Volunteering is what makes the football community a community, according to Volunteer of the Month for July, Michael Sutton.
Michael has been a part of the Brindabella Blues Football Club for 12 years as a proud parent, volunteer and coach. He coaches an under 18 girls teams, leads a team of coaches in Brindabella’s All-Girl Miniroo programme and coordinates all of the girls teams from Miniroos to u18s in addition to his role as a member of the Junior Standing Advisor Committee (JSAC).
His nominator added that Michael has also run a girls only Summer Academy for the past five years, and has been instrumental in the increase of girls registering to play with the club.
All seven of his children have played for the club.
“Brindabella is a family focused club and very supportive. Every team, in every competition is important in their own way,” he said.
The family came across the Brindabella Blues by chance.
“A friend of my eldest boy was looking to play football and he joined at the same time,” Michael said. “I encouraged him because football has been an important part of my life since I was five; as a player and a fan.”
Over the course of his time with Brindabella, Michael says that he’s been privileged to be a part of a couple of undefeated seasons and minor premierships, a Kanga Cup win and a Grand Final win only last year.
“Seeing the joy but more importantly the confidence and self-belief this has built in the girls has been a reward in itself,” he added.
This year Brindabella launched their first All-Girl Miniroo programme, with over fifty u6 to u9 girls training together and playing against each other every Saturday morning.
“The response from the girls and their parents alike has been overwhelming,” Michael said. “To see girls who might not have had the opportunity to even kick a ball, after a few weeks, start to kick and chase, tackle and pass and score goals or stop goals the transformation has been brilliant.”
“I’ve never really thought about not volunteering. It’s what makes the community a community. I hope I’ve been able to help the kids I’ve coached, not just with football skills but more broadly with their development and I know they’ve given me a lot of joy and great memories.”
Michael strongly recommends volunteering.
“Clubs like ours can only thrive because of a cohort of hardy volunteers: committee members, coaches, assistant coaches, managers, field setters, canteen and BBQ volunteers and referees. It only takes, at most, an hour or two a week to help out and you really do get more back than you give.”
Congratulations Michael from Capital Chemist and Capital Football on your well-deserved win.