Life Members
A-B | C | D | E-H | I-L | M-P | Q-S | T-Z
Cecil Earley
Born in Belfast, Cecil Earley arrived in Melbourne in 1961 and made a name for himself as a prolific goalscorer with the Coburg Soccer Club before eventually settling in Geelong, where he played across six decades for a number of clubs, calling Geelong, Bell Park, Geelong Rangers and Corio home. A Life Member with the Western Victoria Soccer Association in 1996, Earley became a Life Member of Football Federation Victoria in 2010. Cecil Earley passed away in 2020.
Ted Ellinghaus
One of the key individuals responsible for the establishment of the Bendigo Soccer League in 1970 (the League Premiership trophy is named in his honour), Ted Ellinghaus won the inaugural Best-and-Fairest and Highest Goalscorer awards in 1971 as a player with Golden City. He served on the Appeals and Disciplinary Board throughout much of the 1970's and as President for four years between 1979 and 1982. Ellinghaus was awarded life membership by the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League (BASL) in 1981.
Tony Ferdelja
Awarded life membership by the Sunraysia Soccer Association in 1992, Tony Ferdelja passed away in Mildura in 2021.
Geza Finna
Awarded life membership by the Sunraysia Soccer Association in 1994, Geza Finna was a long standing official with Mildura United where he was also recognised as a life member. Finna passed away in 2018.
Bernard Finnegan
A member of the Victorian branch of the Australian Soccer Referees Association (ASRA) between 1974 and 1980, Bernard Finnegan served as Vice President in 1976.
Jacqui Gardiner
A life member with the Victorian Women's Soccer Association, Jacqui Gardiner was awarded life membership after amalgamation with and by the Victorian Soccer Federation in 2001.
Mike Gaut
Gaut officiated his first football match in 1964 and rose to be one of the top assistant referees in Victoria and Australia, where he featured prominently in the National Soccer League, NSL Cup (two finals) and countless international matches. Upon retirement, his work as a referee assessor was unparalleled, influencing the careers of hundreds of match officials. Gaut served on the SRV Management Committee and the original Victorian Soccer Federation Referees Committee, and was awarded Life Membership in 2000. Gaut passed away in 2019.
Terry Gormley
A Life Member of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League in 1994, Terry Gormley became a Life Member of Football Victoria in 2010.
Carlo Graser
Eddie Grinluckle
Paul Halliday
A Geelong Region Football Association Life Member, Paul Halliday became a Life Member of Football Federation Victoria in 2010.
George Harper
A Life Member of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League in 1986, George Harper became a Life Member of Football Victoria in 2010.
Bart Harrold
Bart Harrold's introduction to football was via the Boronia Soccer Club, where he was involved for 25 years, and Bayswater Strikers Soccer Club, where he spent almost a decade. He served on the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) Metropolitan Management Committee for eight years and the VSF Investigation and Disciplinary committee for eight years, his last four as Chair. He also served as Football Federation Victoria Board Member for seven years until 2013, where he was suitably recognised as a life member.
E Harvey
1968
Allan Harwood
A Life Member of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League in 1983, Allan Harwood became a Life Member of Football Victoria in 2010.
Eric Heath
Born in Durham, England in 1925, Eric Heath arrived in Melbourne in 1950 fresh from the Middlesborough Reserves and joined Moreland where he was made captain halfway through the season. By season's end, he had been selected for a tour of New Caledonia with the Australian national team. The following year, he made his debut for Victoria against South Australia and played against a touring English XI. Following a stint with Brighton and Moreland again, Heath turned his eye to administration and would become a foundation life member of the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) in 1962, as well as a Patron and Trustee. Heath was elected treasurer following the purchase of Soccer House in 1960 and served as vice president of the VSF between 1974 and 1983. He was awarded the Andy Kun Trophy in 1988 and inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2001. Heath passed away in 2008, aged 82.
Emil Hecht
2000
Lou Hemmes
Lou Hemmes was a FIFA accredited referee who was active in the Victorian State League between 1972 and 1985. He was a linesman in numerous state and national matches as well as the National Soccer League. Upon retirement, he served as secretary or treasurer of the Victorian division of the Australian Soccer Referees Federation, later to become Soccer Referees Victoria, between 1989 and 1998. Hemmes was a referee educator and assessor, assisting many referees on their pathway through Victorian football. Hemmes was awarded life membership in 2009 and passed away in 2021.
Jan Hente
1973
Betty Hoar
Betty Hoar is a pioneer of organised women’s football in Victoria and Australia. She played in the first few seasons of the fledgling Victorian Women's Soccer Association (VWSA), became secretary of the Australian Women's Soccer Association between 1979 and 1986 and managed numerous state and national teams. A life member of the VWSA, Hoar was bestowed the same honour by the Victorian Soccer Federation after both entities amalgamated in 2001, and continued to serve on the Women’s League Committee. Hoar received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2003 and was part of the inaugural intake of Football Victoria's Hall of Fame in 2010.
Karen Hocking
A driving force behind football's growth in the Goulburn Valley throughout the modern era, Karen Hocking became secretary of the Shepparton Junior Soccer Association (SJSA) in 2003, a position she holds to this day. Across almost two decades she has managed the SJSA Academy Player Development Program, assumed the role of Vice President of the Victorian Country Leagues Football Association and worked tirelessly as the SJSA Registrations Officer, witnessing exponential growth as more and more children take up football in the Shepparton region. Hocking was recognised for her tireless efforts with life membership to Football Victoria in 2020.
John Hodgson
1998. Passed away in 2011
Stan Hodson
A Life Member of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League in 1978, Stan Hodson became a Life Member of Football Victoria in 2010.
Eric Holbrook
A life member with the Victorian Women's Soccer Association, Eric Holbrook was awarded life membership after amalgamation with and by the Victorian Soccer Federation in 2001.
John Holder
Sam Horrobin
Born in Liverpool, England, Sam Horrobin played with Metropolitan League clubs in Melbourne as early as 1923, before assuming the role of secretary with Moreland in 1944. A councillor by trade, he served on the executive council of the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association for eight years between 1953 and upon its dissolution in 1961, and was Chairman of the Metropolitan League Management Committee. Horrobin became a life member of the Victorian Soccer Federation in 1965 and continued his service as a member of the State League Investigation and Disciplinary Committee, before his passing in 1969.
Fred Hutchison
Born in 1927, Fred Hutchison was a dedicated official with more than 50 years experience in administration and development. He began as a referee in 1952, gaining interstate and international recognition at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. A referee inspector upon retirement, he chaired the VSF Referees Committee between 1974 and 1979. He also served on the Men's State League Management Committee for eight years before becoming a member of the Appeals board, a role he undertook for over 25 years. He was awarded life membership by the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) in 1975 and received FIFA and IOC awards in 2001 for his services to football, and was ultimately inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2004. Hutchison passed away in 2019, aged 91.