FORMER national league player Peter McPherson's return to Newcastle football has allowed him to get off the freeway and onto the fairway.
Cardiff-based McPherson, who has a penchant for golf, makes his Northern NSW State League return for West Wallsend on Saturday after four seasons with Sydney Olympic in the NSW Premier League.
He says four years of travel between the two cities finally took its toll.
"It was a change for lifestyle more so than football," McPherson said.
"It wasn't ever ideal [travelling to Sydney three times a week], but you sacrifice a little and hope it pays off."
The newlywed said an emphasis on family and a desire for more spare time drove his decision.
The 25-year-old, who works at Lake Munmorah High School, married fellow teacher Brooke in November.
"She's happier, she sees a lot more of me now," McPherson said.
"And I get more time for golf and tennis."
He said he was happy for the opportunity just to play football in Newcastle again.
"Westy have been good to me in the past and I'm happy to be back out there helping out," McPherson said.
The former Newcastle Jets utility played one game off the bench for the A-League side in the 2005-06 season and 10 games in the old National Soccer League.
Contractual obligations prevented McPherson from playing any football for four weeks after his release from Sydney Olympic.
He makes his debut for the Bluebells in centre midfield on Saturday against Broadmeadow Magic at Johnston Park.
"Match fitness might be a problem, we'll wait to see on the weekend how much of a problem," he said.
West Wallsend coach Chris Miner said McPherson brought a lot of quality to the side.
"I'm very fortunate to be coaching someone like Pete," Miner said.
"It's exciting for the club, and the whole competition, to have guys of his quality in the league."
Miner said the club had been eagerly awaiting McPherson's entrance.
"We've been waiting three weeks for him to play and I know he's champing at the bit to get out there again, too," he said.
McPherson said he hoped to complement the Bluebells' mixture of youth and experience that includes last year's state league leading goalscorer John Majurovski.
"There is a lot of enthusiasm there and they've been getting good results, so the season looks positive," McPherson said.
"I am certain I made the right decision to walk from Olympic.
"At the start of the year I had offers from Blacktown and more recently Manly.
"You get more exposure down there, but in the end it wasn't working out."
McPherson said he would now try to realise his football dreams through other avenues.
And he has not ruled out setting his sights on a return to the Newcastle Jets.
"You always have aspirations to achieve better, the next level," McPherson said.
"But for the moment I'm looking forward to enjoying football again, here at this level."
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