Although he considered himself a midfielder, Mike Berry spent much of his first two seasons as a professional at right-back in the Reserves. It was in that position that he played twice for the first team at the end of his second pro season. But with Peter Rodrigues arriving during the summer to commandeer that spot, Berry became a fixture in the Reserves in 1975-76, often playing in midfield and scoring a few goals. There was no way back into the first team, however, save for a couple of friendlies, including Terry Paine’s testimonial.

So, helped by Lawrie McMenemy, Mike negotiated a semi-pro contract with the Sydney National Soccer League side, Western Suburbs. That didn’t work out and he spent the next 20-odd seasons, acquiring as many clubs, as he puts it, “as Greg Norman”. Most of them were in the state League, although he did have further spells in the NSL with Marconi and Blacktown City. He has continued living in Sydney or thereabouts, working most of the time for Biersdorf Sports Medicine, starting as a sales rep’ and latter managing the marketing and sales of the Elastoplast brand across Australasia.