There are a few things in football that are synonymous with each other; David Beckham and free kicks, Barcelona and Tiki-taka, but to those who know, and those lucky enough to experience him, there is none greater than Belsouth and Wayne Harding.
If you have ever pulled on the sky-blue jersey of Belsouth or braved the early morning frost at Hawker Oval, chances are you’ve come across Wayne. Wayne has been a part of Belsouth Football Club for over 15 years, although that number might not be entirely accurate, as Wayne himself can’t remember exactly how long he’s been there.
“At least 15 years,” Wayne recalls. “I started with my children about a couple of years earlier, so 17, 18 years of football, but 15 here (Belsouth) at least.”
In that time, Wayne has had a go at everything a community football club can offer, which started in his first season at the club.
“I became an assistant team manager,” Wayne said. “Then I got put onto a committee as Vice President of Juniors the second year, and I’ve sort of had that committee role on and off all that time.”
The list of roles that Wayne has occupied could fill a football field, reaching the highest peak of Club President, all the way down to the simple tasks of opening the toilet blocks and setting up fields. All the time Wayne has donated for Belsouth has earned him a lifetime membership to the club, an honour bestowed upon him in 2019. However, these achievements pale in comparison to Wayne’s pride and joy, a role he says he will fulfil until his dying breath: coaching Pee-wees.
“I’m gonna do that until I end up in a pine box,” Wayne jokes. “That’s one of the favourite things – we have a good curriculum, and the kids want to learn. They come just like going to kindergarten or preschool, you go to school to learn stuff – so it’s good fun.”
Pee-wees run from 10:30 to 11:30 on Saturday mornings, for children aged four to six. The early morning start leaves Wayne with the rest of the day free, but he chooses to fill that time with more football. This year he is coaching U16 and U18 boys’ teams, as well as assisting the Women’s Division Four side and keeping in touch with the Men’s side, who he used to help manage.
Through all the years and all the teams, Wayne has found success in most of his seasons coaching, even though he would be the last person to bring that up. His humble approach to success, coupled with his coaching philosophy of hard work and learning, has created a winning structure on and off the field.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of teams that have won Premierships, Championships and runners-up along the way,” Wayne concedes. “Those achievements are special, but for me the real pride comes from the journey – the hard work, the friendships and watching players grow both on and off the field. The people and the memories are what really last.”
But Wayne’s influence extends well beyond the pitch, especially in recent years. He’s become a quiet champion for mental health in football—particularly for his boys’ and men’s teams.
“I think I’m a really strong mental health coach, a mental coach,” Wayne admits. “But that also plays into me being an advocate for boys’ and men’s mental health.”
“I think people are a little more open about it, so mental health has become more open now. It’s really important for boys to talk to other boys or men, at least about that issue, because if they don’t, then it’s potentially dangerous, because we (men) never talk about our feelings, and everyone’s got a backstory.”
Over nearly two decades, Wayne has watched the club, and the sport evolve—particularly in Canberra’s ever-changing football community. Wayne reveals that his greatest achievement during his time at Belsouth is having the club’s name changed from Belsouth Junior Soccer Club to Belsouth Football Club.
“I think just the name change was a benchmark – acknowledging that we are a football club, I think that was really important.”
“There’s more of a focus on community now,” Wayne reflects. “It used to be kids just came along and kicked around. That still happens, but we also know our role in the community better – I just think there’s a natural evolution.”
Despite his best efforts to shirk praise, Wayne hasn’t escaped recognition. Even after moving from Hawker, the suburb where the club resides, Wayne is still known off the football field for his dedication to the club, at times from former Pee-wee players who have long left junior football.
“I still see 25, 26-year-olds saying, ‘You are my Pee-wee coach.’ That’s really embarrassing,” Wayne laughs. “Everywhere I went, it was, ‘Hello Wayne, hello Wayne,’ and I thought I’d lose that when I moved, but then football brought people back into my life again.”
“A lot of good people and a lot of good footballers have come out of Belsouth and gone on to do good things in Canberra. I might not remember everyone’s names, but they remember me.”
Beyond football, Wayne also served 15 years with Little Athletics and continues to support the sport at various levels. But football is still where his heart lies and is where he finds his most joy and fulfilment.
“If I don’t do what I do, I don’t know where I’d be without it,” Wayne admits. “Some weeks, fields are closed, and I go home and think, ‘Now what?’ It’s just part of me. I can’t stop. It’s how I manage things.”
In a game often defined by goals and silverware, Wayne Harding reminds us that true legacy lies in connection, compassion, and commitment. And at Belsouth, his name is stitched into the fabric of the club.
“Commit yourself to football – work hard for it. Be respectful of everybody and just listen, learn, and do.”
Words: James Whybrow
