Ian Holmes OAM Recognised in Australia Day 2026 Honours
Football NSW Board Member and long-serving football administrator Ian Holmes OAM has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to football, particularly community football, in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List.
Ian has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of more than five decades of dedicated service to the game across grassroots, administration, and governance.
Football NSW Chairman Gilbert Lorquet paid tribute to Ian’s remarkable legacy and lifelong commitment to football.
“On behalf of Football NSW, I congratulate Ian Holmes OAM on this richly deserved recognition. Ian’s lifelong service to football has left an enduring legacy across our game. from grassroots to governance.
His commitment, integrity and passion for football have shaped countless lives and strengthened the fabric of our football community. This honour is a fitting acknowledgment of the impact he has made over many years.”
Ian’s involvement in football began at the Belmore Police Boys Club and has since spanned more than 50 years as a player, coach, administrator, and volunteer within the Canterbury district and beyond.
He became a Life Member of Football Canterbury in 1982 and was inducted into the Association’s Hall of Fame in 2022.
Throughout his distinguished career, Ian served Football Canterbury, formerly the Canterbury and District Soccer Football Association as President/Chairman on four separate occasions and as Chief Executive Officer for almost a decade. His leadership and vision were instrumental in the development and sustainability of football within the region.
Ian is also a Life Member of Football NSW (1987) and was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2024, further reflecting the breadth and significance of his contribution to the game at both state and national levels.
His volunteer and administrative service has extended from grassroots football to the highest levels of governance, during which time he witnessed and helped guide major structural changes in the game, including the unification of amateur and semi-professional state football bodies into what is now Football NSW.
The Board and Management of Football NSW extend their sincere congratulations to Ian Holmes OAM on this well-deserved honour, recognising a lifetime of service that has gone above and beyond in shaping football and its community.
Football NSW would also like to extend its congratulations to Alen Stajcic, Tony Pignata and Brendan Schwab for their Australia Day honours.
