Sam Higgins: Mushies veteran talks fatherhood and life ahead of charity soccer night

"I reckon it looks a bit dodgy," he said.

The image was used on the poster advertising Saturday's inaugural Northern Inland Football charity matches at Ken Chillingworth Oval. Proceeds will go to Headspace.

Higgins will play for Old Boys against O'Keefe's Young Guns, with the match preceded by an All Stars women's clash.

At age 35, Higgins quipped that he had "come to terms" with his old boys status.

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But in reality, the Oxley Vale Attunga veteran leads a life that requires the verve of a, um, young gun.

It's a hectic existence that recently became more frenetic following the birth of his fifth child, little Louie, whom he had with his fiancee, Jess Pitkin.

It's also a throwback existence: in 1911, the average number of people per Australian household was 4.5; in 2016, it was 2.6.

"Each time you have a kid, you enjoy your time with them and think, 'You know, [we've] got space for another one,'" said Higgins, whose three oldest children were conceived with his ex-wife. His eldest child is 13 years old.

Caring for five kids was "a lot of work, but a lot of joy and satisfaction as well," he said.

"They're all good kids, and you enjoy your time with them. I think, more kids, more enjoyment too."

When asked what three words best describe him, the Bank of Queensland loans officer said he was a hard-working and reliable family man.

His greatest fear is "slowing down".

"I still feel good, healthy, fit. But sometimes you feel aches and pains that you've never had before."

Unsurprisingly, his family is his greatest achievement.

"It's something that can't be replaced, can't be bought," he said, adding that he is most happy when spending time with family and friends.

Having a beer with mates is his guilty pleasure. And being "present in the moment" is the most important life lesson he has learned.

"Don't waste your life," he said.

Higgins has one sibling - a brother. He grew up in Tamworth after moving there as a toddler. "So I'd say I'm a local by now."

"Jeez, I never worked that out, I'll tell ya," he replied when asked what he wanted to be growing up. "But apart from that, probably a soccer player.

"That was pretty much my childhood: playing soccer with my mates, enjoying ourselves. And I guess I ended up doing that, in some respect, in an amateur fashion."

Higgins has won multiple premierships with Mushies, including in 2020 when he came out of retirement.

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