Football NSW Celebrates the Best of 2025 at Annual Gala Awards
The stars of the 2025 football season came together for one final celebration on Saturday night, as Football NSW hosted its annual Gala Awards Dinner at the stunning Winx Pavilion in Randwick.
With over 750 guests in attendance — including players, coaches, referees, administrators, and volunteers as well as honoured guests including The Hon Ron Hoenig Member for Heffron, NSW Minister for Local Government and Leader of the House, The Hon Mark Speakman, Leader of the Opposition and Member for Cronulla, Shadow Minister for Sport, Finance and Member for Miranda Eleni Petinos as well as Football NSW Life Members and Board Directors — the evening was a fitting finale to an unforgettable season across the National Premier Leagues NSW and the Football NSW League competitions.
Hosted by Tara Rushton, the atmosphere was electric as the football community gathered to honour excellence, dedication, and achievement at every level of the game. Among the first to be recognised were the match officials, with Charlotte Flynn and Jake Rose named Referees of the Year in the NPL Women’s and Men’s competitions respectively. Amber Morris and Patrick Teleki were also celebrated, taking out the Assistant Referee of the Year honours for their consistent and professional performances on the sidelines.
In a year filled with memorable moments, one stood out above the rest in the race for Goal of the Year. APIA Leichhardt FC’s long serving midfielder Adrian Ucchino stole the show with a stunning 68th-minute strike against the Wollongong Wolves at WIN Stadium in Round 16. The long-range effort, described by many as a goal-of-the-season contender from the moment it left his boot, added a special individual accolade to his Championship-winning campaign and reminded everyone why he has long been regarded as one of the NPL’s most respected players.
Some of the competition’s sharpest shooters also earned their moment in the spotlight, as Golden Boot awards were handed out to the top scorers across the divisions. Among them were South Coast Flame’s Jyden Harb, St George FC’s Jordan Baker, Northern Tigers’ Kai Denton, NWS Spirit FC’s Skye Halmarick, and Rockdale Ilinden’s Alec Urosevski. For Urosevski, the award marked a remarkable third consecutive Golden Boot, following his triumphs in 2023 and 2024. It also served as a farewell of sorts, as the 31-year-old prepares to join League One Men’s outfit Bankstown City FC in 2026 where he hopes to lead the club to promotion. Halmarick’s Golden Boot was just part of a dream season for the 17-year-old, who now heads to A-League Women’s side Sydney FC to continue her meteoric rise.
Between the sticks, some of the league’s finest goalkeepers were honoured for their contributions. Michael Rutherford (Hurstville Zagreb FC), Natasha Pentecost (SD Raiders FC), Bodie Denton (Northern Tigers), Sarah Langman (UNSW FC), and James Hilton (Marconi Stallions) were all recognised for their consistency and crucial shot-stopping abilities throughout the year.
Coaching is often described as one of the toughest jobs in football, and those who led their sides to success were rightfully acknowledged. Valerio Silvestro of Hurstville Zagreb FC, Allan Tasses from Hills United FC, Gabriel Knowles of UNSW FC, Martinho Garces from Bulls FC Academy, and APIA Leichhardt’s Franco Parisi all received Coach of the Year honours for their leadership and outstanding results in 2025. Parisi picked up his second Coach of the Year plaudits after taking it out in 2023.
The presentation of the Charles Valentine Award was up next, known as Football NSW’s highest honour, Sutherland Sharks FC President Greg O’Rourke was rewarded for his outstanding services to the game. A lifelong servant to football, Greg’s journey began as a player and coach in the Sutherland Shire before taking on leadership roles at Barden Ridgebacks FC, the Sutherland Shire Football Association, and eventually becoming Chairman of Football NSW. He went on to serve as Head of the A-Leagues and later Commissioner of the Australian Professional Leagues, before returning to the National Premier Leagues with the Sharks in 2025. His impact on the game — both at the community and professional level — was celebrated with a well-deserved standing ovation.
As the evening reached its peak, anticipation filled the room for the presentation of the Player of the Year awards — the most prestigious individual honours of the night, as voted by the clubs in a 3-2-1 system. South Coast Flame’s 19-year-old sensation Jyden Harb capped off an incredible season by collecting his second award of the night, this time as Player of the Year in his division. Hills United FC’s Isabella Sciberras was recognised for her leadership and consistency, earning the Player of the Year title following her team’s successful promotion campaign into the NPL Women’s NSW competition. In League One Men’s, Rydalmere Lions FC’s Robert Eremugo was rewarded for his commanding displays and relentless work rate.
Then came another moment of triumph for Skye Halmarick, who was crowned NPL Women’s NSW Player of the Year. Already a Golden Boot winner, Halmarick’s performances for NWS Spirit FC throughout the season confirmed her status as one of the nation’s brightest young talents — and a true game-changer. The final award of the night went to Wollongong Wolves’ attacker Nicholas Olsen, whose influence with the South Coast side earned him the respect of his peers and the honour of being named NPL Men’s NSW Player of the Year. Olsen, a constant force for the Wolves, humbly accepted the award, closing out the night in style.
As the lights dimmed and the final round of applause echoed through the Pavilion, it was clear that this Gala Dinner had been more than just an awards night. It was a celebration of a game that continues to grow, inspire, and unite communities across the state.
With the 2025 season now behind us, Football NSW congratulates every award recipient and thanks everyone who contributed to such a remarkable year.
The off-season may be here — but if this year was anything to go by, 2026 can’t come soon enough.
2025 Football NSW Gala Awards Winners
Fair Play Award
FNSW League 2 Men – Hawkesbury City FC
FNSW League 1 Women – Nepean FC
FNSW League 1 Men – Newcastle Jets
NPL Women’s NSW – UNSW FC
NPL Men’s NSW – Manly United FC
Club Championship
FNSW League 2 Men – Hurstville Zagreb FC
FNSW League 1 Women – Hills United FC
FNSW League 1 Men – SD Raiders FC
NPL Women’s NSW – APIA Leichhardt FC
NPL Men’s NSW – APIA Leichhardt FC
U20/Reserve Grade Golden Boot
FNSW League 2 Men U20 – Chisolm Brown (South Coast Flame)
FNSW League 1 Women U23 – Portia Berios (Hills United FC)
FNSW League 1 Men U20 – Lachlan Sattout (Bulls FC Academy)
NPL Women’s NSW U23 – Giuliana Nicholas (Sydney University SFC)
NPL Men’s NSW Men U20 – Tom Parkes (Northern Tigers FC)
U20/U23’s Player of the Year
FNSW League 2 Men U20 – Toby Witjes (Nepean FC)
FNSW League 1 Women U23 – Isabella Beresford (Central Coast Mariners)
FNSW League 1 Men U20 – Lachlan Sattout (Bulls FC Academy)
NPL Women’s NSW U23 – Kaylie Shannon (Gladesville Ravens)
NPL Men’s NSW Men U20 – Max Court (APIA Leichhardt FC)
Referee of the Year
NPL Women’s NSW – Charlotte Flynn
NPL Men’s NSW – Jake Rose
Assistant Referee of the Year
NPL Women’s NSW – Amber Morris
NPL Men’s NSW – Patrick Teleki
NPL NSW 2025 Goal of the Year
Adrian Ucchino (APIA Leichhardt FC)
Golden Boot
FNSW League 2 Men – Jyden Harb (South Coast Flame)
FNSW League 1 Women – Jordan Baker (St George FC)
FNSW League 1 Men – Kai Denton (Northern Tigers FC)
NPL Women’s NSW – Skye Halmarick (NWS Spirit FC)
NPL Men’s NSW – Alec Urosevski (Rockdale Ilinden FC)
Goalkeeper of the Year
FNSW League 2 Men – Michael Rutherford (Hurstville Zagreb FC)
FNSW League 1 Women – Natasha Pentecost (SD Raiders FC)
FNSW League 1 Men – Bodie Denton (Northern Tigers FC)
NPL Women’s NSW – Sarah Langman (UNSW FC)
NPL Men’s NSW – James Hilton (Marconi Stallions FC)
Coach of the Year
FNSW League 2 Men – Valerio Silvestro (Hurstville Zagreb FC)
FNSW League 1 Women – Allan Tasses (Hills United FC)
FNSW League 1 Men – Gabriel Knowles (UNSW FC)
NPL Women’s NSW – Martinho Garces (Bulls FC Academy)
NPL Men’s NSW – Franco Parisi (APIA Leichhardt FC)
Charles Valentine Medal
Greg O’Rourke (Sutherland Sharks)
Player of the Year
FNSW League 2 Men – Jyden Harb (South Coast Flame)
FNSW League 1 Women – Isabella Sciberras (Hills United FC)
FNSW League 1 Men – Robert Eremugo (Rydalmere Lions FC)
NPL Women’s NSW – Skye Halmarick (NWS Spirit FC)
NPL Men’s NSW – Nicholas Olsen (Wollongong Wolves)
