The founding member in 1980 of Rydalmere Football Club, which plays as part of the GDSFA, has been a celebrated coach and player.
He says volunteers don’t aspire to get awards but it was nice to receive the recognition.
“The best reward is when a young person appreciates what you did for them as a coach and still remembers you 30 years later,” he said.
“We’ve even got third-generation players coming through now and I’ve been blessed to have the right people around me as well as my wife Yvonne, I could not have achieved what I have without her by my side.
“One of our players now is in the Western Sydney Wanderers squad, another plays for the Central Coast Mariners and another has just accepted a contract to play in France which is amazing considering there were only a handful of us at the beginning.”
Granville soccer life member says great to get volunteer recognition
GRANVILLE District Soccer and Football Association (GDSFA) Life Member Peter Bacha sees it was a surprise and exciting to be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to football and the community.
