Female Football Champions: Volunteers
Throughout 2023 Female Football Week, Football NSW is highlighting the contributions of various members of our football community. Volunteers Gail Hohberg, Mel Marlow, Liz Scott, Isabella Nimmo and Kaitlyn Crook have been nominated by their local representatives for their service to the game!
Gail Hohberg – Macarthur Football Association and Mt Annan Mustangs
Gail has been one of the backbones of our club. Over the past 18 years Gail has run our club sometimes holding many positions at the one time. Gail is a big part of our club she knows all her players and what each player needs. She is the first one to put her hand up to open the canteen, manager a team, organise our club events, deal with any issues within the club. Whilst she has been doing this for our club she has also been a part of Macarthur Association from being on the board, competition management committee and judiciary panel. Last year Gail was appointed as a Director of Macarthur Rams Women’s Board. Gail has been apart of this club for the past five years.
One thing we can say about Gail is she is here for all the players no matter. The joy she gets out of seeing the kids on the pitch and watching her senior players play is amazing. Whilst Gail has been doing all these amazing things for our clubs she is also a mum of four amazing kids and runs a business full-time.
Gail is one in a million and we believe she should be recognised for all she has done for football within Macarthur!
Mel Marlow – Mount Druitt Town Rangers
Mel has been volunteering for 10 years as a manager throughout various clubs. Mel has been associated with MDTR for three years as youth manager and she is an absolute inspiration to everyone.
She has multiple disabilities and is an above knee amputee, however it doesn’t stop her at training kicking balls back to players and getting everything organised. Even when undergoing major medical operations, she will be discharged from hospital and straight to the field to be present for the teams game. She arranges sponsorships for the club and fundraising events to ensure the program can continue to grow.
Nothing is an issue for Mel she continuously goes above and beyond to help the growth and development of female football within the community.
Liz Scott – Far South Coast FA and Pambula Penguins
Liz’s dedication to Football, to our Association, to her Club, to her family, to her humans in general, seems to be bottomless. She shows up when others don’t, she champions causes like mental health first aid, Pride week,, she takes on new challenges. She’s the first to lead the way during the Pride weeks and NAIDOC weeks. We are beyond lucky to have Liz as a Role Model and a Champion in the Far South Coast.
Isabella Nimmo – Beecroft Wombats
Isabella Nimmo’s versatile skillset, combined with her dedication, leadership, and commitment to promoting female football, make her an exceptional candidate for recognition as a Female Football Champion. Her tireless efforts and significant contributions to the sport have positively impacted the lives of many girls and women locally and the broader football community, not just as volunteer but as a player, coach, referee and administrator.
Isabella is the first female President in our Beecroft FC history and only one of five female Presidents in North West Sydney Football (15% of NWSF club presidents are female). With her support on the committee, since she joined at 16 years old in 2016, our Wombats committee has grown from three to six females, making up 33% of our group. Plus, taking on the role at 23 she’s the youngest Club President we’ve had and current youngest within NWSF.
She’s unstoppable and we believe deserves recognition for her contribution to the female game!
Kaitlyn Crook – Bathurst District Football
Kaitlyn works tirelessly for football in Bathurst, and in particular she mentors and encourages young female players. At club level she coaches 2 junior teams and does everything possible to keep young girls playing and enjoying football, always with a positive and encouraging manner. As a player for many years herself at club and representative level, she understands the challenges for young girls in a regional area, and the commitment required for games and training.
At District level, she is a coach that all the girls admire and respect and they all work hard to play their best under her guidance. She has mentored young girls to coach mini-roos teams and helped them progress through junior teams and into senior adult teams at club level when they are ready and capable. Kaitlyn has also been a pioneer for improving the accessibility of the pathways for players that are interested in progressing beyond club and district levels.
Junior football in Bathurst has strengthened under Kaitlyn’s time in her roles, and she has given up massive amounts of her spare time around work and raising two kids to make sure football, and particularly women’s football continues to grow. She will assist all players and families to help them continue playing soccer, whether it is chasing up athletic coaches to improve running gait, or offer association financial assistance for purchase of necessary equipment. I believe there are a number of players that would not have realised their potential if Kaitlyn had not become involved in their football journey.
Female Football Week Events
Community clubs and associations across the state are running an array of events during FFW including Come and Try events, Coaching Courses, Gala Days and more.
Check out the full event list on our website to see what’s on near you!
