Ted Simmons Junior Football Medal
In recognition of one of the Eastern Suburbs’ greatest servants of the game and life member of this Association, Edward (Ted) Simmons, ESFA is pleased to announce that in 2022 we will again award the Ted Simmons Junior Football Medal.
Ted Simmons OAM needs no introduction. He is a legend of our sport, a legend to journalism, a legend here at ESFA. Apart from the many things Ted is a Life Member of ESFA and was President of ESFA from 1973 to 1982.
This award will be presented to the player, coach or team who has displayed the most outstanding excellence, development, or example of sporting conduct in ESFA competition. This year we had quite a few nominations. We narrowed it down to four and they couldn’t be separated. So, we have four worthy recipients.
The awards were presented to the winners at the ESFA AGM on Tuesday 22nd November.
Mascot Kings Nominations
The first nomination is from Mascot Kings Football Club, actually, they have nominated two young blokes. Club President James Mavroudis and Phillip Carabitsios have put forward the nomination.
These two boys play for Mascot Kings Under 15 Championship team. These two boys come to L’Estrange each Saturday morning bright and early to help set up fields, take down goals, direct traffic, referee and do anything else that is required. They do this purely on a volunteer basis with the only form of payment being a hotdog and a drink. This sort of behaviour is what is lacking in our society today as we all have become a “what’s in it for me” group. Without these sort of volunteers, smaller clubs like our own, wouldn’t be able to survive.
It would be a great honour for these two boys who come down and help, have a smile on their face and enjoy helping other kids out to be nominated and hopefully win the Ted Simmons Medal.
Please congratulate James Santangelo and Alex O’Donoghue.
Pagewood Botany Nomination
The next nomination is from Pagewood Botany Football Club. The Club Secretary, Julia Chernoukha has put forward the nomination.
This young bloke contributes to Pagewood Botany Football Club in so many capacities. Whether it be stepping up as a referee in the Under 8’s to playing at a consistently high level for his Under 12’s team TMK. He also steps up and fills in for the Under 13’s team when needed and represents the Club and game in the highest of sportsmanship levels.
The above describes this young bloke just on Saturday and Sunday. He always looks to improve himself. During the week he participates in two extra training per week to improve his skills and game knowledge. We also see him as a future leader of our Club. He has been with Pagewood Botany since the age of 4 and embodies the true meaning of Sportsman.
Please congratulate Matthew Wunsch.
Heffron Hawks Nomination
The next nomination is from Heffron Hawks Football Club. Now this is an interesting nomination. Mark Hedge, Heffron Hawks President has nominated someone from Glebe Wanderers Football Club.
Over the past 2 or 3 years I have witnessed this person almost single-handedly grow Glebe Wanderers Juniors section of the Club through his coaching knowledge, dedication, and love of grassroots football.
Not only is his organisational game top notch, sorting out kits, training duties, parking bookings etc.– his coaching ‘way’ and success is worthy of this award alone. The parents lean to him, his coaches respect him, and the kids love him.
I have 2 children – one played for Hawks Under 6’s a few seasons back but when she was Under 8 – I had no hesitation in asking this bloke if she and my son Under 5/6 could join his Club as I knew he offered a solid foundation to football training and ran a great junior club. We haven’t looked back.
His coaching methods has ensured my kids want to come back year after year. Now in their 3rd season at Glebe Wanderers, will I ever get them back?
My own relationship with this person was formed in the Heffron Hawks sheds!! Both of us clambering over gear and kit – where I always found him accommodating and personable – helping me – Heffron Hawks – with kit issues, closing or opening up the shed etc. He even printed our junior team’s logos on their shirts! The relationship we as a Club have with this person and with Glebe Wanderers is very good – sharing match day duties – Glebe carries out the set up job on weekends – Heffron Hawks offer Glebe a field to train on when weather closes theirs! This is all down to the person he is.
He would be a truly worthy recipient of this award – I hope you see fit to honour him.
Please congratulate Garry Toase.
