Bill GURNEY 

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My involvement with CP 7-A-Side Football began over 15 years ago following a conversation with fellow Life Member Ian Menzies, in the car park following our footy training of Binalong Oval, Pendle Hill. I subsequently offered to come and give him a hand at an upcoming CP Football Camp at Narrabeen Sports Academy. I still remember that day clearly, especially having to ask my wife Myra whether it was okay for me to stay overnight. I’d received so much positive feedback from the kids at the camp that it seemed the right thing to do, especially with some of the boys asking me what we had planned for that night and the next day. Years later, we are still running these camps and many of those boys are now men with wives and families of their own. We all still look forward to our camps, the training sessions and just catching up with one another, which after 15 years, must mean we have a pretty special thing happening. 

 

Bar the first year of my involvement, NSW has remained the dominant force in Australian 7-A-Side Football, winning the National Championships 15 years in a row and still counting. One of the biggest assets of the NSW squad has been its retention of players and ability to foster development among its younger members. Much of this has come from the respect that all members of the squad have for one another. We have been able to foster a wealth of valuable mentors and inspirational leaders within the squad and this has been simply amazing. Inspirational examples include Chris Pyne with over 100 caps playing for Australia, James Turner, a winner of numerous Olympic gold medals and world records in athletics, and hopefully in the near future Gordan Alan representing Australia in cycling. In addition to athletes of that calibre, several great coaches have emerged from the mix with the likes of Taj Lynch and Ben Sutton now themselves enjoying the thrill of coaching at a high level. NSW has also consistently dominated the make-up of the Australian Pararoos Team. This in turn helps create a very driven and productive environment, one in which the players believe in themselves and what is achievable if they work hard for it. All this makes my involvement with the team an absolute joy and I seriously get more out of helping these guys and girls than anything else I have ever been involved with.

 

Over the years, I’ve come to realise what CPSARA and football can do to help the players and families. It’s not just about football or sport in general, it opens up opportunities they weren’t aware of, offers assistance in putting people in contact with professionals who can change their lives and provides opportunities and pathways that are endless. It has been a never ending eye opener for all concerned. I've heard some amazing stories of resilience and endeavour and witnessed many amazing journeys. Along the way, we have also been apart of some incredibly sad moments as well. Most importantly, the people I’ve met through my involvement, have kept me grounded and given me new perspectives on life, people and their attitudes and how easy it is for many of us to take things for granted. 

 

In more recent years I have also become involved in the development of Athletes With Disability (AWD) Football. Having had numerous players from our NSW squad playing AWD Futsal so that they are playing all year round, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of football. This in turn, led to me being involved in the Hills Football AWD Committee and coaching an All Abilities team at my local club, North Rocks Soccer Club. We live in an amazingly diverse and interconnected world, and this involvement has evolved so that I now regularly meet others in my community equally involved, and these connections can be embraced and used to everyone’s advantage. My involvement with the Hills AWD community has led me to discovering several players with CP who weren’t aware of our NSW program, players involved in not only the All Abilities community, but also with the general football population. Additionally, the recent growth in female football has opened up an opportunity for the women and girls to get involved in 7-A-Side Football, and I am happy to say, NSW and CPSARA are on the front foot and leading the way with involvement and development in this long neglected area.

 

I would like to thank the people involved in nominating me for life membership. I feel very humbled to think that people would consider of me for this honour. Unlike previous Life Members who have actively contributed to the CPSARA Committee, I have been just doing what I love, coaching and playing football and with a great bunch of players who have always given me their respect and attention, what more could a person want. 

 

Thanks again for the recognition, it is much appreciated. Being around these athletes and seeing them develop, not just as players, but as fantastic role models, has been a highlight of my life and I hope it carries on for a few more years yet.