‘The General’ Awarded the 2009 Charles Valentine Medal

The General commenced his love affair with Football in the place of his birth on the island of Crete.
His involvement in the game has actually spanned over 50 years.
He first played Football in the country of his birth, Greece, as a five year old. He played continuously until he was 53 years old and finished his playing career in the Over 35 competition in the St George Association.
The General commenced his playing career at senior level in 1969 where at the age of 15 he played for Thiella Enmore in the NSW Soccer Federation Second Division. Over the years Peter also played with Panathinaikos Enmore, Hellas Newtown, Canterbury Marrickville Olympic, Newtown Makedonikos and Hurstville City Minotaurs.
In 1985 the General started a new club. It was called Sydney Cretan?s, which later became known as Hurstville City Minotaurs. 
The General has served Hurstville City Minotaurs as a player, coach and as an administrator. Several seasons after forming Hurstville City Minotaurs they gained admission in the seventh division of the NSW Soccer Federation in 1988.
During a span of 11 years the club was able to reach the NSW Super League competition. The General has coached continuously at the club from 1985 through to 2009 and will again be involved in a coaching capacity in Season 2010.
However, the General?s background is not necessarily restricted to coaching he has served the Hurstville City Minotaurs in a continued capacity over the period from 1985 through to 2009 as either President, Secretary or Treasurer of the club. In some seasons he has held all three positions to ensure the club continued to be part of Football NSW. Additionally Peter is a qualified referee and also a radio broadcaster on 2MM where he has a weekly Football program on Monday evenings.
The General?s administrative skills have not just been restricted to the three most senior positions within his club, he has been the club?s groundsman, always preparing the field for match day. It is believed he has put nets up more often than most fishermen and done a thousand kilometers of line marking. Further, Peter has also been called up to display his culinary skills cooking plenty of souvlakis manning the club BBQ on match days.
The General is also his clubs MPIO Officer. 
The club has not just focused on senior teams under the General?s guidance the club has Youth League teams as well as having over 30 teams in the St George Association from Under 6?s through to All Age, Over 35?s Women?s teams.  Much of the General?s time has been ensuring the club had a sound foundation on which it could provide a pathway to senior levels of Football for any aspiring player.