Tasmanian section winners of FFA awards announced

Photo: (L-R) Ken Morton, Brian Dale, Kim Barker


The Tasmanian winners of the Football Federation of Australia awards for the coach, referee and volunteer of the year have been announced.

Ken Morton was named as the Coach of the Year, Kim Barker as the Referee of the Year, and Brian Dale as the Volunteer of the Year.

The inaugural Australian winners in each category will be announced at an FFA gala awards function in Sydney on 11 June.

The Australian Football Awards is a new national awards program to recognise and celebrate achievements from grassroots through to the Socceroos and the Matildas.

The awards are intended to demonstrate the connection through football from the games played around the country every winter weekend through to elite competitions and teams.

The Tasmanian awards are for the non-professional categories.

Morton is one of the most successful coaches ever to have worked in Tasmania and his most recent success was to take South Hobart to last year’s southern Premier League title.

“I think these awards are a brilliant initiative and I’m very excited about receiving it,” Morton said.

“It was a very special year last year as the side was put together quite quickly and it came together well and played some wonderful football.”

Kim Barker had a successful playing career in Tasmania and has now been refereeing for 20 years.

“It is an honour,” said Barker. “Playing the game for so many years and then stepping to the other side is new.

“It’s getting harder each year to try and keep on top of the play and we do make mistakes on the field because we’re not perfect.

“As long as we all still talk when we get off the field and are friends, well, that’s the best part of refereeing.”

Brian Dale is president of Kingborough Lions United and has a long history as a volunteer and involvement with the club.

“I think I started way back in 1982 and at no time do we look for personal recognition,” Dale said.

“It’s obvious other people think I’m doing something right.

“Volunteers need to be recognised because people are sometimes taken for granted and I think the FFA, in acknowledging the volunteer, is a step in the right direction.”

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Australia’s World Cup qualifier next Sunday morning at 2am will be screened live at the Waggon and Horses Hotel in North Hobart if enough interest is shown.

The Socceroos play Qatar in Dohar and need only a point from the match to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

If the event goes ahead, it will be the official ‘Green and Gold Army’ live venue for Hobart.