CDSFA Community Football Podcast

We speak with legendary football presenter, commentator and reporter, Andy Paschalidis. Before he was a household name, Andy was a CDSFA junior player with the Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club. He went on to represent the Canterbury Representative team, playing alongside former Socceroo, Peter Raskopoulos. At SBS, Andy covered some of the world's biggest football events as a host, commentator and reporter, including the 1990 and 1994 World Cups; and the 1991 and 1993 World Youth Cups. He then went on to FoxSports Australia, calling the first live football game on Australian Pay Television.In 2016, Andy established Heartbeat of Football (HOF), a not-for-profit organisation aiming to promote healthy hearts in sport via player education, the minimisation of health risks and the installation of defibrillators on all sporting fields around the country.   

In episode #35 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with MRP FC President Peter Regan and MRP FC Men's Head Coach and CDSFA Men's All Age Division 1 title winning Coach Aym'e Melham. In early 2016, two mates were keen to get back into regular football after a year out of the game. With some coaching, leadership and administration skills behind them, they recognised the link between their physical and mental health and the benefits of being part of a team unit. From the founder of the mens support group for mental health, Mr Perfect, MRP FC was born.MRP FC is an inclusive football club that welcomes players from all backgrounds and acts as a second family to many players. In 2020, MRP FC had a Division 1 and Division 4 All Age Men's team in the CDSFA competition.

Anthony has been heavily involved with the CRA over the last 13 years. As he explains in this episode, refereeing across the CDSFA has evolved. Anthony is determined to revolutionise the CRA's service delivery model over the coming years.

As the CDSFA 2020 season comes to an end, we catch up with CEO Ian Holmes for the latest update on community football within the CDSFA.

In Episode 32 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with 3 time W-League Championship winning Goalkeeper, current Sydney FC W-league goalkeeper and now CDSFA Female Football Development Officer, Trudy Burke. Trudy is focused on growing female participation within the CDSFA and engaging with all community stakeholders. She is a huge believer that sport can change the world. Her passion for football and the positive effects it can have on communities motivates her every day to want to continue to work in this space. With female participation at the forefront of community sport, Trudy believes she can make a real difference to the CDSFA as an advocate for female players, referees, coaches and volunteers. In this episode, Trudy shares her thoughts on the current state of female football and female player development in Australia; her plans to increase female participation and female leadership within the CDSFA; and the impact she believes the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia will have on female football.

Today we speak with former A league star, Belmore Eagles Football Club junior player and Life Member and now Abbotsford Juniors Football Club O35/1s player and Committee Member, Chad Gibson.Chad is of South African heritage. His parents migrated to Australia in 1969 during the apartheid era. Chad’s father Keith at the time took up a fantastic offer from APIA Leichhardt Tigers to play professional football. Chad’s family lived right next to Rudd Park, the home ground of Belmore Eagles. This is where Chad would start his junior football journey. With football in his blood, Chad has played continuously since he was three with a variety of clubs including Sydney United, Marconi Stallions, Bankstown City, Blacktown City as well as the inaugural A-league captain of Queensland Roar in the very beginning of the A-league.In 2011, Chad established LOCALFC because he wanted to change the way football was viewed. He wanted to show football through his eyes. He expertly tells the story of Australian football through the authentic voice of the players, while weaving in his love for culture. 5 years ago, Chad made an emotional return to his junior football club Belmore Eagles, this time as an Over 35s player, alongside his father Keith on the pitch. He then joined Abbotsford Juniors Football Club and has continued to play in the O35/1s competition. He has also recently joined the club’s committee and as Brand Director has made an immediate impact on the look and feel of the Abbotsford identity and brand. Chad views the game through a modern, creative lens. He’s ambitious, unique, is breaking new ground and is leading the charge to establish Australian football culture at Abbotsford, CDSFA and globally.

Today we speak with Ashleigh Campbell, President of the youngest club within the CDSFA, Australian Catholic University Football Club, also known as ACU FC.Ashleigh is also the sports program coordinator at ACU for their Sydney campuses. Based at ACU’s Strathfield campus, ACU FC, established in 2018, is the university's first community club and has quickly taken advantage of a brand new synthetic pitch. ACU FC was established to provide a football program that services both the student body and local community, with the aim of promoting female participation in sport. The club is inclusive and also offers male programs, with a long-term goal of producing outstanding individuals and leaders, on and off the football field.As Ashleigh explains in the podcast, ACU FC’s strategic approach to long-term club success is founded on eight fundamental areas:o female footballerso quality coachingo support serviceso top class infrastructureo university cultureo human resourceso financial sustainability; and o effective governance.Ashleigh brings along a fresh, modern approach to football administration. She is determined for ACU FC to grow and compete over the coming years with the best teams the CDSFA has to offer in junior and senior football.

It's official — the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is heading to Australia and New Zealand! In what is one of the biggest boosts football and and women's sport in Australia has ever received, the world's attention will be turned down under for a month-long football festival. What does this mean for female football in the CDSFA over the coming years?On the day of the big announcement, we caught up with CDSFA female football ambassadors and advocates Natasha Hill, Alexandra Georgopoulos and Angelica Georgopoulos.

Today we speak with Jean Kouriel, Founder and Club President of the Ashfield Pirates Football Club. Jean has been involved in football for almost 40 years and has played for Marconi, Sydney United and Colo Colo. He represented Australia in Futsal and NSW in School Boys Football.Jean, with the assistance of the late Adam Spencer-Carr, founded the Pirates in 2015. Within 5 short years, Ashfield has become one of the fastest growing football clubs within the CDSFA and in 2019, won the CDSFA Club Championship, the Crystal Cup. Jean is now turning his attention to player development at Ashfield Pirates and securing a permanent home ground.

In Episode 27 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with the Mayor of Inner West Council, Councillor Darcy Byrne. Darcy grew up in Balmain and is a life-long resident and footballer of the Inner West. He started his junior footballing journey with Balmain Police Boys Football Club and went onto to play with APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Canterbury Reps and Sydney Olympic in the National Youth League. Darcy was first elected to Leichhardt Council in 2008, and served as Mayor from 2012-2014. He was re-elected to the position in September in 2015 and with the forced council amalgamations in May 2016 became the last Mayor of Leichhardt Council. In 2017, Darcy was elected as the inaugural Mayor of Inner West Council. Darcy’s goal is to make the Inner West the best local government in Australia and a national leader in environmental policy, arts and culture and community infrastructure. Since being elected Mayor of Inner West Council, Darcy has been getting some outstanding results especially for community football including an upgrade of Waterfront Drive sporting fields in Callan Park and funding for the synthetic sports surface construction at Tempe Reserve and Leichhardt Oval No. 2.Darcy is not only a passionate local mayor, he is also a very passionate community football advocate.

Today we speak with Burwood Football Club President and Life Member Andrew (Andy) McVeigh.Celebrating its 50th in 2021, Burwood Football Club has grown from two teams in 1971 playing at Blair Park to over 700 players in 2020 and 2 home grounds in Blair Park and Centenary Park.Over the last decade, Andy has made a huge impact in improving the community football experience at Burwood Football Club including securing unprecedented funding to upgrade and build fabulous world class facilities including Centenary Pavilion in 2017 and increasing Burwood’s female football footprint and raising the bar in junior football development.As you will hear in the podcast, Andy is a well-travelled and passionate footballer, volunteer and administrator. He’s also a world champion, having won the 2009 World Masters Games Gold Medal as Player and Team Manager for the Burwood Over 50s dream team.

Update on the commencement of the CDSFA 2020 Season.

Today we speak with Peter Katholos. Once described by legendary Real Madrid and Hungarian player Ferenc Puskas as the best technical player in Australia, Peter was born in the Greek village of Myrsini in the Peloponnese. He migrated to Sydney with his family at the age nine and started playing football in the CDSFA for Canterbury Junior Football Club. Peter went on to have an illustrious playing career spanning 14 years in the National Soccer League, playing for St George, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt, Marconi and Parramatta, winning 3 NSL Championships, 2 NSL Cups and being voted Australian Footballer of the Year in 1982. He wore the green and gold on 22 occasions between 1981 and 1983 including a man of the match performance vs England at the SCG. He also had a stint in the Greek first division with Larissa.He was coached by the greats: Tommy Docherty, Berti Mariani and Rale Rasic. Peter reunited with the CDSFA later on, playing for Belmore Eagles in the Over 45s men’s competition. He has also volunteered as an Under 8s Coach for the Earlwood Wanderers Football Club. Nicknamed “The Kat”, Peter has lived in the district for 50 years. He is now a Member of Football Federation Australia's Football Heritage Committee and is on a mission to transform the coaching culture in Australia.

Stuart Hodge is the Chief Executive Officer of Football NSW, a role he has held for 3 years. He has more than 20 years' experience in sports administration, including four years with Football Federation Australia (FFA). Stuart has an extensive understanding of the football landscape in NSW, nationally and internationally. Prior to Football NSW, Stuart was based in Doha, Qatar where he was the Director of Marketing for the International Centre for Sport Security, a globally-renowned and respected organisation which plays an increasingly integral role in addressing critical issues in sport such as governance, integrity and transparency, as well as major event safety and security. Immediately prior to that, Stuart was the Head of Marketing and Communications for Aspire, which is recognised as one of the world’s leading sports cities and football academies. Stuart's passion for football started at the Cranbourne Soccer Club, where he spent 10 years playing at the junior level.

In Episode #22 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast we speak with Maria Gissing from the Roselands Raptors Football Club. Maria has made a tremendous impact on community football within the CDSFA. A volunteer for almost 25 years, Maria is a Life Member of the Roselands Raptors Football Club. She is also the recipient of the CDSFA's Cec Barlow Award and the prestigious Football NSW State Award for her services to football. Maria has also been instrumental in developing and growing female football within the CDSFA.

Danny Townsend is the Chief Executive Officer of Sydney FC. Danny also played football for Belrose Junior Football Club, Manly in the State League, Sydney United and Parramatta Power in the former National Soccer League (NSL). Danny talks about his football playing days; setting up his own global sports marketing agency; living around the world; becoming the Sydney FC CEO; and his thoughts on applying a club centric model.

John Tsatsimas is the Chief Executive Officer of Western Sydney Wanderers (WSW). John is also a former Concord Juniors Soccer Club player. In Episode #20 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, John talks about his time at the Newcastle Jets; winning the A-League in 2008; forming WSW out of nothing; winning the Asian Champions League and creating the Centre of Football.

Armando Gardiman AM, CDSFA Chairman, talks about the current developments impacting community football and the CDSFA's plans for a spring/summer competition.

FOX SPORTS Chief Football commentator Simon Hill joins us for a quick chat about football during COVID-19.

Paul Wade OAM is a former Socceroos captain, making over 100 appearances for Australia. Born in Cheshire, England in 1962, Paul came to Australia in 1973 at the age of 11. He made his National Soccer League (NSL) debut in 1984 for Green Gully (Victoria) and won the 1985 NSL Championship with Brunswick Juventus. Eights years later, Paul won another NSL Championship with South Melbourne. He finished his career with Canberra Cosmos. Paul has had a remarkable international career including the Seoul Olympics in 1988, two World Cup campaigns in 1990 and 1994 and one of the toughest tasks in world football, marking Diego Maradona over two World Cup play off matches with Argentina in 1993.

CDSFA CEO Ian Holmes talks about COVID-19's impact on community football.

Angelica Georgopoulos represents the bright future for female football within the CDSFA. She is on the Executive Committee at Strathfield Football Club as the Junior Vice President. She is a player for Strathfield FC in the All Age Women/1s competition. She is also a referee with the Canterbury Referees Association. Angelica recently attended a Women in Football conference in Manchester. She comes back to Sydney enthused and ready to positively influence female football.

In episode 14 we speak with Paul Reid, Assistant Coach at Sydney FC. Paul Reid is a former A-league player with Adelaide United, Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC. Paul previously played for Wollongong Wolves in the NSL, winning two championships before moving to England where he played for 6 years with Bradford City and Brighton & Hove Albion. Paul knows all about community football, having been Sydney FC’s Community Football Officer for many years, connecting with the grassroots football community including the CDSFA.

Ron Royston OAM has a lifelong passion for Football. He joined Marrickville Football Club in 1958 at 9 years old. He has been there ever since. He has been active in the club — playing, coaching, serving on various positions including treasurer, secretary and president, and becoming a life member. He played for the Marrickville Red Devils between 1958 and 1992. Ron has also been a member of committees at the CDSFA and is the recipient of the Cec Barlow Medal, Vince and Val Laws Medal and a Football NSW award. In January 2016, Ron was awarded an OAM for his services to football.

​Zlatko has an extensive Football background that started within the CDSFA at Hurlstone Park Wanderers FC and culminated in an extremely successful career playing professionally in the First Division Leagues of Belgium, France and the Netherlands as well as Australia. A prolific Striker, Zlatko’s career highlights include playing for the Olyroos at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games that finished fourth in the world, arguably the greatest placement achievement in Australia’s Football history. For more than a decade, Zlatko has led a number of successful football clinics for the CDSFA.

In Episode 11 of the CDSFA Community Football podcast, we speak with the Godfather of community football, Canterbury Junior Football Club Life Member and CDSFA Life Member, Vince Laws. The 2019 season marks the 79th year of Vince Laws involvement in football. Vince started playing at the age of 11 with the Lilyfield Wanderers Club. In 1964, Vince registered his son with the Canterbury Junior Football Club and was persuaded to coach a team in the Under 9s competition. Vince accepted the request to coach thinking he would do so for one year. How wrong he was, as he continued to coach teams at Canterbury for 33 consecutive years. He also did a stint of 5 years with the APIA Club during this same period.During his coaching career at Canterbury, Vince coached the Premier League squad, both 1st and Reserve grades for 9 years. In that time, the reserve grade squad won the premiership 6 consecutive years and the CDSFA acknowledged this achievement in presenting the Perpetual Trophy to Vince in recognition of his achievements.From 1972 to 1985, Vince was the President of the Canterbury Junior Football Club. Vince also coached Metropolitan Representative Teams for the CDSFA. In 1994, Vince was presented with a State Award by the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation. In 2008 he received a special Soccer NSW Award for distinguished service to football. In recognition of the contribution Vince and his late wife Val had made to their club and more broadly to the Association, the CDSFA inaugurated the Vince and Val Laws Medal in 2013, which is presented annually at the CDSFA’s Volunteer Recognition Dinner. In October 2019, at 90 years of age, Vince received the ultimate recognition in community football, awarded the prestigious George Churchward Medal by Football NSW.

Welcome to Episode 10 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast. In this episode we speak with George Barbouttis. Born in 1950 of Greek heritage, George’s family settled in Newcastle where his father had established various family businesses. In 1955 when George was only 5, his father was tragically killed in a car accident at just 38. This turned the family into complete chaos. They moved to be closer with relatives in Sydney, eventually moving to Earlwood. This is where George’s talent and passion for football grew. Playing for Earlwood Wanderers Football Club, Pan Hellenic and Sydney Croatia; and attracting interest from major European clubs such as PAOK and Panathinaikos. He was coached by greats such as Rex Foster, Joe Vlatsis and Rale Rasic. George was on the verge of being selected for the 1974 Socceroos squad for the World Cup in West Germany. However, serious injury, sickness and sheer bad luck led to George being omitted from the 1974 World Cup. George was guttered. So much so, he decided to prematurely hang up his boots and not play again. George’s story is about courage, determination, tenacity and pure love for football and the importance of youth in our game.

In Episode #9 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with Jerry Bitas from the Canterbury Referees Association (CRA). Jerry is one of the top referees within the CDSFA. A former CDSFA football player turn referee, Jerry lives and breathes refereeing. He simply loves it, winning many fans and accolades along the way. During the season, if you’re out there watching a BBC/1s or All Age 1s game, more often that not, it is Jerry that you will see in the middle of the centre circle blowing the whistle. Jerry is also the Branch Coach for the CRA, a role he is extremely passionate about, especially when it comes to developing and inspiring new and young referees within the CDSFA.

In Episode 8 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with Elias Youssef from the Canterbury Referees Association (CRA). Elias has been a referee within the CDSFA for almost 20 years. He has been instrumental in recruiting four of his children as referees: two daughters and two sons. Elias’ youngest son Ellie also happens to be the youngest junior referee within the CRA.Elias is well respected within the CDSFA and is regarded as one of the most passionate and committed referees going around. Even to this day, Elias continues to be an inspiration to younger referees. In 2019, Elias was awarded a Cec Barlow Award from the CDSFA in recognition for his outstanding service to Football.

Nick Kambounias, President of Cooks River Titans Football Club, is someone all clubs would love to have: passionate and working tirelessly behind the scenes. Nick's passion is to create a family football club which focuses on developing children to understand and appreciate the fundamentals of sportsmanship, respect, camaraderie, teamwork, competition and having fun. Nick, a former State level footballer, created Cooks River Titans Football Club five years ago after being contacted by the CDSFA.

In this episode we speak with the voice of Australian football, FOX SPORTS Chief Football Commentator Simon Hill.Simon Hill has the rare ability to be both a colourful and insightful commentator of the world game here and abroad. Simon believes football in this country has only fulfilled at best 10% of its potential.Simon has worked on some of the world's greatest sporting events including the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He joined FOX SPORTS in 2006 after making a name for himself with his historic calls of Australia’s heroic performance at the World Cup in Germany. Simon has been the main man behind the microphone for all of Australia’s qualifiers, World Cups, Asian Cups, A league matches and grand finals over the last 13 years.As a respected member of the football community, Simon educates and informs viewers by bringing together his flawless research and insight from years of experience. He has the added bonus of having covered football on all four corners of the globe, including the A-League, the English Premier League, the Asian Champions League and Socceroos internationals. Earlier in his career, he spent a decade working for the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, British Eurosport and SBS among others.Simon is extremely passionate about the beautiful game which means he never shirks the tough issues that permeate throughout Australian football.

In Episode #5 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with John Buonavoglia and Anthony Trieste from Leichhardt Tigers Junior Soccer Club Over 35/1s. John and Anthony share a very special bond and friendship that has lasted for over 30 years.Despite growing up in different parts of Sydney, John and Anthony immediately connected as young teenagers at Lambert Park in 1988 in the U13s at APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC. After pursuing different career paths, they were reunited again at Leichhardt Tigers Juniors in 2013, this time in the O35/1s. Together they have proven to be a formidable force, enjoying enormous success and breaking numerous records along the way, winning multiple CDSFA O35/1 championships, 2 Football NSW State Cups and the pinnacle of NSW Club football, the Football NSW Champion of Champions twice.As you will hear in this podcast, these two best friends and team mates are still passionate as ever about playing and enjoying football together and are still hungry for further football success in the coming years.

In Episode #4 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with a true legend of the game - Former Socceroo Captain, Paul Okon. Paul first caught the eye of national team selectors after a stunning start to his career in the National Soccer League for Marconi where he won the Under 21 Player of the Season in his first two years in 1990 and 1991. He made his full senior Socceroos debut at the age of 18 on a rainy night in Parramatta in 1991. He then went on to star for the Young Socceroos at the World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991, followed by the Olyroos at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.Paul's uncanny ability to read the play and glide past other players with ease and effortlessly saw him marked as Australia’s next big thing. His talents saw him leave Marconi for Europe, signing with Club Brugge in Belgium’s first division, where a successful five-year spell culminated in him winning the title and Golden Shoe award in 1996 for the best player in Belgium, the first non-European to win the award.A dream move to a star-studded Lazio team saw Paul become the first Australian to playregularly in the Italian Serie A. He earned 28 caps for the Socceroos over a 12-year international career, captaining Australia for 24 of his 28 caps. Paul returned to Australia in 2006 to play for Newcastle Jets in the A-League before retiring from professional football in 2007. He immediately turned his efforts to nurturing the next generation of Australian footballers, joining a coaching development program before being appointed the national under 20 coach in 2012, followed by his appointment in 2016 as Head Coach of the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League for 2 seasons.Paul Okon remains one of the most gifted players to represent Australia and paved the way for the golden generation that followed.

In Episode #3 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with Natasha Hill from Punchbowl United FC. Natasha is a coach, volunteer, mentor and current President of Punchbowl United FC. She is also the Community Sports Program Coordinator at Creating Chances, a program managing all Football United Community and School Sites in Australia.In 2018 Natasha was chosen to lead an Australian Delegation at the FIFA Foundation Festival in Russia, in conjunction with the World Cup to promote Social Development through Sport. She has been awarded the CEC Barlow award from the CDSFA for her tremendous contribution towards the local and regional football community; and was once chosen as only one of 10 worldwide to attend a Women in Sports Workshop run by UN Women and Valencia Football Club in Spain to gain knowledge and share ideas on how to involve more women in sports at a community level. Natasha is one of the most passionate coaches and administrators in our game.

Alexandra Georgopoulos from Strathfield Strikers FC kicks goals on and off the field. She has played football since she was six years old, in mixed gender teams before moving onto female teams in her teen years and later playing in the top division of her age category.In 2016, Alexandra was chosen by FIFA, among 50 others worldwide, to visit FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, to take part in consultations to improve the game for the global community. She currently holds the position of Female Football Officer at her local club, Strathfield Strikers FC. Alexandra is also a member of the CDSFA Female Football Committee. She is an inspiration to many girls and is determined to ensure girls are provided with the support to become confident referees, players and coaches in football. In the future, Alexandra is determined to work for FIFA, hoping to be the first female FIFA President. In Episode #2 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with Alexandra Georgopoulos about her inspiring contribution towards the development of football.

Canterbury District Soccer Football Association (CDSFA) CEO Ian Holmes has made a significant contribution to football at all levels of the game, local/community, NSW and Australia over a period of now five decades.Ian’s involvement with Football has seen him attain senior positions across all levels of the game. At the core has been his affiliation with the CDSFA and community football.He continues to serve the game in his current position as the CEO of CDSFA. Ian’s passion for the game took him into the administration side of football. He demonstrated this passion when as a very young man, took on a Committee position with his local club. From there, he progressed to the CDSFA where he was elected its youngest ever President. He then served the membership of the CDSFA in a multiplicity of roles over a forty-year period.In the last five years as the CEO of the CDSFA, Ian has been integrally involved in a number of grants applications to upgrade facilities that have resulted in Commonwealth, State and Local grants in excess of $8 million towards infrastructure development within the CDSFA.Ian's service to the game has resulted in him achieving a number of Honours including Life Membership with CDSFA and Football NSW, State Award and the Football NSW George Churchward Medal.In Episode #1 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with Ian Holmes about his wonderful journey in football and where he sees the CDSFA and the game going forward in the coming years.