After 21 years playing for Australia's cerebral palsy football team the Pararoos, Springwood's Chris Pyne has called it a day.
With a second child on the way and a full-time job teaching at Winmalee Public, something eventually had to give.
"I do it for the love of the game. It's time from family, work, career, money, mortgages 'cause I love the game, and it's been a very hard thing to do," the 35 year old said.
But he'll still keep his hand in the game, playing for NSW, coaching with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and keeping an eye out for any future coaching positions with the Pararoos.
"Wherever the program needs me to be I will be. It's my dream to coach with the Pararoos," Pyne said.
Starting with the Pararoos at 14, Pyne represented Australia at the Sydney Paralympics at the age of 15, the youngest player in the tournament. He says he'll miss the camaraderie among the players.
"The culture that the Pararoos have created is unlike any other," he said.
In July last year he earned his 100th cap, and after a game against Spain, former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer presented him with a 100 football shirt.
"Joining the 100 club was one of the best things," Pyne said. He was a field player 19 of the 21 years, retraining as a goalie late in the piece due to a need for this position to be filled within the team.