CDSFA Community Football Podcast

We speak with legendary football presenter, commentator and reporter, Andy Paschalidis. Before he was a household name, Andy was a CDSFA junior player with the Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club. He went on to represent the Canterbury Representative team, playing alongside former Socceroo, Peter Raskopoulos. At SBS, Andy covered some of the world's biggest football events as a host, commentator and reporter, including the 1990 and 1994 World Cups; and the 1991 and 1993 World Youth Cups. He then went on to FoxSports Australia, calling the first live football game on Australian Pay Television. In 2016, Andy established Heartbeat of Football (HOF), a not-for-profit organisation aiming to promote healthy hearts in sport via player education, the minimisation of health risks and the installation of defibrillators on all sporting fields around the country.

In episode #35 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with MRP FC President Peter Regan and MRP FC Men's Head Coach and CDSFA Men's All Age Division 1 title winning Coach Aym'e Melham. In early 2016, two mates were keen to get back into regular football after a year out of the game. With some coaching, leadership and administration skills behind them, they recognised the link between their physical and mental health and the benefits of being part of a team unit. From the founder of the mens support group for mental health, Mr Perfect, MRP FC was born. MRP FC is an inclusive football club that welcomes players from all backgrounds and acts as a second family to many players. In 2020, MRP FC had a Division 1 and Division 4 All Age Men's team in the CDSFA competition.

Anthony has been heavily involved with the CRA over the last 13 years. As he explains in this episode, refereeing across the CDSFA has evolved. Anthony is determined to revolutionise the CRA's service delivery model over the coming years.

As the CDSFA 2020 season comes to an end, we catch up with CEO Ian Holmes for the latest update on community football within the CDSFA.

In Episode 32 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, we speak with 3 time W-League Championship winning Goalkeeper, current Sydney FC W-league goalkeeper and now CDSFA Female Football Development Officer, Trudy Burke. Trudy is focused on growing female participation within the CDSFA and engaging with all community stakeholders. She is a huge believer that sport can change the world. Her passion for football and the positive effects it can have on communities motivates her every day to want to continue to work in this space. With female participation at the forefront of community sport, Trudy believes she can make a real difference to the CDSFA as an advocate for female players, referees, coaches and volunteers. In this episode, Trudy shares her thoughts on the current state of female football and female player development in Australia; her plans to increase female participation and female leadership within the CDSFA; and the impact she believes the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia will have on female football.