Words: Emily Wilson
Image: Sunshine Coast FC

Sunshine Coast FC have appointed their former Queensland State League winning coach Richard Hudson as the club’s Community Development Officer for 2015.

Hudson returns to Fire after coaching Caloundra FC for the past two seasons – famously guiding his side to an upset Football Queensland Cup win over Fire earlier this year.

He previously coached Fire to two Grand Final wins and two Premiership titles between 2010 and 2012 in the former Queensland State League.

Hudson’s new role will see him work to strengthen relationships between Fire and community clubs and schools as well as identifying talented players for Fire’s PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland pathway.

Hudson’s intimate understanding of the Sunshine Coast football landscape has been honed following stints at Coolum FC, Noosa Lions and Caloundra FC – all of which currently compete in the region’s third tier McDonald’s Premier League.

Sunshine Coast FC Managing Director Noel Woodall said Fire were delighted by Hudson’s return to the club.

“Richard is an excellent choice for the role considering his long and successful involvement with football on the Sunshine Coast. I have no doubt he will do an excellent job expanding the Fire’s role in community football,” Woodall said.

Hudson said he is well aware of the importance of the relationship between PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland clubs and community football.

“Without a doubt it is vital for everybody involved in football in the region to have a strong relationship between the community and the elite Club, because that is the pathway and we all need to be striving towards a common goal,” Hudson said.

He added, “We need to foster, build and enhance the relationships Sunshine Coast FC already has within the community.”

“It’s about everybody getting on board to make the region the strength in football that it is, there is a lot of talent on the coast but everybody needs to be on board to nurture this talent and progress it.”

Hudson’s role involves the delivery of coaching and education at grass roots level – a task he views as being of paramount importance.

“I will be working to encourage participation in football; helping schools with football knowledge, educating teachers, educating parents because they spend so much time with their young footballers, helping the Clubs with programs they already have and helping them deliver at grass-roots level,” Hudson explained.

“We want to be a support mechanism for the local Clubs and get our coaches out into the community and present on game days so that if there is a player who is special we have the opportunity to talk to their coach and identify them to progress,” he concluded.

Hudson will commence work in his role from next week.