CANTERBURY DSFA

It was a historical year for Canterbury District Football Soccer Association (CDSFA) who celebrated their centenary in 2022.

As well as honouring the past, 2022 saw several innovations in the region that will ensure football will continue to grow well into the future.

To mark 100 years, the CDSFA Hall of Fame was established to celebrate the history and achievements of the best talent produced in the region. A Centenary Gala was held to announce the inaugural inductees and to celebrate the historical occasion, with a crowd of 500 people attending, including Life Members, Hall of Fame inductees, club representatives, and special guests such as 1974 World Cup coach, Rale Rasic, and recently elected Labor member for Reid, Sally Sitou.

The inaugural inductees were made up of 22 individuals who rose from the Association ranks to achieve high honours in football. They included players, match officials, coaches, and administrators from the early days of the CDSFA all the way to modern times.

With the need for an advanced-level competition at Association level identified, the CDSFA Representative League was launched at the start of this season to give players the opportunity to play and train at a higher level.

Reserved solely for players competing in the CDSFA competitions, the Representative League allows players to experience high-level coaching as well as training and playing with/against higher quality players, without having to spend big money on registration fees for NPL NSW clubs.

This gives players the opportunity to develop while staying close to home and at an affordable price. The observations, analysis, and direct feedback from the first season was overwhelmingly positive with administrators, players, coaches, and game leaders all backing the program to return in an expanded capacity in 2023.

For the first time in the Association’s history, an over-50s league was established to offer more age-appropriate competition to participants. An over-50s competition allows older players to continue playing while also attracting former players to return by offering a league that suits their speed and physicality. The inaugural season saw 174 participants across nine teams play a full 16-game season with finals.

It was also an emotional farewell for one well respected member of the CDSFA. Long-serving Chief Executive Officer, Ian Holmes, departed CDSFA at the end of the 2022 season. Holmes, who served football for almost 50 years at local, state, and national level, leaves a legacy within the football community of the Canterbury District.

On his final night as CEO of Football Canterbury, Holmes was inducted into the CDSFA Hall of Fame in a surprise ceremony. At the conclusion of the 2022 Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Chairman Armando Gardiman and Hall of Famer Jim Fraser made the announcement to the crowd.