In the latest instalment of the Female Football Week series, we sat down with Belmore Eagles’ president, Susie Boughton.
Susie grew up in a football mad household in Strathfield so it was no surprise to hear that she began playing from 11 years old with Revesby Lions in the Bankstown District.
Women’s football in the early 80’s was a whole different kettle of fish to what it is now. When she first began her footballing career, she was forced to play up in the under 16’s with that being the only girls team at the time.
Photo: Susie (far left, standing) and her Chullora Soccer Club U/16 girls team in 1983. Image: Supplied
She remained in the Bankstown District (turning out for Chullora Soccer Club) before taking a short break from the game due to work and family commitments until making a return in her mid-20’s with Georges Hall Giants.
“They had State League trials. We actually developed a women’s representative club. After a few years there, I ripped my groin at 29 and I was getting a bit too old to keep on playing,” Susie said.
“By the time I left we had under 14’s, under 16’s and State League.
That was that I was out of the game for a while. I got married again. There’s a pattern here.”
Beginning at Belmore
On the hunt for a new club for her kids, Susie’s partner at the time suggested that they try out Belmore given that he was a life member.
Some drastic changes in football development had taken place during her latest hiatus which she was forced to adjust to.
“The game had totally changed. From when I got out of the game, or even coaching my older son there were some big differences. When he was first playing, you had five-year-old’s playing on full size pitches,” she said.
“The game had changed completely and it left me wondering what the hell happened? Like somebody’s dropped a bomb on the game. I didn’t get it at first because I tried to play park soccer after coming from State League and I just couldn’t.
You can’t go out of that environment, training six hours a week and then go play park soccer. Especially difficult when they find out that you’ve been playing State League, they [opposition] target you.”
She arrived at Rudd Park during a period of unrest as the club looked to reinvigorate itself following years of inaction.
“Belmore was very little. It had been a very big club but it was dying.”
“In its old days, it was hugely successful but then the demographic changed. There four guys working their butts off trying to make things happen.
Quietly behind the scenes I was trying to work on a sponsorship because the club was all over the place. Every team had a different jersey.
I made a phone call, right time, right place that’s it. Campsie RSL came onboard and since then it’s all been good.”
Susie’s hard lined approach at the club has also been one of the main factors behind its success. She has clear objectives which she wants to achieve for the club and won’t tolerate players or parents who kick up a fuss.
“I’m very strict on the parents. I tell them not to engage with anything untoward on the sideline. I tell them straight up, if you do, not only will I deregister you and your child but I’ll notify the Association and they can deal with you as well.”
Photo: Susie after receiving the 2016 Cec Barlow Award from Jihad Dib (State Member of Parliament for Lakemba). Image credit: MMS Sports Photography
There are more than valid reasons behind her efforts to clamp down on such behaviour, she is doing her best to tear down a long standing negative stereotype about Belmore and surrounding clubs.
There is one confrontation in particular that springs to mind: “We’ve had people come from some inner west clubs just for a gala day. We set up a big marshalling area where kids get their trophies. One dad actually said, ‘It’s so nice, thank you. You never know what to expect when you come to clubs out this way.”
“So, I replied: ‘Really, what were you expecting? He just looked at me and I thought, yeah exactly!
That’s something I drum home to the parents and the kids. People have an expectation that Belmore is going to behave in a particular way, so we always have to be one step above that and better still.”
What keeps her in the game?
There are many interactions and incidents that Susie could do without but they do not outweigh many of the standout reasons as to why she remains at the club.
“Football for me and why I’m still involved is because when I see a kid, I don’t turn them away. Even if that kid has autism or special needs. Even if we have an under eight, division eight side that he/she could go play in, then that’s a good thing.”
“When the kids come running up to me and they tell me we won, I say, ‘Did you? I don’t care, did you have fun?’ then they ask me if I want to know the score.
“That really excites me and it may sound really corny but it does.”
Photo: Susie at the 2019 CDSFA Volunteer Awards Dinner. Image credit: MMS Sports Photography
A revamped and renovated Rudd Park
Exciting times lay ahead for Belmore with Rudd Park currently undergoing renovations which will see a state of the art synthetic pitch become a popular feature for the players as well as locals.
“It’s going to be great for training and rain. We won’t have to cancel training because of wet weather anymore.”
“We weren’t part of decision making process for the redevelopment. We were basically told; this is what you’re getting. I’m trying not to overthink it, when we get, we get it.
“We’ll just wait and see.”
By CDSFA Communications Officer – Samuel Greco Schwartz
