NATIMUK United has a hidden gem in its ranks.
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Brian McPhee is a volunteer who helps ensure every training night and game-day runs as smoothly as possible.
McPhee has served the club all his life, stemming from his family’s involvement and support for Natimuk and later Natimuk United, when the Rams and Horsham United amalgamated.
Now McPhee has the baton in his hand and is the club’s number one supporter. He contributes a large portion of his life to the football and netball club.
McPhee said Natimuk United was like his second family.
“Everyone is so nice out at the club,” he said.
McPhee does things around the club many people might take for granted.
“I fill the water bottles, clean the change rooms, pick up rubbish around the ground … I do lots of things,” he said. “I love the club.”
McPhee lives in Horsham.
“A lot of people say, ‘thank you’ for what I do,” he said.
“All the things I do need to be done. I put the signs up, I work at the ticket box, I light fires.”
Natimuk Showground is available to the wider community and McPhee is the person who cleans it up and makes the ground look respectable.
McPhee said was great to see the football side of the club going from strength to strength.
“We’re winning all the time now,” he said.
“New players, a new coach … it feels very good.
“We’ve been down the bottom for a few years and now we are going up.
“(Senior football coach) Sam Anson has done a good job with the players he has brought in.
“He used to be a junior with us, it’s good to see him back at the club.”
McPhee said he also enjoyed watching the success of the club’s junior program.
“I also care about the netball. They are winning a lot too,” he said.
“Our juniors are strong. We have a future for football … that’s our future.”
McPhee said he bled yellow and blue.
He is a life member, which he received in recognition of his tireless volunteer work.
Natimuk United president Adam Blake said it was great to have a volunteer such as McPhee at a club.
“It’s great because he doesn’t just give to us, but we give to him,” he said.
“He’s the sort of guy who doesn’t get a mention too much around the club and not many people would even know what he does.
“He does everything happily.
“Other volunteers don’t necessarily want to do what he does … he does everything.”
Blake said McPhee’s contribution was important.
“We would not be able to be ready on a home game match day if it wasn’t for Bryan,” he said.
“For example, you can’t have the drinks container looking like a tip bucket for training and games and he gets it cleaned.
“He folds the towels … he does it all. I can’t even tell you everything he does.”
Blake said the committee knew McPhee always had his jobs in hand.
“We can just say, with absolute certainty, everything will be cleaned and neat for every training and game-day,” he said.
“For me, as the president, having Bryan do what he does is as important as having a junior coach.
“He’s the first there and last to leave.”
We would not be able to be ready on a home game match-day if it wasn't for Bryan.
- Adam Blake