Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) congratulates Macquarie Football’s Newcastle Permanent Community Recognition Award winners for October.
The awards recognise the hard work and significant time volunteers, coaches and match officials contribute to Australia’s largest team sport.
NNSWF Head of Football Development Peter Haynes said the Newcastle Permanent Community Awards provided an important opportunity to recognise those who make the game what it is today.
“Without this month’s winners football simply would not be in the position it is. Each of these winners has made an outstanding contribution to their clubs and deserve to be recognised,” Haynes said.
“Community football relies on a collective effort and these awards reflect the appreciation extended to everyone who plays a role in progressing our game.
“I am pleased we are able to thank and acknowledge each of them on behalf of the sport, thanks to the support of our major sponsor, Newcastle Permanent.”
Each of the winners were selected from a number of nominations made by club colleagues and observers of the game. Each winner receives unique packs from Official Community Football Partner, Newcastle Permanent, to help them in their endeavours.
Newcastle Permanent CEO Bernadette Inglis congratulated each of the winners and thanked them for their contribution to the game.
From the pool of monthly winners, Macquarie Football will nominate one winner from each category to represent their Zone for the opportunity to be named “Newcastle Permanent Community Football Winner of the Year” to be announced in October.
Northern NSW Football, Macquarie Football and Newcastle Permanent congratulate all the recipients for October.
Volunteer of the Month
Luke Nicholson – Morisset United FC
Luke Nicholson has volunteered at Morisset United FC for many years and is part of the club’s committee, filling the role of grounds person.
Nicholson marks the lines in his spare time and tends to ground maintenance throughout the year.
Luke helps train his son’s team as well as playing in the club’s over-35s team where he is an integral squad member.
Every Saturday morning he is down at the ground at 6am to set up the fields and cook the barbecue while enjoying a laugh and a joke.
Nicholson is one reason why Morisset United FC has been such a successful club and an enjoyable one to be part of.
Referee of the Month
Chris Odgers and Darren Grubb
Chris Odgers is enjoying his first year of refereeing and has shown a great enthusiasm for duties on and off the field.
He has put his hand up to officiate whenever possible and enjoyed the mentoring and coaching that has come his way. He has moved up from lower age junior football to the quicker and harder older age juniors.
It is expected from his performances that Odgers will move quickly into the senior ranks as he progresses in his refereeing career.
Darren Grubb meanwhile has gained level three senior football promotion this year and has excelled at the challenge.
Grubb has shown a willingness to do more and his performances have been appreciated by the assessing panel, his peers and most importantly the players.
Coach of the Month
Aleshia Lyons – Edgeworth Junior FC
Aleshia Lyons coaches the under-8s at Edgeworth Junior FC, where she purchased personalised shirts for every child to wear to training and games.
Lyons teaches her players about taking care of themselves through preparation as well as football skills and reinforces the message that they win and lose as a team.
Aleshia is passionate about football and her team, always bringing out the bets in the boys and making sure they have fun while displaying impressive sportsmanship.
