Stephen Hayes the toast of the 2010 State Dinner

Stephen has been involved with football in Albury Wodonga for over 35 years as a player, coach, referee, mentor, sponsor and committee member at club, association and branch level.
Stephen first played with the Boomers Football Club and played in the NSW Southern League for a number of years.  He is still involved with the Boomers club as Senior Club coach and has been a member of the Albury Wodonga Executive for 20 years, holding the position of President for 5 years and Vice President in 2010. 
As a coach he has continuously coached juniors at club and Association level for more than 20 years and has been coach of the Albury and Riverina Branch feeder program for the past 15 years and is still coaching this group today.
He has been a member of Riverina Branch Committee for over 18 years and an active referee for over 15 years with Albury Referee Association.
Stephen has also had the pleasure of being a sponsor of AWFA and Football NSW through his own business and has been the driving force behind the development of Women?s Football in Albury coaching both junior and senior women?s teams for over 10 years.
Stephen has been a coach and mentor to a number of high profile players from the region including: Josh Kennedy (Socceroo), Amy Chapman (W League), Ellie Brush (Matilda) and Nicola Deiter (Sydney FC and Young Matilda).
In his spare time Stephen organises coach development programs and is a Football NSW coach assessor for Junior and Youth Licences and is currently on the Football Development Board with Albury working on ground and facility developments in the region.
Stephen is a Life Member of Boomers Football Club and Albury Association and was awarded a Football NSW State Award in 2003 and has contributed enormously to football in Albury and the Riverina.
Football NSW wishes to not only congratulate Stephen Hayes but all the award winners in recognition of their efforts in making football the number one sport in New South Wales.