THEY say fatherhood changes your perspective on all facets of life.
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That's especially the case for Shoalhaven Heads-Berry product Matthew White.
As a promising 17-year-old young goalkeeper, he was diagnosed with leukaemia on January 9, 2009 - which saw him hospitalised for 11 months.
He then returned tot he Shoalhaven District Football Association field in 2010 with the Sharks, while still going through chemotherapy treatment
Four years on from his diagnosis, after going into remission, White broke his hand just before he was scheduled to head over to the United Kingdom for a trial with Portsmouth.
But the Bomaderry High School alumnus didn't let that stop him from chasing his dreams - if anything, it gave him a second lease on life.
So much so, after a stop at Wollongong United (where he won two youth grade grand finals and a Bert Bampton Cup), White became the inaugural skipper of the South Coast Flame in 2018 - before going on to play three National Premier League Four seasons with the John Crehan Park-based club.
"I spent three years at the Flame and enjoyed every minute of it," White said.
"We had a great bunch of players and coaching staff there.
"I have developed friendships with a few of the boys there that will last a lifetime.
"My first big highlight was being named the inaugural captain of the Flame.
"To be the very first captain of the club was an absolute honour and I will cherish it for a very long time."
That honour was just one of a number of highlights the 28-year-old experienced during his three-year stint at the club.
"Making the major semi-final in our second year was another highlight," the Southern Branch junior said.
"We had a bumpy start but in the second half of the season, we made a real charge.
"Finally, becoming the first player at the club to play 50 first grade games was very special and something I'm very proud of."
As well as the fond memories, White's time at the Flame, including this season with Culburra's George and Kasey Kulcsar, has seen him develop even further as a goalkeeper.
"Personally I feel as though I developed into more of a leader," White, who has represented the Australian First Nations on two occasions, said.
"I always tried to make my presence felt on and off the field - I feel that is important as a captain and a goalkeeper.
"My overall goalkeeping developed a lot as well thanks to the intense training that was provided by our coaching staff and the high standard of football that we played."
But after the recent birth of his son Thomas, White knew it was time for a change and decided to join Illawarra Premier League club Corrimal.
"The main reason I chose to part ways with Flame is so I could spend more time with my family," he said.
"Travelling all over the state every second weekend and most games being at night, I hardly saw my son and wife on a weekend.
"My young bloke loves watching me play and it was just too difficult taking him to Sydney late at night.
"By going to the IPL with Corrimal, he will be at every game.
"After being approached by Corrimal following the season and meeting with the club, everything just fell into place.
"I love how keen our two young coaches are and their playing style.
"The Rangers are a real family orientated club and that was obviously a huge attraction for me."
The 2021 season will mark the first for White in the IPL - a challenge he is looking forward to.
"Personal goals for me in the 2021 season are to keep developing as a goalkeeper and to do what our local product Blake Horton did and push for that goalkeeper of the year spot," White, who's club started pre-season training four weeks ago, said.
"As a team, we obviously want to win everything we can.
"This pre-season is the earliest start I have ever been involved with but I believe you need to have a fit side to win and that's definitely what we will be by the end if this pre-season."
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