Walter de Ste Croix became involved in football in1957 as a founding member of Gordon East Soccer Club (now Gordon Football Club) along with Lou Thomas another NSFA Life Member. Walter was no doubt on the early Management Committee of the Gordon club and was known to coach many of the Gordon Club teams. He was one of the pioneers of the Association.
Walter became involved with the Ku-ring-gai and District Soccer Association (KDSA) as a representative coach. The first representative team ever formed in Ku-Ring-gai district was formed in 1959, coached by Walter de Ste Croix. Walter was known to be part of the Wardell/de Ste Croix era. Dave Wardell was a former player in Sutherland Shire and came to the district in the early late 1960’s to coach Ku-ring-gai United and the Under 16 and Under 18 inter-district teams with Walter de Ste Croix. The Wardell/de Ste Croix era saw a plethora of State players come out of the district including Murray Barnes and Robbie Wheatley.
Over the years Walter served on the KDSA Management Committee. His first role was Treasurer of the Association in 1968 where he joined Rod Woods and Austin Sheath, two other future Life Members, as first time committee members. In 1972 under Walter’s guidance, the first All Age Committee was formed and commenced in 1973 with Walter being the Convenor. Walter was also the All Age Football Committee Chairman in 1977 and the Youth Age Convenor in 1980 and 1981. His final role on Management Committee was Senior Vice President in 1986.
Walter was also heavily involved with the formation of the first Referee’s Association, which later merged with Northern Suburbs Referees in 1974 to form the Ku-ring-gai and District Soccer Referees Association. Walter is also a Life Member of the KDFRA.
Walter will also be fondly remembered for his probing interrogations of the Treasurer at General meetings. This illustrated Walter’s interest in the Association and the desire to see the Association run in a business-like manner.
In the early 1990’s, Walter and his wife Gretel moved to Orange after his retirement. Later they relocated to Bathurst, where his daughter lived, until his death in November 2012. Despite moving out of the area of the association, Walter continued to take an interest in the Association as a regular letter writer.
We thank Walter for being an innovative contributor to the Association as an Administrator, Coach and Referee. Walter was honoured with Life Membership of the Association in 1974, our eighth Life Member.