Andrew Nitsou is one of those all too rare people in football who subscribes to the view that it’s not just about winning it’s about loyalty.

Which is why the Old Paradians’ Under 19 Premiership player of 1993 has this year committed to a unique sponsorship arrangement with the Amateur club he wants to see rise again through the ranks.

With his family shop Mr. Masci – Men’s Barbering soon to open in Eltham, Andrew has pledged free haircut vouchers to the OP senior and reserve grade players adjudged best afield in every home and away game of the 2018 season.

“I haven’t played at the football club for more than 20 years, but the Old Paradians have always been in the back of my mind,” said Andrew, pictured here at Mr. Masci’s Lygon Street premises offering a complimentary coffee to the OPs senior captain Chris Kandilakis (2007) as his follicles are cropped by Paul Masci.

“My last year at the Old Paradians was 1997 after I did my knee. Family then became a priority when my kids came along, and in taking on the family business it became difficult for me to get back to the club on Saturdays.

“But I always kept a look out for the scores on Sundays to see how the boys were going and now I want to give something back.”

Declaring his ’93 season with the Old Paradians “the most enjoyable season I’ve ever had in footy”, Andrew savoured Premiership success under the guidance of then coach and OP Alex (‘Alby’) Morelli (1979).

“We got to the big dance and took it out,” said Andrew. “We knocked over North Melbourne Old Collegians at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Oval.

“We were eight goals down against North Old Boys at half-time in the second semi, but came back and won by about five. We met them again in the Grand Final and ended up winning by 104 points, having dropped only two games for the year.”

How well Andrew remembered old mates who helped land the purple, green and blue Premiership pennant in that ’93 year – from Dave Cosma (“‘The Gazelle’ tearing up and down the wing”) - through to the Farrell boys, the Digneys, Dean Horsington and Brendan Brabender.

As Andrew said: “They were great blokes and those were great days”.

The family business was established by Francis Masci in 1968 - the same year students fronted for the first time at Parade’s Bundoora Campus.

With Francis’s daughter Malisa (to whom Andrew is married), son Paul and husband Umberto all becoming hairdressers, Masci Hair Bourke Street commenced operations. It was 1985, the same year eldest daughter Chantelle joined the family concern after graduating from university with a business and marketing degree.

In 1998, Masci expanded into Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1998, during which time Umberto opened his own salon in Balwyn with hair and beauty – meaning that with three locations and 38 staff, the business was equipped to open a wellness centre focusing on hair and spa treatments.

Then in December 2005, Masci Hair and Spa commenced operations on a retreat set on one-third of an acre in the leafy Eltham area. Notwithstanding Eltham, the Masci brand is prominent at two other locations – Malvern East and Brunswick East.

Andrew confirmed that with the Eltham barber shop designed to capture the male market, all members and supporters of the Old Paradians Football Club and the Old Paradians community would be welcome to indulge themselves at Mr. Masci when it opens for business in a month or two.

In the meantime, Old Paradians are encouraged to follow Chris Kandilakis’s lead and pop in for a haircut at Mr. Masci – Men’s Barbering, Shop 2, 73 Lygon Street, East Brunswick.

Women of the ever-growing Old Paradians’ Association network are also welcome to relax at Masci Hair and Spa, 668 Main Road, Eltham.

www.mascihairandspa.com.au