By Roy Hay

As part of the settlement which saw the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) succeed the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association (VASFA) as the governing body of the game in this state in 1962, the office bearers of VASFA resigned and were elected life members of the new organisation.[i] Subsequently life members were added as members of the VSF were recognized for their meritorious service to the game. They included former players, administrators, referees, and others who had contributed significantly to the growth of the code.

When the Football Federation Victoria took over the administration of the game under its current name in 2005, it recognised the life members of the VSF it has also recognised the life members of the Victorian Women’s Soccer Association. In 2010 it recognised the life members of the constituent regional bodies which have now come under the direct auspices of the Federation.

A group of VSF officials and members of the press taken in 1969-70. Several were then or later life members of the Federation. Back row, left to right. Henry Dressler, George Yelland, Norm Couzens, John Klimecki, Len Willmer (secretary) George Sawczak, Laurie Schwab, John Oliphant, John Castellini, Taffy Coombes, Enver Begovic. Front row: John Gorton, Andy Kun, Vic Manson. Source: Laurie Schwab collection, Deakin University Library.

The following historical lists are taken from VASFA, VSF and FFV Yearbooks and Annual Reports

VASFA Council 1961[ii]

Harry Dockerty, President

N Rothfield, Vice-president

Dr Charles Walker, Vice-president

Bill Thomas, Chairman of Council

J Paul, Deputy Chairman of Council

Alex Kerr, Hon Treasurer

A d’Andrea, Member

Morrie Buckner, Member

Lou de Bono, Member

Kurt Defris, Member

C Dodd, Member

C D Harris, Member

Sam Horrobin, Member

D Ivanovic, Member

Fred Lang, Member

Theo Marmaras, Member

John Oliphant, Member

S Rubenstein, Member

Fred Villiers, Member

VSF Life Members 1967[iii]

Dr H Baytch

Tommy Burns

Lou de Bono

Kurt Defris

J Demtrie

Henry Dressler

Eric Heath

Sam Horrobin

Alex Kerr

Tony Kovac

Andy Kun

Fred Lang

Theo Marmaras

J Parker

J Paul

J Pick

Bill Thomas

Dr Charles Walker

John van Hoboken

Henry Wirt

Enver Begovic

Life Members 1983[iv]

Theo Marmaras, MBE

Michael Weinstein, BEM

Andy Kun

Fred Lang

Kurt Defris

Alex Kerr

Jim Paul

Bill Thomas

Dr H Baytch

Eric Heath

Tony Kovac

John van Hoboken

John Barclay

Henry Dressler

V Wirt

J Castellini

N Stanley

W Campbell

Vic Manson

A Brant

J Oliver

P J O’Connor

J M Knott

Fred Hutchison

G Culbard

Bruo Tessari

J E Abalon

J D’Andrea

W Curran

A Merrills

Ken Slack

VSF Life Members 1994[v]

Andy Kun

Michael Weinstein, AM, BEM

Dr H Baytch

Eric Heath

John van Hoboken

John Barclay

Henry Dressler

V Wirt

J Castellini

M Stanley

W Campbell

Vic Manson

A Brant

Fred Hutchison

G Culbard

Bruno Tessari

J E Abalon

J d’Andrea

W Curran

A Merrills

Ken Slack

C Cutajar

E Barrett

Mrs N Bosma

R Bosma

S David

Cav Vito Cilauro

G Kerry

John Dimtsis

E Richardson

F Royston

Mrs Ellen Slack

A Blacklaw

M Taussig

Gordon Crossley

George Wallace

J Sampson

J Murphy

Don di Fabrizio

David Phillips

V Ballerini

VSF Life Members 2000

Michael Weinstein, AM, BEM

Eric Heath

John Baclay

Henry Dressler

Vic Manson

Dr H Baytch

J Castellini

Fred Hutchison

Bruno Tessari

J E Abalon

G Culbard

W Curran

A Merrills

E Barrett

Mrs N Bosma

S David

Cav Vito Cilauro

John Dimtsis

J d’Andrea

E Richardson

F Royston

Mrs Ellen Slack

A Blacklaw

Gordon Crossley

George Wallace

J Sampson

J Murphy

Don di Fabrizio

V Ballerini

D McIntosh

G Kerry

M Taussig

Tony Dunkerley

Dominic Trimboli

Frank Burin

Don Sutherland

C Cutajar

Joe Docherty

David Phillips

Stan Slazyk

John Hodgson

Lou Stafrace

FFV Life Members 2009[vi]

Mate Antolos

Vince Ballerini

Chris Bambridge

John Barclay

Alex Blacklaw

Frank Burin

Terry Bywater

Eileen Bywater

John Castellini

Norman Ceeney

Jason Charles

Matt Ciavarella

Tony Cikoja

Vito Cilauro

Carlo Contini

Gordon Crossley

Sam David

Don Di Fabrizio

John Dimtsis

James Dixon

Joe Docherty

Tony Dunkerley

Bernard Finnegan

Michael Gaut

Emil Hecht

Lou Hemmes

Betty Hoar

John Hodgson

Fred Hutchison

Roger Lamb

Neilson Love

Ken Lyon

Victor Manson

David McIntosh

Janette Melvin

Albert Merrills

Marek Momont

John Murphy

Bill Mustafa

David Phillips

Eric Richardson

John Riley

Moya Riley

Jim Sampson (Snr)

Louis Savannah

Stan Slazyk

Lewis Stafrace

Michael Taussig

Don Trimboli

Colin Tuffield

Lyn van Pelt

Johannes Verniers

Fred Villiers

George Wallace

Michael Weinstein

References

[ii] VASFA Yearbook, 1961, p. 3.

[iii] VSF Yearbook, 1967.

[iv] VSF Yearbook, 1983.

[v] VSF Yearbook, 1994, p. 1.

[vi] FFV Annual Report 2009, p. 34.