Football Coaches Australia AGM wrap-up: Terry McFlynn appointed to Executive Committee as organisation achieves major growth

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has announced the appointment of Sydney FC Hall of Famer Terry McFlynn as its newest Executive Committee member at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 9.

McFlynn was delighted to formally join the organisation after contributing in an unofficial capacity for three years.

“I was very honoured to be considered for the position and I’m thrilled to join FCA in an official capacity. The organisation is extremely important for football in Australia as it provides coaches with a voice and a direction,” McFlynn said.

“I’m here to support all of the people at FCA in any shape or form that I can. I very much look forward to working with Glenn Warry, Phil Moss, Heather Garriock, and the rest of FCA’s stakeholders who all do a fantastic job to advocate for coaches in the country.”

Phil Moss believes McFlynn’s impact will be “immeasurable”.

McFlynn will bring a world-class pedigree to FCA after enjoying a stellar career in Australian and international football, most notably as a player in the Hyundai A-League with Sydney FC. He has also captained Northern Ireland at junior level, from U15s through to U23s.

Since his retirement as a player in 2014, McFlynn’s leadership qualities and football knowledge have allowed him to successfully transition into a number of professional roles off-field.

He has served as General Manager of Player Welfare and General Manager of Football Operations, both at Sydney FC, and now works as Perth Glory’s Academy and W-League Manager.

FCA President Phil Moss warmly welcomed McFlynn, highlighting his leadership qualities and football experience, both on and off the pitch.

“I’m personally over the moon, Terry is a football person of the highest integrity. With his administrative and coaching mind, his value to FCA will be immeasurable,” Moss said.

“His skillset is extensive and varied. It is another example of the incredible calibre of people who are getting involved with FCA, which speaks volumes to the work that the organisation does.”

In addition to welcoming McFlynn to its Executive Committee, FCA’s AGM served as a platform to reflect on the organisation’s positive growth over the last 12 months and map out its key objectives for the future.

The association, which now boasts 382 members, reported major progress across three major pillars of focus – Governance, Advocacy, and Professional development.

“I think the highlight for me over the last 12 months has been the collaborative approach that we have been able to achieve with key stakeholders. This shows how determined we are to work together with key stakeholder for the good of the game and for the good of coaches,” Moss said.

“It is important to pay tribute to the work Glenn Warry (CEO) and Heather Garriock (VIce President) do. They are consistently working hard and in the best interests of coaches around Australia. The attendance at the AGM was very strong and it shows that FCA is growing and making a genuine difference.”

Since its inception in 2018, FCA has also made a commitment to gender equity and promoting diversity. Throughout the past year, the association made progress on this commitment by collaborating with the FFA’s Women’s Football Council, establishing a women’s mentorship program, achieving 40 per cent female representation on its Executive Committee, and working to break down barriers and attitudes towards women in coaching roles.

With the past 12 months proving to be successful, Moss is determined for FCA not to rest on its laurels and to continue its positive momentum.

“We are always thinking about what more we can do and how we can improve. It is important to keep those principles in mind because we have set a really strong foundation, but we are in no position to sit back and pat ourselves on the back. We need to continue to grow and evolve,” Moss said.

“The key priority moving forward will be driving revenue streams. We have set a strong platform now from which to build on, but driving sustainable revenue streams will ensure that FCA is financially viable and can stand on its own two feet. There are some really exciting things in the pipeline and I am confident that we can achieve that.”

Heather Garriock, Vice President of FCA echoed Moss’ sentiments surrounding financial sustainability, stating that accomplishing stable revenue streams was now a “must” for the organisation, particularly among corporate and commercial partnerships for FCA’s mentor program.

Heather Garriock says financial sustainability is a key goal for FCA.

With COVID-19 dominating the landscape around the country FCA has acted as a beacon of leadership, hosting more than 30 webinars and professional development workshops which reached in excess of 37,000 coaches nation-wide.

“Creating financial avenues is in our control. People are really enjoying FCA’s professional development workshops but at the moment we have been delivering them on a voluntary basis and it’s unsustainable,” Garriock said.

“It needs to become a two-way street and we need participants to contribute on their end because otherwise the services FCA offer won’t have longevity. So we will look for ways to convert the people attending the workshops and Zoom conferences into full-fledged members.”

For more information, visit footballcoachesaus.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Professional Footballers Australia and R U OK? enter mental health advocacy alliance

Staff Writer
Image Credit: The PFA

Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) on Tuesday announced a three-year alliance with respected Australian mental health advocacy group R U OK?

The alliance seeks to strengthen support structures and education around mental health within the football community, giving players the confidence and ability to recognise when someone might be struggling, and the tools to start an R U OK? conversation.

The PFA’s most recent Player Development Program Report revealed demand for mental health services among its players continues to grow, with 992 confidential counselling services accessed by players in the past financial year – indicating both that professional football’s pressures remain, but also that player awareness on the means to seek support is trending in the right direction.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch welcomed the alliance.

‘Professional footballers face unique pressures throughout their careers, and it’s clear from our data that more players are reaching out for support than ever before,’ said Busch.

‘The growth in confidential counselling sessions shows both the scale of the challenge and the importance of ensuring players have access to trusted, independent support.

‘Working together with R U OK? allows us to build on that work by empowering players with the tools to look after each other, and to lead conversations that can have a genuine impact.’

R U OK? CEO Lach Searle told the PFA his organisation feels their partnership will build on values that those playing the game inherently understand. 

‘Football is built on connection, teamwork and looking out for each other. This alliance is about building on those strengths and making meaningful conversations part of the culture of the game.

‘We want players, clubs and communities to feel confident to notice when someone might be struggling, trust their gut and ask, ‘are you OK?’. Because a conversation can change a life.’

Former Australian professional footballer David Clarkson lived the ups and downs of the game through his twelve-year career in the local National Soccer League. He is one of fifteen former players who have become R U OK? Football Champions, who will work inside A-Leagues clubs towards enacting meaningful conversations on wellbeing.

‘I remember the day very well. It was while I was still playing. Being asked, ‘are you OK?’ made me feel noticed and cared for at a time when I was finding things difficult,” said Clarkson.

‘It gave me permission to be honest instead of simply saying I was fine. Having someone listen helped me feel less alone and reminded me that I didn’t have to manage everything by myself.

‘It also taught me the importance of checking in with others. Asking R U OK? may seem like a small gesture, but it can open the door to an important conversation and let someone know that their wellbeing matters.’

Other Football Champions include Lucas Pantelis, Kirsty Yallop, Rosie Sutton, Michael Thwaite, Maddy Whittall, Andrew McDermott, Doug Hodgson, Tash Rigby, Chris Harold, Julia De Angelis, Brendan Renaud, Tessel Middag and Emma Stanbury.

In addition to Football Champions, free evidence-based tools and resources from R U OK? Will be embedded into PFA programs, helping players build more connected and supported club environments across all levels of the game.

About R U OK?

R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that aims to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with friends, family and colleagues who might be struggling with life. Throughout the year, R U OK? provides practical tools and resources to help Australians recognise when someone might be struggling, start a meaningful conversation and lend appropriate support.

Harry Michaels – Never Standing Still

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Image Credit: Harry Michaels

It’s hard to imagine that so much life experience can be packed into one person’s voyage of discovery but in the case of Harry Michaels it has all materialised.

Michael’s recently, published autobiography is the fascinating account of a man who was determined to succeed in life, whatever the obstacles.

Significantly, his early life at the age of nine was smeared with the tragic loss of his father. Many people would have found it extremely difficult to ever recover from such a bitter experience but not Harry Michaels.

Incredibly, something in the makeup of this young man encouraged him to achieve greatness in honoring the life of his father.

There is a constant message in the book that Michaels would honor his father’s memory forever by achieving perfection in his life endeavours.

Michaels achieved many milestones in his life and football was to become a central theme after he first kicked a ball with his peers in the narrow streets of Cyprus, followed by playing in the school team when he stayed with his aunt in London for a few years after his father’s death.

Australia is the lucky country and when Michaels and his family migrated to Australia, this country was to become infinitely better for it.

In a relatively short space of time, Michaels and his family adjusted to life in their adopted country and when Harry acquired a part in the Channel Ten sitcom, Number 96, the sky was the limit for his future plans.

He became a household name in the living rooms of Australian television viewers and eventually succeeded in entering the cut-throat world of production with the Greek Variety Show.

His biggest success was with Aerobics Ozstyle which originated in 1997 when he witnessed some people doing exercise routines for a television show on the beaches of California and subsequently instigated a pilot television show in Australia.

Currently, it is experiencing a huge revival on Youtube.

Michael’s great love for football naturally led him into the broadcasting arena of the world game and from 1982-2006, he covered NSL and international matches for SBS, including the 1993 World Youth Cup in Australia, Australia v Argentina World Cup qualifier featuring the immortal Diego Maradona, the 1997 World Cup qualifier between the Socceroos and Iran and 2005 elimination match in Sydney between Australia and Uruguay which received some of the highest ratings of any sporting contest ever televised in Australia.

Perhaps, the most dramatic event of all was the coverage of the Pratten Park riot in 1985 at a match between Sydney Olympic and Sydney City.

If this wasn’t enough, Michaels also financed Wollongong Wolves in the 1988 NSL season and was successful in attracting the talents of Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil and Trevor Francis to the club as guest players which led to the first major title won by an Illawarra club since South Coast United led by the mercurial, Jim Kelly, won the 1963 NSW State League grand final in front of a record Australian club attendance of 30,500.

He was the President of Sydney Olympic from 1991-1993 and made a major impact on the club.

Michaels never wanted to be praised for his contribution to football and very people knew he introduced Ericsson Australia, Nanda Spaghetti, Coca Cola, Winfield, Beach Fashions, and Westend Beer Company as sponsors of the NSL, while never asking for any financial reward.

Also, when the broadcasting company which produced the A-League faltered half way through the 2023/24 season, it was Harry Michaels who stepped in to fill the void.

Ironically, Harry was not asked to tender for the broadcasting rights in the following season.

It was something he found hard to accept but successful people like Harry don’t dwell on such events and seek the next challenge.

Hence the title of his book, ‘Never Standing Still’ is a true reflection of a man who let’s no barrier stand in the way to achieve his next goal where others would have given up long before.

Appropriately, his true worth and contribution to the community was duly recognised when he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for his services to broadcasting and football.

This book should be read by all people who want to be inspired by a story where adversity was converted to positives and all football administrators who would learn how the man Harry Michaels became a winner and a highly respected public face in Australian society for his unselfish community contribution.

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