Life Member Profile: Chris Hemming and his 50+ Years of Football Devotion
Chris Hemming started playing with Mt Colah and then became one of the founding members of Asquith Soccer Club (now known as Asquith Football Club) in 1968. Chris played in the first Asquith Soccer Club team in 1969 which won Division Two and also Gala Day against Mt Colah in their first year. Chris continued to play for the club until injury called time to his playing days in the early 1980s.
Chris held various committee roles from 1998 until 2008 including Senior Coordinator. In 2009 Chris took on the role as Club President, a position he held until 2012. Robyn Petersen (past Club Secretary and Registrar) states that Chris “was hugely important in keeping the junior part of the club surviving around 2008-2010. He and Richard Pilgrim were the backbone of the club during those tough years and assisted in everything from official representation at the NSFA through to dressing fields and running BBQs”.
Chris was always present at Asquith Oval. He would attend club training sessions making sure that teams had the resources to train effectively. On game days you would find Chris behind the BBQ and at the end of the day he would assist in stripping down the field. You will still find Chris on Saturdays at Asquith Oval supporting the club that he has helped to develop.
Chris also assisted in the development of Women’s football with the first Asquith team starting in 1998. Women’s football within the club continued to grow from there. Chris supported Women’s football in the same way he supported the Men and Junior teams. Chris has made an outstanding commitment to Asquith over many years and was a made a Life Member of the club in 1987.
Chris has been a member of the Northern Suburbs Football Association’s Protest, Disputes and Disciplinary Committee (PD&DC) since 2008 and is still serving in this role in 2023. Chris is a highly respected and regarded member of the PD&DC panel. He has brought much experience and a valuable common-sense approach to the role. Chris was honoured with Life Membership of the NSFA in 2022.
Both Asquith FC and the NSFA owe a lot to Chris’s enormous contributions which have continued for over half a century. Chris continues his contributions to football and will still be found at Asquith Oval providing support where needed. The footballing community thank Chris for his outstanding service to football both past and present.