The memory of Robert 'Bobby' Hughes will 'spur' the club he founded to greatness in 2019.
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At least that was the prediction from Orana Spurs FC first grade coach Steve Tongue, as he prepared to farewell the man affectionately remembered as 'Mr Spurs' on Monday.
Hughes passed away on March 25, aged 73, with scores gathering to celebrate his life at St Brigid's Catholic Church on Monday, April 1.
But at the weekend, the region's footballing community honoured Hughes in their own way, with the 2019 Western NSW Challenge Cup serving as "fitting tribute" to a man for whom "there was no off-season".
See the photos from Sunday's final here.
"Bob was someone that never said no to anyone - if anyone came along wanting to have a game, irrespective of their ability level he welcomed them in," Orana Spurs first grade coach Steve Tongue said.
"He just loved the sport so much, he loved his club and it was a 12 month passion for him.
"He's left a huge hole in the club, as well as in Dubbo, and it will never be filled. He will never be forgotten."
Twelve men's teams converged on Dubbo's Lady Cutler Ovals for the Challenge Cup, with the Dubbo clubs in attendance - Macquarie United FC, Dubbo Bulls FC, RSL 78s, Newtown and the South Dubbo Wanderers - all sported black armbands.
The minute of silence before each game was "a fantastic tribute to Bob's family who were in attendance", Tongue said.
Family members were also on hand before game one - a grand final rematch with Dubbo FC - to present the Spurs their new shirts with 'Bob' emblazoned on the left sleeve.
"We'll carry that all year," Tongue said.
"We said at training on Thursday, as much as the week was pretty hard, that this weekend was going to be for him and we were going to try and make it to the grand final and give him the send-off that he deserves, you know?
"I was a hard weekend with five games of football and we had a fair few busted boys there towards the end of the weekend but we made it there and credit to them."
The Spurs only just came up short, falling to Macquarie United 1-0 in a real "arm-wrestle" of a grand final.
Afterwards, Tongue "broke down", and his voice wavered on Monday as he recalled those words.
"The boys, with all their families around, I just thanked them so much for their pride and passion for the club, and respect to Bob and his family," he said.
"I really do think we had the hardest draw of the whole competition and to get to the grand final was a massive effort from them.
"I just thanked them, and told them how much I loved them."
The love is going around.
Only three players won't be returning from Spurs' 2018 first grade minor premiership-winning side, with two men who had planned to depart - first grade player Les Usher and 2019 second grade captain Will Frost - signing back on to play "one last year for Bob".
The season proper will kick off with another first grade grand final rematch against Dubbo Bulls on Sunday - although Spurs could be a little worse for wear after the Challenge Cup's gruelling five-game schedule.
The two clubs share a storied history, having met in two Dubbo first grade grand finals and three under 18 grand finals in the former Western Premier League.
But another chapter will be written as Sunday also marks the launch of the Robert Hughes Memorial Shield - a best of three contest between Spurs and Bulls.
Both men's sides are in for a "strong season", Tongue predicted, while the women's side continues to enjoy their football, and progress in leaps and bounds.
"The club's a family club and that's something that we really strive to make everyone involved, through parents and supporters and the players themselves - that was [Hughes'] passion," Tongue said.
"We'll definitely be playing with a lot of passion this year."