Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) congratulates Northern Inland Football’s Newcastle Permanent Community Award Monthly Winners for August.
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, Northern Inland 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, Northern Inland Football and Newcastle Permanent congratulate all the recipients for August.
Volunteer of the Month
Sam Higgins – Oxley Vale Attunga FC
Sam Higgins is the club’s coaching coordinator and has revamped Oxley Vale Attunga from their under-5s through to their Premier League squad.
Higgins approached the club at the start of the year with a three-year plan to restructure Oxley Vale Attunga’s juniors and implement high performance and leadership sessions to bring teams closer.
He has gone above and beyond by meeting with every coach face to face, going through their respective competitions and organising his own sponsors to get coaches and team managers jackets so they are easily identifiable on game day.
Higgins has already done exceptional things only a few months into the role and, even with the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has not been deterred.
Coach of the Month
Adam Miller – Moore Creek FC
Adam Miller, who coaches the club’s under-10s side, was identified as a role model and great coach with all his players showing him a great amount of respect.
Miller listens to feedback and goes above and beyond to make sure his players are happy.
Referee of the Month
Campbell Wilkie
Campbell Wilkie is the first to put his hand up to travel away for fixtures and is willing to officiate matches across all days of the weekend.
Wilkie has continually improved since he started refereeing and has made himself a regular on Northern Inland Football Premier Reserve fixtures this season.
He always has questions for senior match officials about events that happen in his games and looks for ways to improve and become a better referee.
