The Board of Football South Coast (FSC) has nine (9) directors – one (1) elected director by each Council (Men’s, Women’s, Junior’s & Futsal) and five (5) Football NSW appointed directors, including a Chair. There are also two ex-officio advisers representing our FFA liaison and the IFRA. 

DIRECTOR'S PROFILES
 

Eddy De Gabriele - Chairperson

In February 2007, Eddy’s passion for football also saw him invited to join the board of the Illawarra Football Association (IFA) when he was emphatically elected as President, and quickly initiated plans to modernise the IFA Board and unite football in the Illawarra region. This included the reform and restructure of the Illawarra Men’s football competition, in order to raise the IFA’s commercial profile and viability, and also a strong focus on raising the game’s family and community standing. As a priority for Eddy, he put his plan into action through the introduction of proactive education programs; the review of disciplinary procedures; by taking a strong stand on anti-social behaviour at IFA games; emphasising a stronger focus on marketing the game to all families and children in the community; and by attracting high quality sponsorships to the game. 

Another major initiative for Eddy during his first term Presidency was the unification of the nine existing football associations and groups which currently existed in the Illawarra region, in order to create a pyramid effect from local juniors, through to the Hyundai A-League.  It is this objective that has driven Eddy towards the total reform of football in the area. 

Today, under this wave of Eddy’s reforms and leadership, Illawarra Men’s football is enjoying renewed community and corporate interest, and the IFA Board is seen as a progressive organisation that has openly embraced reform and modernisation, attracting new sponsorship and high levels of revenue. Further reforms to the competition will see men’s football attract wider audiences and teams from nearby regions applying for entry to this competition, and the South Coast becoming the foundation and nursery for our local State League clubs, and it is hoped, also the pathway for all players to progress to a locally based Hyundai A-League club.

Nicole Bowman - Deputy Chair

Nicki’s first footballing experience was in 1979 when she conceded one goal as keeper in the first half, then scored from the wing in the second. This was a total fluke, and from then on the rest of her 20 year on and off playing career was spent firmly between the posts, playing for Tarrawanna, Woonona and Helensburgh as well as Corrimal High. As well as being Deputy Chair of Football South Coast, Nicki was extensively involved in the region’s A-League bid.  She is also currently a non-executive director of the listed mining exploration company Blackthorn Resources Limited.  Prior to taking up this role, Nicki gained extensive experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer in private practice within a Top 10 Australian law firm, and subsequently held senior Corporate Counsel positions in BHP and Bluescope Steel, before moving into Senior Management and Executive positions.  Nicki holds Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Law (Hons) degrees from Sydney University.

Anne-Marie Balliana - Director

Ann-Marie's involvement in football began at an early age when her family started Fairy Meadow United Soccer Club.  Born and raised in Wollongong, Ann-Marie attended Wollongong University and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.  As a Chartered Accountant Ann-Marie has worked for Westpac as an internal auditor and project manager and is now employed by Cuscal a leading provider of financial products and services for Credit Unions, where her current area of specialisation are risk management, compliance and business development.

Although always kicking a ball around with her family in the backyard, Ann-Marie played for South Coast United in the Women's league from 2001 to 2004 taking out Player of the year in her first formal year of playing.  More recently Ann-Marie was the Treasury of the Illawarra Junior Football Association prior to unification from 2008 to 2010.  Ann-Marie is now looking forward to being a football mum as her two young sons approach their first days on the football field.

Milco Stojanoski - Director

Milco Stojanoski - MBA, BCom, Eng Dip. Operations Manager with BlueScope Steel. Milco has over 20 years experience in football across the Illawarra Region. He is an Ex President and life member of Cringila Lions Football Club and was invited to join the board of Illawarra Football Association in 2004 which led to his election as vice president in 2007. Milco played an integral role in the development of Crehan Park and development of its business plan and strategic direction. In 2009 Milco was appointed by Football NSW to the board of Football South Coast after an extensive recruitment process. 

Claude Cuda – Director 

Claude has a strong local football background and has been involved in football for a great part of his life. He was a premier league first grade player for a number of years before moving onto the Port Kembla Football Club committee for 3 years where he played a major role in the transformation of the club back into premier league in the 90’s. Claude then joined the amateur league as a player before joining the amateur committee and then eventually being elected as the Amateur President where he was responsible for incorporating the Association, and introducing the Masters 35’s competition, as well as driving the growth and identity of the amateur competitions. Claude was granted Life Membership of the Amateur Association prior to moving on to theIllawarra Football Association in 2005 where he still plays an active role as competition director and chairman of the Men’s Football Council. Claude has also been a junior coach for a number of years. Claude works as a Electrical Planner at Port Kembla Coal Terminal and has a Associate Diploma inElectrical Engineering and a Management Certificate completed at the Illawarra Institute of Technology.

Sandra Depers - Director

Sandra Depers is a current and foundation member of the Illawarra Stingrays. She played with the Illawarra Women’s Football Association (University and South Coast United) for approximately 10 years during the 1980’s and is a former executive member of the Illawarra Women’s Football Association.

Sandra has a background in social housing management and government policy development along with community development. She has a strong interest in women’s issues, and social issues including social inclusion and homelessness and currently holds a directorship of the Illawarra Community Housing Trust.

Rosemary Digger - Director

Rosemary’s involvement with football began 20 years ago when her son began playing for the Koonawarra Junior Soccer Club. He has since played for State League Club Camden, several premier league clubs and now in the amateur league, refereeing along the way. Having served Koonawarra Juniors as Vice President and President for 5 years and with coaching qualifications in the indoor and outdoor versions of football in addition to taking a keen interest in her son’s football career, Rosemary has developed an excellent knowledge of football in the Illawarra area. Rosemary has also been employed by the Department of Education for 38 years as a teacher and in higher administrative roles. In schools she has promoted , coached and managed both boys and girls teams at a school and district level. Her passion for Futsal began when she started the Futsal program at her school and it has continued for some 15 years. She has coached and managed Futsal teams at school, district, state and national levels in boys, girls, women and men's teams. The highlight being as Manager of the 12/13 boys and girls 15/16 team to Italy, Holland and England in 1999. Rosemary is a founding member of the Taipans Futsal club, which represents the Illawarra in the NSW State League. Her involvement for the last 3 seasons has been in Administration, Managing and Coaching. Rosemary’s commitment to football in all forms is noted through her ongoing work for Unification and Football South Coast.

Bob Hennessy - Director

Bob Hennessy is the CEO of the consulting firm BearingPoint after starting his career as a software developer at BHP in 1977. Bob has worked in executive management roles over the last 17 years across transport, financial services and telecommunications, managing $billion budgets and departments of over 1000 people.

Bob’s executive and board experience is complemented by his involvement in the administration over the last 10 years of Helensburgh Thistle Football Club. Bob is currently in his 6th year as President of both the senior and junior clubs in Helensburgh with accountability for teams in the district league, amateur men’s, women’s and junior competitions.  Bob is passionate about the game (playing almost every year since he first registered in 1964 and coaching juniors on and off for the last 20 years) and most particularly about he opportunity to have our young people learn and grow through their involvement with team sport.
 

Paul Herbert - Representative - Illawarra Football Referees Association  

Paul Herbert is the President of the Illawarra Football Referees Association and an active Premier League referee. He started played the game football from the age of five with Wollongong Olympic and progressed through the junior ranks all the way to 1st grade at the age of 16. He then went on to play with Fairy Meadow in the state league before finishing his playing career with Tarrawanna. Paul was convinced by his Father-in-law to take up refereeing and started refereeing in 1988.

Bill Drossos - Representative - Illawarra South Coast Football Club 

Bill is currently employed with DHL, (one of the largest companies in the world), in the capacity of Commercial Manager and Head of Fashion & Apparel, Australia. Bill Has been employed with DHL and its predecessor companies for over 25 years and has held various senior management roles, including General Manager, NSW. Bill was formerly, the Deputy Chairman of the South Coast A-League bid team. He played NSL for St George BSC in 1986-87 and also played and coached in the NSW State League for over 20 years.