Plans to let the players speak up in local game
NEWLY elected Football Gold Coast board member Chris Broadfoot says he hopes to give players a voice at the directors’ table as he begins the transition from life on the field.
A Gold Coast Premier League legend and former ALeague player with Gold Coast United, Broadfoot on Wednesday night replaced Gillian Austin in the only change to the six-member FGC board.
The 37-year-old has spent time at Broadbeach, Burleigh, Coomera, Gold Coast Knights, Mudgeeraba, Southport and now Surfers Paradise, where he will continue his illustrious career under coach and close friend Alex Morrison next year.
He hopes his vast array of experiences will prove invaluable in his first administrative role.
“Now that I’m coming to the end of playing, I just want to stay involved in local football and I thought (joining the board) would be a good way to grow the game overall, rather than just being involved in one club or one team,” Broadfoot said.
“Because I’ve been around a long time, I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of clubs, players and coaches. I get on well with everyone so I think people would be comfortable coming to speak to me.
“I’ll be quite open and honest with them with regards to what’s happening at that level, why things are happening and how we can try and improve it all together.”
Broadfoot, who is joined on the board by chairman Paul Rushton, vice-chairman John White and directors Maria Roughley, Ross Fenech and Geoffrey Oberg, said his initial objectives would be to help FGC clarify its identity, improve communication with clubs and ensure the local community got behind NPL clubs Gold Coast United and Gold Coast Knights.
“(I’ll be going in) eyes wide open, ears wide open. I just want to sit back, listen and learn to start with,” he said.
“It’s my first time involved in that sort of role anywhere, so it will be a learning experience. Once I sit back and analyse how things work and what we’re trying to achieve, I can start to have more input from that side of things.”