The confirmation of three new Life Members and a new Honorary President were the highlights of Central Football’s 23^rd Annual General Meeting held virtually on Monday evening.

Former Board Members Ms Kerry Donovan and Brent Dodunski along with Hawkes Bay match official Grant Fletcher were all made Life Members of the Federation. Ms Donovan, from Tairāwhiti/Gisborne, was a Board Member for seven years up until her retirement in 2022 and was instrumental in reforming the Federations Communication Strategy along with enhancing the marketing and brand of the organisation. Mr Dodunski, from Taranaki, had been a Board Member for 10 years until 2022 and was the Board lead in the Taranaki Land Project that will eventually realise the Federation a generational opportunity to support and grow the game. Mr Fletcher has been a match official since 1988 and has officiated in over 3000 11-a-side games since then. Still an active referee, he has been a mentor to many up-and-coming match officials, continues to be involved in officiating community futsal and is an active member of the Hawkes Bay Referees Association.

The Annual General Meeting marked the retirement as Honorary President of Mr John Jones QSM who had filled the role since 2012. A Life Member of Central Football, Mr Jones’ President role is to be filled by retiring existing Board Member, Rod Pelosi OMNZ. Mr Pelosi had been a Board Member since the Federations inception in 2001 and his contribution to the game was recognised with a Queen’s Honour in becoming an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022. A Life Member of both Central Football and New Zealand Football, Mr Pelosi takes up the President role effective immediately.

Other business matters signed off by one of the largest attended AGMs in recent memory was the Annual Financial Accounts for the year ended 31/12/2022 which saw the Federation post a Net Surplus of $25,794 after depreciation and project a similar result for the 2023 financial year. There was also the re-election of Board Members Garrett Blair (Tairāwhiti/Gisborne) and Andrew Rori Moore (Manawatu) who both were standing and confirmed for second terms.

Chair Jamie Hall thanked the clubs, members, sponsors, funders and other stakeholders for their ongoing contribution of football in the Federation and made a special mention of, and congratulated, the three new Life Members and newly elected Honorary President for their contribution to Central Football and the game across the Federation.

Article added: Wednesday 31 May 2023