He’s been a part of Wakefield’s Senior Football Club for 22 years, and for the past half decade has dedicated his time to growing and strengthening the junior football division. But now, Hayden Ingham is out.
Hayden says, when he took over the Waimea Plains Football Group, the junior division of the Wakefield Football Club, he didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
“The first season was crazy as I wasn’t sure what I was doing, then every season after that something big happened. It’s sure been interesting,” he reflects.
From bushfires, droughts, and then the pandemic, it’s not been without its challenges.
“The past season is the only season things have been normal,” he laughs.
One of the changes Hayden has made to junior football is the introduction of non-parent coaches, which has proved to be popular and beneficial.
“We ask our senior players to get involved and coach the junior teams. The parents help with organising kids and any injuries, but the senior players have football skills that they can use to upskill the juniors. It’s been a big success and the senior guys have gotten a lot from it too,” he says.
Numbers in the junior division have grown steadily, and Hayden says they now have around 85 kids, aged 4-17 years old, taking part.
“It’s awesome to see,” he adds.
With no kids of his own playing junior football and the club in a stable position, Hayden feels now is the time to hand his responsibilities on.
“Instead of Wakefield Football and Waimea Plains, the club is in the process of merging into one entity which gets it all under the one branch, which is a massively positive step for all,” Hayden says.
Hayden also explains that he was encouraged when four parents volunteered to take over his responsibilities, and who he says he has a lot of confidence in.
“It’s great to have some parents who have skin in the junior games stepping up.”
More time with his wife, who Hayden says has been very forgiving of the time he has put into the club over the past 20 years, and more weekends away are now on the cards.
“I can’t thank the parents and players enough who have helped make the club what it is today. Hayden is out.”
