Thank you to our football community for your messages welcoming me to my new role as CEO of the NSFA. I am honoured to take on the role and feel privileged to represent you all. It has been a particularly exciting time for me to join the NSFA team during the Men’s World Cup and the support from the Australian Public for our Socceroos has highlighted the uniqueness of our game and the opportunities to continue to grow our game, derive enjoyment through football and bring people together. With the Women’s World Cup scheduled for July and August next year in Australia and New Zealand, we can look forward to everyone getting behind our Matildas for what will be a one in a lifetime experience.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of NSFA Facilities and Competitions Manger Adam Cloughton who did a sterling job as acting CEO between Ed Ferguson leaving and myself commencing the role. I would also like to acknowledge Ed’s achievements over the past 3 years – it has become quickly apparent to me that the NSFA is considered a very progressive association by Football NSW and other Associations. Ed’s contributions to Player and Coach development in particular, including the establishment of the XLR8 and Inspire programmes, has enabled us a level of engagement with clubs and enjoyment of football from our members that is the envy of other Associations. The efforts of Ed and the NSFA Board in navigating the association through two COVID-impacted seasons and the record wet season in 2022 should also be acknowledged.
I would like to also acknowledge the efforts of the NSFA Board over the past year. All of our Board members are volunteers and have dedicated much of their time to enable all members to continue to participate in and enjoy their football. We are about to enter into the final year of our Strategic Plan and I look forward to delivering the last year of this plan with the support of the Board. What has become clear to me over my first few weeks in the role is what an amazing team of staff we have in the NSFA and I would like to thank them for their efforts over this year which have regularly gone well above and beyond their normal roles and responsibilities.
We intend to deliver the best competitions ever in 2023 and look forward to the delivery of some major facilities projects including the NTRA Amenities Development, for which we recently received a $3.64m grant from the NSW Government Office of Sport for undercover searing and new changerooms, and the imminent construction of the Norman Griffiths Oval all-weather pitch project. I have started consulting with your Club’s Presidents and Committee members as to how the NSFA might be able to improve the football experience for all members so if you have any suggestions please direct them to me through your Club President.
On behalf of the NSFA Board and all Staff, we wish all of our football community an enjoyable and safe festive season. We look forward to seeing you on the pitch in 2023!
Thanks,
Kevin Johnson
CEO of the Northern Suburbs Football Association