Who’s that? Paul Spight

Seen a strange man in orange watching Oatley FC games this season? That’s Paul Spight, and he’s been around Oatley FC for many years. His company, The Currency Exchange, proudly supports the club and we caught up with him to ask the tough questions that everyone wants answered, including why he isn’t currently wearing the club colours.

Q) Hi Paul
A) Hi, OFC

Q) First things first, you supposedly love OFC but this season are playing for Lugarno FC. Whose side are you on?
A) How rude. I’ve played for Oatley for many years, currently sponsor the club and have been active on the committee. This season our over-45 team fell over and will be revived next year, allowing me to come back in all my glory. Lugarno offered me an option to keep playing Friday nights.

Q) Sounds suspicious to us. Where do we play our home
matches?
A) Renown Park

Q) Who is our President?
A) Peter Jones.

Q) What colour socks do we wear?
A) Red. How long is this going to go on for?

Q) Alright then. So, you made a lucky winner at last season’s OFC Gala Dinner a millionaire. That’s a very generous donation and we thank you. 
A) Always happy to make people millionaires – just has to be in Indonesian Rupiah. My business is The Currency Exchange and we buy and sell foreign currency cash.

Q) Nice segue into The Currency Exchange. So, your just change cash into foreign currency, right?
A) We change Aussie to foreign, foreign back to Aussie, and we also issue and reload travel cards called Cash Passports. These are a great way to take money away overseas, and also an alternative or backup to the  traveller’s own credit card, because these things can get lost. We have stores inconveniently located in Wollongong and the Northern Beaches. Oatley is….mutually inconvenient.

Q) So, no branches near here for us to use?
A) No, but we do have a home delivery service so can deliver currency or cards straight to people’s homes. It’s a great option.

Q) How long will it be before nobody needs to carry cash on a foreign holiday? And what will that mean to  you?
A) Cash is declining but there are pockets where cash is still the best. It’s usually best to have a bit of cash as  well as a card – especially for small purchases. Surprisingly Japan is very cash based – Ramen houses and  smaller shops are cash only. Other places like Hawaii and Vegas still love cash as well – easier to get tips! Sweden has a goal of becoming the first cashless country. They even want people to use cards to pay for  toilets and other small items., and many shops and restaurants there already don’t take cash at all. Obviously  the move away from cash will affect our industry, but as we also sell travel cards we are slightly insulated – I  don’t need a new job just yet.

Q) Back to football. Who’s your favourite team outside of OFC?
A) Tranmere Rovers.

Q) Tranmere who?
A) Pride of the Wirral – newly promoted back to  England’s League 1. I lived there when I was a kid. I guess it’s where I got the club sponsorship bug from – they were passing around a bucket to keep the club afloat when I first saw them play in 1983. 

Q) That’s cute. What about Lugarno? Where do they come on your list?
A) My catchphrase is “pass me the ball in the box and I’ll score you a goal”, as long as they keep doing that they are on the list.

Q) How do our members make use of your business?
A) Via our website https://thecurrencyexchange.com.au which has links to home delivery, and other  information including travel tips are regularly updated on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheCurrencyExchange/

Q) Lugarno are playing Oatley. It’s 2-2 in the last minutes of the game. Who are you rooting for?
A) You’re not letting this go, are you?

Q) No. Want to buy an OFC hoodie and prove your support? They’re available on TeamApp.
A) I’ve already got one thanks. Bye!