Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce the recipients of its Local Champion Awards for August 2023.
The NNSWF Local Champion Awards are a monthly recognition of individuals and teams who make a difference across the football family as we thank them for their commitment to their club, team, community and football.
Coach of the Month
Matthew Morris
Matthew coaches at Medowie FC and is always out to help others, spending all of his down time at the club coaching his under-15s and zone teams. When Matt is not coaching, he is helping other coaches or doing his committee duties.
Matthew initiated the buddy program for training this year that sees a team from the younger age group training with his zone team each week. This initiative has been highly popular and is a fantastic way to connect the youth players with the senior players within the club.
Player of the Month
Ruby Taylor
Ruby plays for Rutherford FC and has taken on being a goalkeeper this year. Not only is she doing club training but she is also doing at least two hours of extra goalkeeping training as well as studying football books and matches.
Her coaches can see her development soaring above others and hopes that she will play in a higher level such as JDL or NPL Women’s NNSW in the coming years.
Referee of the Month
Glen Bowman – Football Mid North Coast Referees
Glen is a valued member of the Football Mid North Coast Referees. Glen referees some younger ages and is always encouraging to players from both teams. He makes sure to explain his decisions so that everyone understands and is kind to players who have little football experience.
It is referees like Glen that are valuable to football and is someone that up-and-coming referees can aspire to be.
Volunteer of the Month
Nathan Smith
Nathan is a committed volunteer at Edgeworth Junior FC. He gives up a lot of his spare time to not only coach but contribute to the broader success of the club.
Nathan has taken on the role of working with Lake Macquarie Council to help secure grants to help improve the club. He was successful in helping the club attain a grant for a connecting pathway between the fields at the club. The new pathway has allowed all people access to the grounds. He has also helped in securing a grant for new lights that will soon be installed at the ground.
Nathan has and continues to make a big contribution to the club tha deserves to be recognised.
Team of the Month
Westlawn Tigers FC Women’s Team
The Westlawn Tiger’s FC Women’s team embodies the true spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship and the love of the game. The team consistently demonstrate a remarkable ability to work together harmoniously, always supporting one another on and off the field.
The team is always respectful of opponents and gracious in victory or defeat. The players serve as powerful role models to others at the club, passing on their passion for the sport and encouraging them to embrace their values of camaraderie and unity.
Club of the Month
Wee Waa United FC
Wee Waa United FC are described as an amazing supportive club that makes everyone feel welcome. Everyone in the club is there for their love of football and are all about uplifting the players, members and families.
All the teams at the club train hard but play fair. Everyone involved in the club have made it a better club to be a part of and have made a positive impact on the community of Wee Waa.
Northern NSW Football General Manager Community Football Ross Hicks congratulated the recipients and thanked them for their contribution to football in northern NSW.
“Without people like Matthew, Ruby, Glen and Nathan as well as clubs like Westlawn Tigers FC and Wee Waa United FC, we wouldn’t have a game. They make football what it is in our region,” Hicks said.
“It is their commitment to their clubs, teams and football community that make the game and improves the experience of playing football for the people around them.
“We thank them for their contribution and congratulate them on being named NNSWF Local Champion Awards winners for August. We wish them all the very best for the rest of the 2023 season.”
Monthly award winners are also nominated for the annual Local Champion Awards in October.
