Bill enters soccer hall of fame
Umina resident, Bill Vrolyks, has been selected to become a member of the Soccer Australia Hall of Fame.
The award will be announced at an awards luncheon to be held in Sydney at the Stamford Hotel, Sydney Airport, on Sunday, August 26.
Bill arrived in Australia in 1945 as a member of the Dutch Air Force, and was captain of the Dutch Air Force soccer team playing in England and Australia. He was discharged in 1948 in Sydney.
In 1950, Bill started the Sydney Austral Soccer Club playing 450 first grade games.
Bill transferred to Leichhardt-Annandale in 1956 playing 60 first grade games with players like Joe Marston.
Bill became president of the Eastern Suburbs Soccer Association getting a life membership after many years.
Bill implemented the first coaching structure called the NSW Federation of Soccer Coaches with people like Joe Vlatsits and Denis Adrigan.
He travelled interstate to form the South Australia, Victoria, West Australia, Queensland and Northern NSW Coaches Federation, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the Australian Coaches Federation.
Bill had the foresight to start a soccer academy at Parklea-Blacktown running coaching camps and clinics and pouring the money back into the complex.
Bill received a Life Membership from the NSW Coaches Federation and was appointed first grade coach to the Pan Hellenic Soccer Club in 1967.
He became a first grade coach with the Sydney Croatia Soccer Club in 1968 to 1969, coach of the NSW State team against Inter-Bratislava in 1970, and coach of the NSW U19 team against Fijis U16 in the 1972 National Titles.
Bill has been running coaching camps and clinics all over NSW, and moved to Gosford in 1979 to start the Central Coast Coaches Federation.
Bill was made first grade coach of the Umina United Soccer Club in 1980, 1981 and 1982, winning two premierships.
He became senior coach of the Central Coast Coasties in 1983 and 1984 winning the minor premiership in the Newcastle State League.
In 1988, Bill was awarded the Order of Australia medal from the Queen for services to soccer, and was awarded a Life Membership from the Central Coast Soccer Association.
Bill was awarded the U18 Coach of the Year 2000 by the Central Coast Soccer Association, and became the Development Officer of Umina United Soccer Club in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Bill's recognition in the Hall of Fame was for 53 given years to the game of soccer, making as great a contribution to the development of soccer as people who have played for the State or National teams.
Media release, August 1