Unsung Hero

THE PIED PIPERS OF GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

A-League community officers like the Brisbane Roar’s David Minnis are making sure the kids are alright.

Dutchman Johan Cruyff was once tied up at gunpoint alongside his young family in a Spanish flat. Europe’s greatestever footballer managed to wriggle free, foiling the kidnap attempt. But then he pulled out of the 1978 World Cup.

“There are moments in life,” the three-time Ballon d’Or winner explained, “in which there are other values”.

As Community Officer David Minnis, 40, poses with the Brisbane Roar’s Isuzu D-MAX, you suspect that almost anything short of kidnap may be preferable to a photo shoot.

Cruyff missed a World Cup for his kids and built a foundation to help handicapped children through sport.

Minnis had a much more modest semi-professional football career, but he’s just as devoted to the next generation.

“I never had a desire to coach older players or adults,” says the British expat. “For me, it’s always been fostering that enjoyment with the junior level.

“My job is really about getting kids involved—helping them fall in love with the game, getting them to be active, making friends and having fun. I love it.”

Working with Football Australia, the Roar runs multiple community engagement programs, such as holiday clinics and school programs. Day to day, Minnis focuses firmly on the education space. It’s a busy but rewarding role.

In a 10-week term, for example, Minnis might run up to 10 separate, six-week programs at different schools, piloting his D-MAX between locations. He’ll help between 170 and 230 bright-eyed little kickers in an average term.

It’s just as well that Brisbane Roar-liveried ute is well packed.

“When I first started, we handed out a Roar Active t-shirt to every single child that signed up for our programs,” says Minnis. “Now we give everyone a size two skill ball with The Roar branding and an orange Roar drawstring bag.

“Nothing beats seeing them coming on, learning new skills and their faces lighting up.”

Youthful Roar Chief Operating Officer Zac Anderson is equally engaged. With a dozen-year playing career across Australia, UAE, Malaysia and Singapore, and caps for Australia in the Under-20s and Under-23s, the former A-League premiership winner knows the importance of looking ahead.

He credits people like Minnis, as well as the Roar’s own senior players, with the game’s huge strides forward in the Sunshine State—and nationally.

“We take our responsibility really seriously to be in schools, to be in clubs, and to really focus on our fans and our community,” he says.

Which top flight players are the biggest hit with the kids? If you’ve been following the Matildas in recent years you’ll already have a decent idea.

“I’m sure the guys won’t mind me saying it, but the A-League Women’s girls really have a great relationship with both younger girls and younger boys,” says Anderson. “Players like Sharn Freier and Tameka Yallop, and then on the guys’ side the likes of Jack Hingert and Scott Neville ... the kids just really connect with them.”

Johan Cruyff was ahead of his time, as a player, a coach and in charming the children.

He said, “football has to be fun for kids or it doesn’t make sense”.

That spirit continues at the Roar, as well as at Isuzu UTE A-League clubs across the country.

“Everyone within the football community really appreciates what Isuzu does for us and it makes a huge impact on the league and our club,” says Anderson.

“I just can’t wait to grow it even more,” says Minnis.