Vale Bill Vrolyks OAM

Football Australia is saddened to learn of the passing of Football Australia Hall of Famer, Bill Vrolyks OAM.

Vrolyks was born in 1925 in Nijmegen, Holland, and emigrated to Australia in 1945 with the Dutch Air Force.

After captaining the Dutch Air Force football team, Vrolyks was instrumental in starting up the Dutch-Sydney Austral club in 1950.

After five years with the club, Vrolyks transferred to Leichhardt Annandale for a total of 510 first grade matches, playing alongside Australian football legend Joe Marston.

He helped implement the first coaching structure in NSW and travelled interstate to assist the formation of similar groups, leading to the Australian Coaches Federation.

Vrolyks began coaching camps and clinics at Parklea Academy, what is now known as Valentine Park, contributing his time and effort for over 10 years without pay.

He was made a Life Member of the NSW Coaches Federation, coached NSW and state youth teams, spending over 50 years in the sport.

Bill was also President of the Eastern Suburbs Soccer Association and was awarded Life Membership for his services to that body, as well as the Central Coast Soccer Association for his services to football on the Coast for a number of decades.

He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1988, and was part of the Torch bearing duties around The Entrance as part of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Torch Relay, for his football service and volunteer work associated with “Meals on Wheels”.

Bill was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2001, and spent many more years coaching the sport he loved most, becoming an iconic figure of the Football community on the Central Coast.

Football Australia sends its condolences to the Vrolyks family and those closest to Bill. Vale.