Hi, I’m Stan.

I first joined TUFC in around 1996 when the first of my three kids started playing. I have been with the club ever since (except for two years when I was in Darwin). However, I first got involved with football in 1971, playing until 1990, and have been involved ever since. So, in 2024, that’s a total of 53 years (but who’s counting?).

I have had a wonderful football life. I played for the Canberra Arrows in the 80s (in the old PSL) and Olympic in the original Premier League until  the family moved to Gordon.

I have held numerous roles in the club over the 30 years I have been involved. I have coached, refereed, been the referee’s coordinator, a board member, Vice President. and now President. I have represented the club on the Premier League Standing Advisory Committee, been a Southside zone representative, and the Junior Standing Advisory Committee. All great fun.

I was the winner of the Capital Football Junior League Coach of the Year in 2008. I was also the winner of the very first Male Coach of the Year at the Australian Football Awards in 2009, run by Football Australia.

I am very passionate about developing players as footballers and people and growing our club. Football should be for everyone and most importantly TUFC is for everyone.

I have now been followed into volunteering for this wonderful club by my wife Sharon (Canteen Manager at Wanniassa), Nicole (Miniroos Coordinator), and Cameron (Canteen Manager at Kambah). My three grandchildren and my eldest son, Steven, all play for this wonderful club.

I have had numerous wonderful experiences playing and coaching in football. Be it playing against the Socceroos in the 80s, coaching a TUFC U16s boys team in a match against the Matildas in 2006 (we drew 2 all) , and even having the pleasure of coaching Mackenzie Arnold in 2013 when she joined TUFC for a year in our NPL Boys U16s team. I have met lots of wonderful people along the way and now it is my turn to provide your kids the opportunities of a lifetime.

So come and find me for a chat, anytime.

Hi I’m Jake, proud Board Member and life member of TUFC.

I joined Tuggies Juniors as a teenager and the club has been a huge part of my life ever since.

I still enjoy a kick on weekends with my mates in the Capital League and I am involved with whatever the Club needs to best support our members and the community.

My son also plays and referees while the rest of the family are also in and around the club helping out as needed.

I find being on the Board really rewarding. After a lot of hard work from a highly skilled and dedicated team, the Club has never been in a better position to see our members thrive. We have lots of exciting initiatives in the pipeline. Come have a chat if you’d like to know more or get involved.

As a player I worked out pretty quickly that I was far better at making mates and organising post match celebrations than I was contributing on the field. So, if you can’t find me at Wanniassa or Kambah on a weekend there’s a good chance I’ve organised an interstate trip with the team to plan and strategise our next push for a trophy. The silverware I’ve won as part of great teams as a player and/or coach is something I’ll forever cherish (yes, I do want more!)

As a player and coach I’ve always focussed on what I can do to help others improve and maximise their enjoyment. Playing even a tiny part of someone else’s growth as a player and person is extremely rewarding. It’s been an honour to see so many kids progress from Wanniassa 2 through the next level including the Socceroos and Matildas (and we’re not done yet!)

I’ve always been a big believer that the more you put into our Club the more you’ll get out of it. Over the last 30+ years I’ve worked my backside off for the Club and have been rewarded with countless life long friendships and unforgettable memories.

Come and say “Hi”, I’m always here to help.

Hi, I’m Mat.

I first joined the club in 1982, what was then Wanniassa Tigers. I also played for Kambah United in 1985 (These two clubs merged to become Tuggeranong United).

I played first grade for TUFC in the mid-90s and again in the early 2000’s. I have played for Men’s State League and Masters for many years.

I’ve coached Junior Boys, Premier League Mens, Junior Girls, and Premier League Girls, along with coaching at Canberra United Academy.

I’ve also had roles with Capital Football in coach education.

I’ve refereed for many years at WPL and CPL level and I currently assist Capital Football with Referee Education sessions; mainly on Game Leader courses.

Proudly, I was Club Person of the Year in 2010.

I was on the board in 2006 as a general board member.

2024 marks my 38th year with TUFC!

Hi, I’m Tamara.

I came to TUFC in 1999 after playing at Weston Creek.

I played First Grade in the early 2000’s for our Women’s Team and have had many roles since. My hubby and kids all play for TUFC and I have either coached or managed teams along the way.

In 2019, realising that many girls stopped playing at certain ages, or weren’t getting involved in football, I volunteered to start a junior girls program with a focus on retaining current Miniroos & juniors girls. I am always actively recruiting more players.

Over the years, Stan, Mal, & I collaborated and the program has grown. Now, with Girls only teams available from U7’s all the way to U17’s, girls can choose where they play and how they are supported.

I am passionate about football being available to all players, for their own development as players and people, and I am especially committed to growing our girls program.

I currently wear many hats – Girls Coordinator, Board Member, Coach of U16’s Opens (my sons team), and Assistant Coach with the NPLG 14s.

I have also been proud to have:

• been awarded 2019 Coach of the Year Award at TUFC (jointly with my husband, Ben Haitsma, who’s been at the club in many roles since 1996);
• been named Volunteer of the Year 2023 (Capital Football); and
• travelled to Brazil with Futsal Australia in the Centre Of Excellence in 1998.

I am typically found at home or at Wanniassa 1 or 2 or Kambah 2 fields six days a week.

Come and say “Hi!”.

Hello, I’m Clare.

I’m not a player but I’ve been a parent of Tuggies junior players for 15 years and all of a sudden I’ve been on the TUFC Board for 7 years! 

My three kids are all involved with TUFC, playing in the CPL boys, coaching U10s, and refereeing. 

I am passionate about all things Tuggies but, in particular, our Juniors and Miniroos. I work hard to organise teams, coaches, and managers and generally get our junior teams on the field each winter season.

I have seen a lot of growth in our juniors’ numbers, especially in the last few years. I am proud of the progress we have made and love to see the enjoyment our youngest players get from playing this wonderful sport and developing their skills. 

In my spare time I am a lawyer and also serve as a TUFC Member Protection Information Officer. 

I’m always happy to talk about football!

Hi, I’m Daniel.

I played a season or two for TUFC when I was about 10 years old. Here’s a picture of me that hangs in my parent’s house! I also refereed the little ones on a Saturday morning.

I then played football at Marist for a few years before straying to Rugby and Touch Football for a long time.

My son now plays for the Club and my wife is a manager of a team as well as the NPL Boys program. We are Tuggies through and through!

I started helping out a few years ago and, since then, I’ve developed a few things that I am really proud of.

In the CPL Boys program, I’ve been running culture and team-building sessions, pre-season camps, and an Amazing Race. I’ve also been helping the NPL Girls program implement these things, so it is great to see everyone engaging with it and seeing the value it provides.

I was a co-founder of the world’s first software for managing sports sponsorships. At our peak, we boasted seven Premier League clubs as clients. We sold it a few years ago to an American sports tech company. So, I work with Jake Padrotta on the sponsorship front.

Outside of football, my day job is as a marketing consultant, working for myself.

I’ve also been a Menslink Board Member for since 2017. I’ve also mentored three young guys through Menslink as I am passionate about our work and the impact it has on the community.

I also think sport is a really important and powerful thing in the community and I’m super proud to be able to play a part in helping TUFC be the best club it can be.

While being a Board Member is a lot of work, and hard sometimes, it is important work and I honestly consider it a real privilege.

I’ve got a few exciting projects I am working on, that will help the club, and I can’t wait to share them with everyone.

I love talking to people so, if you see me at the fields, please come and say “Hi”. I’d love to meet you.

The TUFC Board is always interested in hearing from qualified and expeience volunteers to join our Board.

If you feel like you would be a good fit, and add value, please email Stan Mitchell, Club President.

The TUFC Board is always interested in hearing from qualified and expeience volunteers to join our Board.

If you feel like you would be a good fit, and add value, please email Stan Mitchell, Club President.

The TUFC Board is always interested in hearing from qualified and expeience volunteers to join our Board.

If you feel like you would be a good fit, and add value, please email Stan Mitchell, Club President.