FOOTBALL. It's a year long obsession for Michael Wallace from Taree Wildcats.
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Wallace was named the Football Mid North Coast volunteer of the year for 2020. He's the Wildcats' secretary and also on the board of FMNC, where he serves as treasurer. He also assists in coaching at club level and with the zone's Skills Acquisition Program (SAP). For good measure Wallace is also the treasurer of Manning Futsal and he coaches Manning sides at national championships.
The Wildcats made a massive step in 2020, opting to gain a place in the Coastal Premier League (CPL) just two weeks before the competition started after the pandemic lockdown. Taree didn't originally apply for a place. While the Wildcats struggled on the field, Wallace believes the move was the right one and will pay dividends.
"This was a big call by our club,'' he admitted.
"Coming back into the club it was apparent to me that the Wildcats needed to stand for something. Customer service standards needed to lift, but what was the vision?
"The CPL needed a team from the southern end of our zone. Our on field performances were not as strong as hoped, but this just shows the standard of the competition. We hope to attract more players for 2021.
"Being in the CPL allows us to build pathways for younger players who do not make the higher levels in Newcastle, or simply can not afford the cost and time.''
Wallace moved to this area in 2008 from Orange. His oldest son signed up with the Wildcats and Wallace joined the club's committee and coached his son's team up to the under 15s, before taking on the same role with his younger son's under 10s side.
Wallace eventually took on the registrar's role on the committee.
"That was around 2014/15 I think,'' he said.
"I'm proud of the fact that as registrar, we grew our club at a higher rate than the FMNC averages. Three seasons back, I stepped off the committee due to the coaching workload.
"This year I was asked to come back on the committee as secretary to help stablise and refocus the club as the numbers had been declining over the past few years.''
He's been on the FMNC board for four years.
"I take that role very seriously,'' he said.
"You will often find me at other grounds where the Wildcats are not playing, watching and helping out. I believe that directors need to know what is happening at grassroots levels to make better decisions."
Michael Wallace is determined to ensure Taree Wildcats Soccer Club improve facilities for players and supporters at the club's Omaru Park base.
"We are paying for a concept plan for Omaru Park so that when grants are available, we are ready to apply for them,'' he explained.
"Among other things, a new clubhouse is on the wish list so that we can more appropriately house the Wildcats and our sister club the Rainbow Warriors. Improved lighting is definitely needed.
"In our first year of Summer 6s we have already achieved full capacity due to lights. We need more lit fields to allow the concept to grow. We could do another night .... but volunteers do need some time at home.
"We have already held meetings with all three levels of government about our concepts."
The club started the Summer 6s this year and it has attracted 280 players.
"This is a service to the football community and also a way for us to raise revenue to improve our infrastructure,'' Wallace said.
He also returned to the playing ranks this year, turning out with Wingham in the men's over 35 competition. Wallace is also having a run in the Summer 6s as well as futsal.
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Wallace estimates that administration, coaching, playing and ground maintenance take about 25 hours of his week.
"It is taxing. I would hope that this award would be a platform to encouraging others to volunteer, not only for the Wildcats, but all football and community sporting clubs. Many hands would make the load lighter,'' he said.
He added his wife Alison and kids 'are a great help.'
"They are all involved with football in various roles,'' he said.
The Wildcats are currently on the lookout for a coach for next season's Coastal Premier League team. Ben Sedlen, who had the job this year, has already indicated he won't be seeking the position for 2021. Sedlen is also the club president.
Officially the football season is over, but it isn't really, with Summer 6s, trials for various Football Mid North Coast teams, futsal and then preparations for 2021. It's a busy life for Wallace and his fellow committee members.
However, he added, it's a worthwhile exercise.
