The following individuals were awarded Life Membership by the Gippsland Soccer League (GSL) since the League was formed in 2016.
All have been formally recognised as Football Victoria Life Members at the 2025 FV Annual General Meeting in May 2026.
Linda Spiteri (2016)
Originally affiliated with Newborough-Yallourn Soccer club as a coach then Junior Coordinator for over a decade, Linda earned her officiating badges at the same time to become a referee, officiating for over twenty years until 2025. Linda was appointed to the GSL Board, serving as Secretary for almost ten years. When the La Trobe Valley Soccer League reformed, Linda served as chairperson of the LVSL tribunal.
Phillip Miller (2024)
Phillip played an instrumental role in forming the Southern Division of the GSL, ultimately laying the foundation for the tremendous growth in the region. As a founding member and inaugural president of Korumburra Soccer Club, Phillip also played a role in the formation of the Mirboo North, Inverloch and Lang Lang based clubs. Phillip sat on the GSL board as a member for a single term.
Andrea Dempsey (2024)
A stalwart with the Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club, Andrea served as the club’s President for many years. Andrea played a key role in driving female participation and inclusion in the region, forming an integral part of the Women’s Steering Committee and taken on several leading coaching roles.
Darren Dempsey (2024)
A long-term member and former President of Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club, Darren took on the Coaching reins at several Country Championships. Darren served as a club delegate with the GSL for many years before joining as a Board member of the GSL term for a single term.
Daniel Brown (2024)
A player, coach and President at Drouin Soccer Club, Daniel coached Country Championship Junior teams for many years. As a club delegate on the GSL, he helped inform many of the decisions made in structuring the competition before joining the GSL Board in 2021, where he served in this capacity before FV Gippsland was born in 2025.
Patrick Finnigan (2024)
An inaugural founding member of Mirboo North United Football Club in 2009, Patrick served as Vice President for a brief period before assuming the role of President for eight years. During his time as a GSL delegate, he assisted the League in a period of tremendous growth throughout the region. He coached GSL Country Championship teams for many years and in 2021, accepted the role of Treasurer of the GSL, and remained in the role before FV Gippsland was formed in 2025.
Glenn Odgers (2024)
With over two decades of involvement in Korumburra City Soccer Club, Glenn’s major contribution was as Head Coach of Junior and Women’s teams, while volunteering his time on the club’s Committee for a decade, serving as President for five years. He was a GSL delegate for several years, helping shape the League as it evolved. He was elected Chair of the GSL in 2021, serving in the role through to 2025 as it transitioned through to FV Gippsland.
Bethany Milkins (2025)
A long-time member of Leongatha Knights Football Club, Beth has been instrumental in growing participation, extending her playing involvement to coaching, while volunteering on the club’s committee as a member and an executive. Beth served on the GSL Girls sub-committee from 2014 and was involved in several working groups, before becoming Chair of the Female Football sub-committee when it was reformed in 2023. Beth has played an integral role in the GSL representative program, coordinating all squads in recent years, the driving force to it becoming a year-round program.
Jason Beer (2025)
A President with Drouin Dragons Soccer Club since 2016, Jason was a club delegate with the GSL and has worked tirelessly to improve the capabilities of the organisation. A key driver behind the Bellbird Park redevelopment, Jason has offered the facility to the GSL Representative program and end-of-season presentations. Jason proposed the move to MiniRoo hubs which resulted in sustained growth into GSL Junior Leagues.
Kathryn Cooper (2025)
A committed volunteer with Drouin Dragons Soccer Club since 2015, Kathryn initially served as Registrations Officer before becoming Secretary the following year. A secretary at GSL delegates meetings for almost a decade, Kathryn is a firm believer in shared knowledge, developing policies and procedures which the GSL have benefited from as a whole.