Episode #11 - Vince Laws, Canterbury Junior Football Club

In Episode 11 of the CDSFA Community Football podcast, we speak with the Godfather of community football, Canterbury Junior Football Club Life Member and CDSFA Life Member, Vince Laws.

The 2019 season marks the 79th year of Vince Laws involvement in football. Vince started playing at the age of 11 with the Lilyfield Wanderers Club. In 1964, Vince registered his son with the Canterbury Junior Football Club and was persuaded to coach a team in the Under 9s competition. Vince accepted the request to coach thinking he would do so for one year. How wrong he was, as he continued to coach teams at Canterbury for 33 consecutive years. He also did a stint of 5 years with the APIA Club during this same period.

During his coaching career at Canterbury, Vince coached the Premier League squad, both 1st and Reserve grades for 9 years. In that time, the reserve grade squad won the premiership 6 consecutive years and the CDSFA acknowledged this achievement in presenting the Perpetual Trophy to Vince in recognition of his achievements.

From 1972 to 1985, Vince was the President of the Canterbury Junior Football Club. Vince also coached Metropolitan Representative Teams for the CDSFA. In 1994, Vince was presented with a State Award by the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation. In 2008 he received a special Soccer NSW Award for distinguished service to football. 

In recognition of the contribution Vince and his late wife Val had made to their club and more broadly to the Association, the CDSFA inaugurated the Vince and Val Laws Medal in 2013, which is presented annually at the CDSFA’s Volunteer Recognition Dinner. In October 2019, at 90 years of age, Vince received the ultimate recognition in community football, awarded the prestigious George Churchward Medal by Football NSW.