Volunteer Spotlight: Revesby Rovers’ Sonia Mira

There is no one quite like “Super Football mum” to four young footballers and Bankstown District Soccer Football Association side Revesby Rovers’s energetic and passionate Vice-President and volunteer Sonia Mira.

The 45-year-old who has been at the club since 2013 played a pivotal role in the club’s 70-year celebration in 2020 where Sonia pushed to change the club from a Soccer Club to Football Club as well as its logo and kit overhaul but has held a host of duties as she along with the 11 other club volunteers continue to work their magic in keeping the Rovers ticking along.

“Established in 1951, Revesby Rovers FC celebrated 70-years of football in our district last year.

“For many years the club was known as Revesby Rovers SFC and there were continuous talks of changing over to only “FC” over the years. I decided in line with the 70-year celebration, we would vote at our AGM for a final decision, and it was almost unanimous, it was time to move forward, drop the word “Soccer” and finally be identified as a “Football Club”.

“I started with our logo and revamped our ball from yellow to gold in line with celebrating 70 years. With this came a complete overhaul of the entire kit. It was time to move forward in every direction. I redesigned the kit with the approval and input of my committee. The iconic black and white stripe now had a “touch of gold”. Basically, from top to toe, I organized the apparel and supporter wear for our club.

And that is just the start of her timeless duties at the Rovers.

Sonia runs the club’s social media pages, handles sponsorships, built, and promoted female football at the club, recruited players, organized club social events and presentations days, managed fundraisers as well as managing the Rovers’ Under 13 Girls 1’s and Under 15 Boys 1’s sides.

There is still the job of liaising with the parents, coaches, and players, attending as many matches over the weekend as possible and of course doing all this whilst assisting the club’s President and Secretary.

Mira has been fortunate that the Rovers have been blessed with an amazing group of volunteers who have continued to go above and beyond in ensuring all day-to-day operations at the club were attended to.

It is fitting that during National Volunteer Week, Football NSW and the entire sport of the world game is honouring these unsung heroes.

“My job at Revesby Rovers FC has always been made easier with the support of the committee members and volunteers I have had alongside me, past and present.

“They are without a doubt the most passionate, hardworking, and selfless people, it is with their support and assistance that we have been able to achieve goals and break records within our club.

“So how valuable are Volunteers, you ask? You actually can’t place a price on them, without them, community sport wouldn’t exist, and kids wouldn’t get the opportunity to kick a ball around on the weekend.

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they are priceless.”

The 2021 Grassroots season has thus far been a huge success in Mira’s eyes.

A year after COVID-19 affected life as we knew it, football returned in 2020 albeit in a condensed capacity but 2021 has seen the game spring back into action like never before.

“The 2021 objective was to revamp and freshen the look of the club, with new kits, brand new equipment and renovate our clubhouse.

“With this comes a heavy price tag, and through the generosity of our 24 sponsors (predominately members of our club) we were able to accomplish these objectives.

“Our goals for 2021, were to get a new “Mini Rovers Program” up and running, for 3–5-year-olds, develop female football female, register the greatest number of teams in the history of the club, all these goals were achieved.

“While were able to achieve all these goals, we decided, as a committee that we would donate all our old gear and boots to a KITAID Australia, an organization who distributes used football gear to less fortunate communities.

“All this and we still aren’t halfway through the year yet, we love what we do, and we want to ensure our participants are getting the best experience yet playing with the mighty Revesby Rovers FC.”