DON’T ever forget how beautiful and powerful sport can really be.

And if you need a reminder, just remember inspirational A-League fan Jake Banks.

Jake has cerebral palsy and is restricted to life in a wheelchair. But that hasn’t stopped him becoming the Mariners’ No.1 supporter, and an active part of the club’s life.

Jake is famous around Gosford for his support of his beloved Central Coast Mariners; since 2011, he has been a focal part of the club, regularly attending training, and in 2015 was appointed Media Liaison Officer, penning weekly columns for the club’s match day program.

On Sunday, his beloved Mariners might have been edged by Sydney FC, but that was a Sky Blues outfit including Matt Simon, Alex Wilkinson and Graham Arnold (pictured), as well as Danny Vukovic and Bernie Ibini.

These wonderful pictures explain how much the reunion meant for all involved.

“Sunday was kind of emotional for me because I haven’t seen them for a while,” Jake explained to f oxsports.com.au.

“I am really close to some of the Sydney FC boys – so that was good.

“It’s nice to have a catch up - even if it’s only five minutes or so. It was good to see them.”

Even Jake, as diehard Mariner, admits his side are a “work in progress” but, he puts the result so perfectly into perspective.

Jake, part of the Mariners squad. Jason Pratt Photography. Source: Supplied

“It’s not all about the result - yes, I’m disappointed that we lost but sport is just a game and the people who are connected to football are more important than just the game.

“Seeing Arnie, Wilko and everybody yesterday just made it worthwhile.”

He adds: “They mean everything to me. Arnie (and Lawrie McKinna before him) and all the coaching staff have bene willing to give me the opportunity to do what I do today”.

Jake doesn’t just write for the club’s magazine, but describes his tasks around the club as “motivation and helping”.

Jake Banks with the Mariners staff. Jason Pratt Photography. Source: Supplied

“It means more to me than anything else.

“The Mariners, they are like a family to me.

“It’s just amazing because I have a disability and I couldn’t have asked for much more than what they’ve given me. They’ve been amazing – I can’t thank enough for all the support they’ve given me.”

It’s a relationship Jake elaborates on eloquently in a moving opening blog written for the club in 2014, and how a school visit from the Mariners inspired further involvement.

“So, how does a wheelchair bound person and a bunch of sports people become so important to one another’s lives? On that day at the school I was not treated any differently to my peers and I had the chance to lead the players around my school, show them our facilities and to feel ‘normal’.”

He continued: “Strangely enough by being there I felt as though I was part of the Mariners team and that my disability was irrelevant and not in the forefront of my mind. As time moved on and I was still attending the training sessions the players and coaches would come over and speak with me and ask me what I thought. I have to say that this made me feel so lucky and fantastic...that there wasn’t a barrier of metal from a chair between the conversation, that I am a person to them. It was here that my dream of working with the Mariners on a volunteer level started to come to life.”

Jake Banks won Lifeline's 2016 Brass Bloke of the Year. Picture: Troy Snook Source: News Corp Australia

His favourite player?

“(My favourite player is probably) John Hutchinson – he always was there for me and I’m really close to him and we have a good laugh every time we catch up.”

Football has become a “massive” part of Jake’s life, and he hopes to learn more about a game that has given him so much.

But he can’t underestimate what he has given his club as well.

You only have to watch this video from John Hutchinson’s testimonial, where the club legend wheels him on to score a goal (scroll to ‘1:34:31’ into the video) to see how mutual the feeling is.