Football Victoria honours the life of Life Member Joe Docherty, a humble administrator who devoted years of service to the Victorian Soccer Federation during a period of immense change and restructure.
Born in Glasgow in 1943, Joe Docherty migrated to Melbourne in 1966 and in time moved into several coaching and team manager roles, most notably with Park Rangers and Albion Rovers, where he was an Assistant Coach alongside fellow Life Member Hugh Murney. A founding member of the Melbourne Celtic supporters club, he also served as President of Prahran Celtic. This grounding at club level fostered a deep empathy for grassroots football, an ethos that would define his later decisions on a broader administrative stage.
A self-styled comedian and Master of Ceremonies, Docherty was a larger-than-life figure who hosted many a club night. He befriended the legendary George Best and hosted his speaking tour of Australia which featured fellow Manchester United greats Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton. He also featured as a regular columnist for football publication Soccer Action, adding some light relief to the competitive world of the local Melbourne soccer scene.
Docherty was first involved at state level as a Team Manager with several junior teams competing in the National Youth Championships. He joined the Victorian League Management Committee in 1986, beginning a long and dedicated chapter in his administrative service to the Victorian Soccer Federation. By 1990, he stepped into the Chairmanship of that same committee, shaping the state’s competitive football landscape through years of reform and growth.
Docherty’s tenure coincided with a period marked by structural change, intense debate, and competing visions for the future of the game. Docherty held the position with conviction and clarity as it evolved into the State League Management Committee, and he was an outspoken advocate for smaller clubs, championing voting parity and resisting proposals that would dilute grassroots voices in favour of elite interests. As journalist Greg Blake noted in Australian Soccer Weekly at the time, “Joe showed the courage of his convictions” and “defended his position by maintaining that he represented the 56 Victorian League clubs and their board and his obligations were with them.”
Docherty’s reliability and professionalism led to an expansion of his responsibilities, and he was soon appointed as a Board Member of the Victorian Soccer Federation. He remained Chairman of the State League Management Committee, and participated in several standing subcommittees, including Promotion and Marketing, Grounds and Fixtures and State Squads/Tours - demonstrating his broad skillset and hands-on commitment across both strategic and logistical operations.
In 1997, Docherty’s service was formally acknowledged when he was honoured with Life Membership of the Victorian Soccer Federation. It was not only a recognition of years served - but it was also a nod to the quality, conviction, and inclusiveness with which he served them.
Football Victoria interim CEO Dan Birrell paid tribute to the contribution of Joe Docherty during a tumultuous period in the sport’s history.
“Joe Docherty's football story is not simply a list of roles or accolades. His true legacy lies in the steady trust he built across communities, the reform he championed with fairness, and the countless footballing lives he quietly empowered.”
“Joe gave grassroots clubs a voice when they risked being forgotten and approached governance not as a power grab but as a duty of care. Whether liaising for the national team, mentoring players at grassroots level, or defending club parity from the Federation’s chair, Joe brought the same values every time: respect, integrity, and unshakable commitment.”
Joe Docherty passed away on Saturday, aged 82.
Joe is survived by his partner Elsa, and Elsa’s children Nicole and Rachel.
The FV Board of Directors, Executive, staff and broader Victorian football community send our sincere condolences to Joe Docherty’s family and friends.