Celebrating the Heart of the Game: Football NSW’s 2025 State Dinner
Football NSW’s 2025 State Dinner was held in grand style at the Visy Dior International in Norwest on Saturday, marking a special night of celebration for the community football family.
A standout moment of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious George Churchward Medal to Ian Cockburn of the Southern Branch Association, honouring his longstanding commitment to the sport.
The evening brought together Football NSW Directors, Life Members, and distinguished guests from across the football community, all gathered to acknowledge those who have made outstanding contributions to the grassroots game.
Dignitaries in attendance included Dr Hugh McDermott (Member for Prospect), Stephen Bali MP (Member for Blacktown), Nathan Hagarty (Member for Leppington), Pierre Comis (Director, Sector Performance at the Office of Sport), Anter Isaac (Football Australia Chairman), and Kalem Tini (Nine Ad Manager Customer Success and Operators Executive) all lending their support to the event.
Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, the event opened with the presentation of the 2025 State Awards.
Nominated by their local associations, the State Award recipients were recognised for their tireless service to football across club, association, branch, and state levels. Their roles have ranged from coaching and officiating to administration and ground maintenance.
The 2025 State Award winners were:
- Kiera Hayes – Albury Wodonga Football Association
- Julia Woods – Bankstown District Amateur Football Association
- Chris Seath – Blacktown District Soccer Football Association
- Patrick Auld – Dubbo & District Football Association
- Rebecca Smith – Eastern Suburbs Football Association
- Wally Holzer – Eastern Suburbs Football Association
- Gary Megay – Eurobodalla Football Association
- Santino Grieco – Football Canterbury
- Kendall Reynolds – Football South Coast
- John Stojanovski – Football St George
- Cameron Wong – Hills Football
- Peter Kovacsics – Macarthur Football Association
- Rhonda Ferguson – Manly Warringah Football Association
- Wayne and Kath Coburn – Nepean Football Association Inc
- Simon Cox – Northern Suburbs Football Association
- Tom Emeleus – North West Sydney Football
- Steve Soares – Southern Districts Soccer Football Association
- Mark Harris – Southern Tablelands Football Association Inc
- Cherie Donoghue – Sutherland Shire Football Association
Female Football Week Award Winners
May’s Female Football Week once again shone a spotlight on the growing contribution of women across all facets of the game. Football NSW recognised several outstanding individuals during the initiative:
- Community Champion of the Year – Emma Madden
- Player of the Year – Lisa Bullivant
- Coach of the Year – Sarah McKinley
- Referee of the Year – Sharon McLachlan (Blacktown District Referees)
- Volunteer of the Year – Lauren Gibson (Penrith Football Club)
Fair Play Award: Roselands FC U16 Girls Division 3
The Fair Play Award was presented to Roselands FC’s Under 16 Girls Division 3 team from Football Canterbury, following a remarkable act of sportsmanship during a match against Leichhardt Saints FC on 29 June 2025 at Arlington Oval.
Leichhardt Saints, struggling through a challenging season, arrived with only nine players. Roselands FC, with a full squad available, chose to match their numbers and begin the game with nine players as well.
In a message from Leichhardt Saints President Matthew Bowen, he described how Roselands FC showed integrity and empathy, even declining to bring on additional players when invited to do so mid-game, instead using it as a teaching moment. Despite sitting third on the ladder, Roselands FC prioritised fairness and inclusion, going on to win 3-2 in what Leichhardt described as their best match of the season.
This moment of genuine sportsmanship highlighted the true spirit of community football and was rightly celebrated on the night.
Nine Ad Manager Awards
Introduced in 2025 thanks to Football NSW Chairman Gilbert Lorquet, the Nine Ad Manager Awards acknowledged outstanding achievements in leadership, innovation, and impact at both club and association levels.
Nine Ad Manager Community Club of the Year: Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club
Representing the Orange and District Football Association, Millthorpe Juniors took out the inaugural award thanks to their commitment to inclusive programs like Girls Love Football and Pippin Girl Workshops, and achieving 3-Star Club Changer status. With 11% growth in 2025 and a 2024 FA Regional Club of the Year award, they’re a shining example of community-driven success. Northern Suburbs Football Association’s North Turramurra FC and Football South Coast’s Shellharbour Juniors Soccer Club gained notable mentions as runners-up for this award.
Nine Ad Manager Association of the Year: Football South Coast
Football South Coast were celebrated for their strategic integration of female football, adding over 70 new female teams and increasing participation by 20%. Their efforts extended to referee development, multicultural partnerships, and major event hosting, helping clubs secure over $1.4 million in funding. Both Manly Warringah Football Association and Albury Wodonga Football Association were runners-up to this award.
Thanks to the support of Nine Ad Manager, Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club and Football South Coast received a $2,000 advertising voucher to run a targeted registration campaign on the Nine Ad Manager platform while the runners-up received $1,000 vouchers to support similar initiatives.
Future Leader Award: Tyron Geany
The Future Leader Award went to Tyron Geany from the Bankstown District Amateur Football Association (BDAFA), who was recognised for his exceptional contributions across coaching, refereeing, and program management.
Starting as a MiniRoos player at age six, Tyron has grown into a leader who has helped double the size of BDAFA’s Summer Football program and more than doubled its referee roster, achieving 98.9% referee coverage in 2025.
Tyron’s innovation, calm problem-solving, and deep understanding of grassroots football made him a standout leader of tomorrow.
George Churchward Medal: Ian Cockburn
The final and most prestigious honour of the evening, the George Churchward Medal, was awarded to long-serving administrator Ian Cockburn of the Southern Branch Association.
Ian’s journey in football began in 1957 as a player, before transitioning into coaching in the 1970s, then refereeing and administration. Over more than five decades, Ian has held leadership roles including President, Competition Organizer, and Chairman across various organisations. His work was instrumental in the development of the South Nowra football complex and the creation of new competitions and programs across Shoalhaven and Southern Branch.
Ian is a Life Member of four football bodies and received a State Award in 2000. His selfless dedication, vision, and service culminated in a standing ovation from all in attendance which was a truly fitting tribute by one of the most respected administrators in the game.
The 2025 Football NSW State Dinner was a heartfelt celebration of the people who are the lifeblood of the game.
As we look ahead to an even bigger season in 2026, the event served as a powerful reminder of the unity, passion, and community spirit that define football in New South Wales.
Football NSW wishes to congratulate each and every winner and would like to thank all who attended in what was a great evening celebrating the beautiful game.
