Surf Coast FC honour club supporters with grandstand namings

A FOUNDING committee member and the family behind a long-running sponsorship of Surf Cost Football Club have been honoured at Banyul-Warri Fields with a surprise unveiling of their names inscribed onto the club’s two grandstands.

Former club president Richard Dunn and the Pocklington Family were called to Surf Coast FC’s Grant Pavilion last week where they were suddenly introduced to the newly named Richard Dunn Stand and Pocklington Stand.

Dunn, who served as the club’s president for six years from 2001 to 2006, helped the club through its infancy years.

“It’s quite overwhelming. We started the club in Bellbrae on April Fool’s Day in 2001, and we had nothing there. We ran our games there and all we had was a pitch mark and a big tree that we used as a change room,” Dunn said.

Tom, Christine, and Richard Dunn join Mariela, Michael, Valentina (front), Jill, Brian, Hayley, Graham, and Jamie Pocklington in front of the newly named grandstands. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

“We used to say we were steering a rollercoaster when we had the development ground in those early years, then we had to move from Bellbrae to Pettitt Reserve in Jan Juc.

“Then the council created the development down at The Quay, where there were a few issues, and then Joe Taylor drove the development of this complex here.

“It’s been quite a ride and I’ve been blessed to work alongside such great committees, and I think that has been the secret to our evolution as a club, and I’m speechless at what the club has done for me here.”

L-R: The Pocklington Family featuring Mariela, Michael, Valentina, Brian, Jill, Hayley, Graham, and Jamie in front of the Pocklington Stand.

Alongside Dunn and his wife Christine, were the Pocklington Family, led by Brian and Jill.

The Pocklington Family, through its recently closed business Torquay Stockfeeds, has been part of the club since Surf Coast FC first started accepting sponsorships.

After moving over from the United Kingdom, Jill and Brian both wanted to be a part of their local club.

“We’re football fanatics and we know what it means when you have a stand named after you,” Brian said.

The Pocklington Family and Richard Dunn react to the stands’ names.

“We haven’t even kicked a ball for them, but it’s just surreal and we’re so glad to have been a part of this club for over 20 years.”

“Both Brian and I are big football fans, and to be honest when we moved down here, we were just glad Torquay had a football team – it’s been an extended family for us ever since we first sponsored the club 23 years ago.”

Residents can watch its senior side compete for the first time from the Richard Dunn and Pocklington Stands this Saturday when Surf Coast takes on West Point at 5.00pm.