FOOTBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

SPORTING clubs rely on volunteers, not just to garner success, but to achieve sustainability.

Ken Wells has been a part of the Traralgon Tyers United Football-Netball Club since its establishment in 1981, firstly as a player, but more prominently as the club’s football trainer for 41 years.

He has missed only six senior games in that span, and has been on the side lines and in the rooms for well over 2200 games.

Wells began his time at the Bombers playing nine reserves games in the club’s inaugural season in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League, including their first-ever win against Newry in 1981, before taking a short hiatus, gaining his first aid certificate and becoming a supporting piece to the players as they entered the major Latrobe Valley Football League (Gippsland League) for the next few years.

“The head trainer was Chieffy Foster when I first started playing, he was the head trainer for two or three years and then he pulled the pin, and then I was head trainer for probably 35 years,” Wells said.

Wells has been a club member every year of TTU’s existence, and became a life member in 1993.

He has seen some great sides throughout the years since the Bombers returned to North Gippsland, including senior premierships in 1990, 2004, and last year in 2023.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t some time where Wells trudged through the job, as it’s always harder when you’re losing.

“Sometimes I wish I could’ve gone home, when we were in the (Latrobe Valley League) some weeks we were getting smashed, it would be nice to be a supporter where you can just shut the door and go home, but we battled through it all,” Wells said.

Wells has received many acknowledgments over his time at the Bombers, including being the first inductee into the NGFNL Hall of Fame in 2012 and inducted into the TTU Hall of Fame in 2016.

Specifically over the last few years, Wells believes TTU has done wonders in cultivating a culture that recognises those from every corner of the club.

Wells has noticed that has extended to the playing group, as he works with getting them onto the park.

“There’s players that are there after the game, they’ll come and stick their heads in the rooms (and say) ‘thanks for today’,” he said.

“When they appreciate you, you don’t mind doing it.”

Like many families connected to a local football-netball club, the contribution extends in the family. Wells’ son, Kris firstly played for TTU and now is by his dad’s side in the whites on a gameday.

The Wells family also had the club’s first father-son-grandson combination, with Kris’ son, Dustin making his way into the senior club a few years ago.

“A lot of stuff I’ve been involved in (I’m) proud of, the fact that I’ve only missed three whole days in 40 odd years and six senior games in that same period. I’ve gone to the footy probably crook a few times I shouldn’t (have) gone,” Wells said.

Wells has taken a step back in responsibility with many hands on deck in his department, but still has TTU firmly entrenched into his heart.

“I’m enjoying it this year more than I have. The fact that I don’t have to be at training every night, because before quite often I was on my own, just me, so if I wasn’t at training there was no one,” Wells said.

Trainers are an integral part of the process and when this level of service is reached, respect has to be paid.