RESPECTED Port Stephens soccer mentor Matt Morris has been recognised for his enormous contribution to grassroots and community football.

The Medowie FC stalwart capped a prosperous 2023 season when recently presented with the Northern NSW Local Champion Community Football Coach of the Year Award.

A chuffed Morris accepted the trophy at this year’s Northern NSW Football’s Van Egmond Jennings Awards Night at the Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre.

It is a huge honour for the Bumblebees Head Coach who piloted the Medowie club to the Under 15 Division 1 Boys Grand Final and the first and reserve grade squads into finals contention in the Newcastle Football inter district and Zone 2 competitions.

His tireless efforts in fostering the club’s grassroots junior pathway programs and senior talent reaped rewards this season with Medowie lifting the Under 12 Division One and Under 14 Division One premiership trophies and featuring in several finals fixtures.

The super coach told News Of The Area that Medowie FC’s 2023 campaign was “a good club effort”.

“From our junior grades right through to seniors our performances and achievements were encouraging,” Morris reflected.

“We remained competitive throughout the season with many players showing improvement and to win both the Under 12 and Under 14 Grand Finals was icing on the cake,” he said.

The Medowie FC legend is always out to help others, spending all of his spare time during the soccer season coaching his Under 15s and Zone teams.

When Matt isn’t coaching, he is helping other coaches or fulfilling his committee duties.

He initiated the Buddy Program at the Medowie club this year which saw a team from the younger age groups join in with his Zone sides for training each week.

This initiative proved highly popular and is an excellent way to connect the youth players with the senior warriors within the club.

There is only a short break for the hard working coach before implementing his plans and pre-season schedule for the 2024 season.

By Chris KARAS