A football club is and can be so much more than the 11 players that take the field on any given weekend. It is a place for the community, inclusion, celebration and people coming together, not just for the sole interest of football, but to feel a sense of belonging and pride in the area and region they come from.
Kenthurst & District FC are just one of the many clubs that aim to serve their community both on and off the field. Kenthurst has just over 300 active members; however, for Sue Torville and the committee at Kenthurst, the size of the club is much larger, and they have a responsibility to engage with the wider Kenthurst community and make them feel welcome at the football club.
“We are a community club, and we get heavily involved in the community,” Kenthurst & District FC President Sue Torville said.
“The Orange Blossom Festival, which happens every September. We march down Kenthurst Road and participate in that. I’ve been with the club for 26 years, and we’ve done that every year that I can remember.”
Putting on local family-friendly events is something Kenthurst takes a lot of pride in, with the club actively planning their presentation day that is shaping up to be a fair-like event with a new addition to round off the evening.
“This year we decided to change up our junior presentation, and we’re actually doing a fireworks show at the end of our presentation just to finalise the whole season,” Torville said.
“The barbecue, the drinks, the entertainment, jumping castle and rock climbing. They’re all free to everyone. They don’t pay for it. The club pays it out.”
“For being a small club with just over 300 players, that’s not bad. To be able to do that to our players and members.”
“It’s not only open to the club and all the members of the club and their families. It’s open to the community. We send it out to our community as well,” Torville added.
The almost 60-year-old cub has also been a pioneer on the field, kick-starting and running the walking football league for the past five seasons. The competition that began with only five players from Kenthurst has now grown to over 35 players from Kenthurst, Hills Spirit and Baulkham Hills who have all joined the non-competitive league this season.
“Walking football has now become a very good, integral part of our club and whilst I’m president and whilst I’ve got breath in my body, I will support and promote it wherever,” Torville said.
“It’s a sport that shouldn’t be looked down on. It’s a sport that still allows people to play. Yeah. It’s only walking, but there’s been mental stimulation there. It’s also for disabled people, for people who can’t play full-sided football and for players who are coming back from injuries.”
“It’s that type of atmosphere that they can keep involved with the sport. Still kick the ball around and make a whole new lot of friends.”
The Walking Football League is just one of the many ways the club continues to grow their player base, the community and allow people of all ages to play football and keep active.
If people don’t play football, we’re still encouraging them; they’re not excluded from the community. They’re not excluded from our club,” Torville said
