Sale United Football Club’s Madelaine Breakspear named the 2022 Female Community Coach of the Year.
A spotlight was on the regional club at Football Victoria’s end-of-season Community in Business event where the club took home two awards.
Cameron Irvine joined Breakspear in being recognised at the event as Male Volunteer of the Year for ensuring the club’s facilities are at an optimum standard for the past seven years.
Breakspear said it was “pretty special” to be recognised for her efforts with the Sale United FC Women’s team.
“Winning this award makes you realise what you are doing is good and to keep going,” she said.
“We have been doing a lot of hard work down at Sale, getting girls involved with football and giving them opportunities to play football.
“The number of girls we have had register has been the most we have ever had for our women’s team, I think it has meant a lot to the girls to have a place to come and play football.”
Breakspear said there was no place she would rather be than the Sale United FC.
“The club is our football family, this is the place to be,” she said.
“Cam Irvine from Sale also won Volunteer of the Year, I think it speaks volumes of how good the people at the club are, and the culture there is so supportive and positive.
"Everyone is there for the same reason because they love the game."
A highlight for Breakspear was coaching the U18 La Trobe Valley representative side at the 2022 Country Championships.
“We ended up coming runners up in the tournament, losing to Geelong in the final,” she explained.
“It was really cool to have all the girls working together towards one thing.
“I used to play in the country championships as a kid so it was quite full circle.”
Coaching was not Breakspear's first love, having played for the world’s game since she was four.
‘Football is just my thing, I love soccer,” she said.
“I ended up playing NPLW for Box Hill for eight years but lived in Sale the whole time.
“People used to think I was crazy driving to Melbourne three times a week for soccer, I would do anything for soccer.’
Breakspear admitted it was hectic attempting to juggle her commitments along with being a young mother.
“I kind of just fell into coaching a little bit, it is a hard gig,” she said.
“You put a lot of time into it, and it is also a juggling act because my baby is at home, so my husband has to tag team a bit.
“That’s the good thing about the club, I can always bring my kids to the soccer, and someone will help me out.
All the other soccer mums will be there for me and shoulder the load, that’s how good the community is in Sale.”
Despite being awarded the induvial award, Breakspear was adamant her role is made a lot easier due to the people around her.
“All the member of the Sale community has been so great,” she explained.
“My husband Tom has been massive because he helps me juggle my commitments with the kids.
“Also, my women's team has been so supportive of me along with my assistant coach Ronnie.”
Head of Diversity and Inclusion Nick Hatzoglou said Breakspear was awarded the 2022 Female Coach of the Year because of her contagious nature and passion for football which has seen an increase in female participation at Sale United Football Club.
"Madelaine is a treasure, her love for the game is infectious and she has had a profound effect on the Sale community," he said.
"The community awards give us the chance to spotlight a handful of deserving volunteers, however, we would also like to acknowledge all the other hard-working volunteers of our football family who put in the hard yards every season."
Darlene Richardson explained she nominated Breakspear due to the welcoming and encouraging environment she had created within her women’s team.
“Maddy coaches, trains and plays five days per week all the while being a mum of a baby and a toddler,” Richardson said.
“Her passion is contagious, and her love of football is there for all to see, she lives and breathes football.
“We couldn’t, no football couldn’t find a better female coaching role model for young girls and ladies of all ages to join the sport either for fun or to take you to the next level.
“Her commitment to improving her coaching skills every week is a commitment to ensuring female development continues to grow and ensures that football has a sustainable future in our region.”
Breakspear was presented with the 2022 Female Coach of the Year Volunteer at Football Victoria's Community In Business Full-Time Luncheon on Friday, October 7.
The FV team congratulations Breakspear on her support for women's football, dedication and selflessness.