Vale – Gil Merlo

Football NSW has been saddened to hear of the passing of Lindfield FC’s passionate President Gil Merlo.

Gil was a strong advocate for female football in Northern Suburbs Football Association and was assistant coach of the Lindfield FC Grade 14As in 2013, who were the first female team from NSFA to win a Champion of Champions title which was to be one of his finest football achievements.

Former Lindfield FC committee member, Umberto Righetti told Football NSW about the legacy his friend Gil would leave to football. 

“I often talk fondly about how Lindfield FC grew from over 700 registered players to 2,000 players over the 7 years that I proudly served on the Committee.  A huge factor in this was Gilbert’s vision and leadership. When you analysed our growth this was mostly due to the growth in Women’s Football.  Having three girls himself Gilbert was keen to see them play football rather than any other sport.

“He set about with a plan that would bring money into the club through sponsorship that was invested in player development and encouraging young girls to join. Word soon spread about the quality of coaching and the friendliness of our club with the result that teams of girls playing school football joined in droves.

“Like so many admirable volunteers in sport in Australia, Gilbert unselfishly gave up so much of his own family time so others could enjoy their sport.

“The two of us often talked that one day Lindfield would produce a Girls team that would win the Football NSW Champions of Champions and also produce a Matilda, so alongside Bruce Djite, we could say we’d helped develop kids that made it to the top of Men and Women’s football in Australia.”

Football NSW would like to pass on its deepest condolences to the Merlo family.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, may he rest in heavenly peace.