Pete Reid is a recognisable figure around the grounds of Tuggeranong United. Beginning as a volunteer in 1986 when his son started playing U6s for Tuggeranong, Pete is still assisting the club 34 years later, now as the manager of United’s NPL1 side.

But if it wasn’t for his son’s driving licence, maybe it would have been a different story.

“When my son was 16 or 17 years old, Tuggeranong United had been relegated for the first time down to the second division and the club was virtually being run by two people,” Pete recalled.

“So my son and a couple of his mates wanted to join the committee to see if they could help turn the club around and get the club back onto its feet and work our way back up into Premier League.”

Because his son didn’t have a licence, Pete drove him to the AGM. A few hours later, Pete walked out of the meeting as a member of the Tuggeranong United committee alongside his teenage son.

“I got roped in,” Pete said with a laugh.

His first role on the committee in 1997 was Registrar, before stint as Vice President turned into a half-year run as President when the current President resigned. All the while, Pete was still managing the first-grade side.

“I have been managing the squad since 1997 and I am still doing that today as a 70-year-old,” Pete said with a wide grin. “I think I am up to my 21st coach now over the 23 years. Sometimes it was even three different coaches in one year.

“Managing is what I love doing. It is all about making it as professional as you can on a tight budget. Having represented the ACT in hockey as a teenager, I always had good managers and it something you always appreciate as a player.”

Despite being 70 years young, Pete said he still wants to continue serving the club and the next generation of Tuggeranong United footballers for as long as he can.

“Last year, our first-grade squad and I were rostered onto the junior canteen one morning,” Pete said. “A lot of the people that I served that morning were people who had played in the junior sides with my son.

“So now the second generation of Tuggeranong kids are coming through which is exciting to see.”

A few years ago, Pete was made a Life Member of Tuggeranong United, a well-deserved accolade for decades of service.

“You name it, Pete does it,” NPL1 head coach Mitch Stevens said. “From ground setup, team sheets, cleaning of uniforms, organising match balls on game day, attending every session with the club equipment and helping every single session run smoothly, Pete does it all.

“Quite simply, we would be a far lesser club without him.”

Is there someone you would like to acknowledge in our Faces of Football series, presented by Capital Chemist? Fill out this form!