stage or another, played football for Wakehurst and proudly worn the orange and black stripes. It's a very family-orinted club, with parents on the sidelines no matter the age that you're watching. It also retains focus on the local area - sponsors are Belrose businesses that enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the mighty tigers. The club has all ages - from under fives to AL (Amateur League, meaning over 21) to over 45's. There is an opportunity to play at all levels, from the very good under 21 1's, to the very average. Women's and men's soccer is equally prioritised and given a fair go. Equipment and resources are all good, as are the costs of playing - definitely not prohibitive. Get out there and boot the ball around!

Absolutely amazing experience, and I don't think I would've had as good a time without our…read moreinstructor, Nick. It was a group of 4 students to 1 instructor. If you've read my other reviews, you'd know Hubby and I have had more than the average number of lessons, and we do go out on our own at home in San Diego, but we'd like to get a lesson at any new beach when available. And thank GOODNESS we did here on this particular day. The other two students both have surfed only once with a lesson before, and it seemed everyone loved the experience. Nick took the time to understand our abilities first, then assessed the surf and decided on the best spot for the easiest time paddling out. A bit of a work out just carrying the boards a good quarter mile down the beach. It was incredibly choppy that day, so he instructed us to paddle out right in the riptide, then cut across the sand bank to the line up. It all worked out beautifully, and I got some amazing waves with Nick giving me a push and telling me exactly when to pop up, even rode in on the super intimidating overhead ones I normally probably would be too scared to try. However, when I took a break on the beach, the second time paddling out was exponentially more difficult. Nick was able to push my board, with me on it, past these crazy waves, because I was about to turn around and give up. Another student had an emergency, and he was able to go help her, then come back and continue to push me past the breaking waves, so that I could get one more ride back to shore. I absolutely trust him to keep everyone safe and still make sure each person have a great time. Overall, probably top 2-3 surfing lesson across the 20+ we've had! Equipment was fairly new and in good shape. Changing facilities were basic but serviceable.

Believe the hype. Group lesson, $70, just book online or give them a call. It's super easy to…read morefind because it's in the basement of the permanent looking shack in the middle of the beach with bathrooms and changing rooms. They set you up with a wetsuit and board, and take you out for two hours. Our instructor Nick was remarkably enthusiastic cheering "woohoo" as people made it up on the board on our first day. Would definitely do another lesson if I am back in town. Oh right! Manly is super easy to get to. You just take the ferry (every 10-20 minutes) from Circular Quay by the opera house then walk ten minutes north east to manly beach from the ferry terminal at Manly.

Like so many council-run sports facilities these days, this small centre is sadly over-used. It's…read morehome to the North Sydney Bears basketball club, which is a thriving club managing teams from rep to beginner, and offering adult social competitions, rising-star training programs and camps, and leagues for children of all ages. The only problem is that far more people want to play than the four courts can possibly accommodate - which in turn means that the staff, whilst dedicated to encouraging the growth of the sport, often have to knock back players and teams. The centre is also quite old, and again being a council-run facility, provided with limited funds. On several occasions during the two years we've played there, the courts have been closed due to leaks in the roofing and falling light fittings. Fingers crossed, the problems are now being addresses and these infrastructure problems will be solved, but there's not much they can do about the space ...

My family was connected with Wakehurst Football Club from 1970 - 1975. We lived in Frenchs Forest…read more Our eldest son Hans, who played in a Wakehurst junior team asked me if I could be a coach for them and I did that. A year later I was asked to coach the senior team, and I took that on. Not long after I was playing for the senior team, enjoyed it very much. But that was 40 years ago. We left for Lismore in 1975 and came back to Sydney in 1999, played tennis then in Frenchs Forest, later moved to Pearl Beach. I now have a grandson, aged 20 who is a very keen soccer player and looking for a club. He is a student at Macquarie University, has come back from Manila not long ago where he played first division. Who should he contact if he could play for Wakehurst? Klaas Woldring woldring@zipworld.com.au Ph 4341 5170 Mob 04078 34518

Home of the mighty Wakehurst Tigers, Wakehurst FC (Football Club) is the largest amateur soccer…read moreteam on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The sheer size of the club means more and better resources, plus more opportunity to play at the exact level for you or your child. However, the size of the club doesn't mean an impersonalised experience - as anyone who has interacted with the club would know, its management and board are friendly and accommodating souls. My entire family has, at one stage or another, played football for Wakehurst and proudly worn the orange and black stripes. It's a very family-orinted club, with parents on the sidelines no matter the age that you're watching. It also retains focus on the local area - sponsors are Belrose businesses that enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the mighty tigers. The club has all ages - from under fives to AL (Amateur League, meaning over 21) to over 45's. There is an opportunity to play at all levels, from the very good under 21 1's, to the very average. Women's and men's soccer is equally prioritised and given a fair go. Equipment and resources are all good, as are the costs of playing - definitely not prohibitive. Get out there and boot the ball around!

Came here for International Women's Day Meditation and Yoga and, although they started 10 minutes…read morelate missing the dawn, it was a nice class. Lots of space for whatever physical activity you're going to be doing and a space next door for a snack break.

Rugby League (the NRL) is big business in this part of the world, with 9 teams based in or around…read moreSydney (10 if you include Newcastle). Now where I come from, it's played in 2 areas, and I'm from neither of them, so I've never had too much interest in the game but I do occasionally get to a game seeing as the SFS is only down the road. The Sydney Roosters, or Easts as they're known by their fans (Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club is their full name - not as catchy though), have been a bit hit and miss in recent times. In 2010, they reached the Grand Final, where they lost to St George Dragons, but this season, they finished 11th, thus failing to qualify for the finals and in 2009, they finished dead last in the table. I find the game can get a bit tedious, as it's very much run, tackle, get up, run, tackle, get up, kick and repeat. In fact, the most exciting part of the game usually involves the players getting into a bust-up, which results in a little talking to from the ref, which is apparently sufficient. I'm sure they learn their lessons quickly enough. I'm a sports fan in general, so I would never say don't go to a game and some of the bigger games can produce a great atmosphere, but if you're not a fan of rugby league to start with, it's probably not something you'll get into straight away.