A Major Hick-Up

Football, and many other sports clubs at all levels have always been about communities.

Many historically represent a community. In Europe they have represented a town or a city, whereas in Australia many were built up by migrant communities and have maintained those links to their founders’ former homeland.

In Britain, there are many clubs that have strong associations with one family. Arsenal historically, has been owned by descendants of the Bracewell-Smith and Hill-Wood families for decades. The Cobbold family, which became influential in Suffolk in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in the main because of it’s brewing operations, became a driving force behind Ipswich Town Football Club, in their amateur days, and when they became a professional team. Another brewing family that has had long connections with a club is the Arkells family with Swindon Town. In 1896, Thomas Arkell donated £300 for the construction of a stand helping to establish the County Ground where the club still plays. Arkells, were the club’s first sponsor and are still involved today.

One can understand the benefit to a local brewery being involved in a community club, it would they would hope build a loyalty amongst fans to their beer!

Many of the clubs were also spawned from cricket clubs, where players who had played together throughout the summer months wanted an excuse to stay together and socialise during the winter months. Confirming that these clubs were very much communities of their own.

When one looks at the local football clubs in Australia and Western Australia there are again strong family links to many of them. The Marocchi family are instantly linked to Perth Italia or Perth SC as it is today. The Kramer family were until recently a crucial part of Inglewood Kiev, or Inglewood United as they are today. There are numerous families who have had unbroken ties to clubs that have been forged over decades, most going back over half a century.

Of course as new towns pop up or big cities expand new clubs are created. As Perth expanded northwards and a new suburb, Joondalup was created, in 1992 a football team was spawned Joondalup City. They finished third in their first season in the third division, they won Division one and promotion to the top division in 1996. In 1999 they changed their name to ECU Joondalup. It was around this time that this one club was pulling in more sponsorship dollars than the entire league!

In 1999 the Paul Simmons coached ECU Joondalup became State Champions, a title that they would not win again until 2020. To climb from nowhere to become state champions in four years was truly remarkable. Like many clubs there were key individuals involved in that rise, and also families that established a long association with the club, namely the Higgins, Amphlett and Brown families.

One of the aspects of the club of which they were extremely proud, and rightly so was their youth development. Over the years it was one of the most successful youth development programs not just in Western Australia, but also Australia.

As 2020 approached like many clubs ECU Joondalup were finding the cost of being in the National Premier Leagues problematic. The increase in outgoings per season was putting a strain on those running the club, and they went looking for an investor. Former Perth Glory CEO Jason Brewer was the first name to crop up as his son had played at the club, before moving to Charlton Athletic, but that fell through.

Eventually they spoke to Mark Donnelly a man who describes himself on one website as “originally from the UK, Mark Donnelly is an entrepreneur, investor and speaker with over 20 years of experience in the field. He is the CEO of Brite Advisors, an all-in-one pension service for UK ex-pats abroad.”

In the first year that Mr Donnelly came into the club he took over as President, appointed Kenny Lowe as head of Football, and left Syd Amphlett to run the club. It is fair to say that this was a successful year with ECU Joondalup winning the league title in 2020; interestingly that success came with ,members of the Brown, Higgins and Amphlett families being a part of the playing squad.

One of the things it is claimed that Mr Donnelly wanted to do was change the name of the club, something he and Mr Amphlett disagreed over, and which played a part in the latter walking away from a club he had been involved with for many years.

In November 2021 Mr Donnelly appointed Mr Simon Hicks to the role of General Manager of the club. Mr Hicks left University in 2018 and then worked at Football West as a referees Co-ordinator from 2018 until a month after he took on the role at ECU Joondalup in November 2021.

In February 2022, ECU Joondalup SC and Northern Redbacks Women’s Soccer Club announced a merger to create Perth RedStar FC as a new club. Redbacks were without doubt the outstanding women’s team in Western Australia with 15 league titles in their 30 years leading up to the merger, as well as nine knockout cup trophies and five top-four championships.

At the time, it was announced that one of the contributing factors behind the merger was Redbacks’ inadequate game day facilities at Celebration Park in the suburb of Balga.

Others felt that there was indeed more at play than simply a ground issue. The conversation was hotting up in regards to the A-League creating a second division and many believed this was the end goal. In fact general manager Simon Hicks indicated the same when he told Perth Now, “We’ve got a lot of ambition long-term in terms of progressing beyond just State level competition and into the national competitions as well.” He went on to state that the club may well move away from its links to Edith Cowan University and create a shared purpose venue similar to the State Football centre in the Northern suburbs.

At the time there were some who raised questions over the private ownership of a community club. The question of course was is this in fact private ownership? Or was it just an major investor having a greater say due to their financial input? Some looked at this as a new club, and questioned whether Football West should have allowed both to maintain their Premier League status.

One can understand why they did, as both clubs have been strong contributors at that level. Legally, it would appear that this was simply a name change as Perth Redstar is in fact registered as a business as “ECU Joondalup trading as Perth Redstar.”

Once again in the article in Perth Now in February 2022 Mr Hicks was quoted as saying “In terms of being a development club, we want to be developing five professional players a year, because that’s essentially what comes out of the State and we want to be dominating player development on the women’s side and the men’s side.”

Certainly these were very ambitious goals. Some would say unrealistic. Unrealistic simply because of late the NPL in Western Australia has fallen behind those in many other states, and it is questionable how many players would be able to step from NPL straight into an A-League side. Those far more experienced than us have said that it will only happen on very rare occasions.

As mentioned, ECU Joondalup’s development programs were second to none. It has produced a number of Socceroos in the past two decades, the likes of Adam Taggart, Josh Risdon, Brad Jones, Rhys Williams, Shane Lowry, Cameron Burgess and Chris Herd. In fact Josh Risdon moved away from his family in Bunbury, two hours South of Perth, to join ECU Joondalup juniors because he believed that was his best chance of making it into the A-League!

The key personnel who created this conveyor belt of talent were Mickey Quayle, John Brown and Everton legend Mick Lyons who all arrived at ECU in the late 1990’s. It is fair to say that these three coaches had unparalleled success in terms of youth development. Over 30 players from that program ended up playing professionally in Australia or overseas.

To give this program some context in 2011, ECU Joondalup won their way to compete against the best young players in the world after taking out the inaugural Volkswagen Junior Masters Australia in Sydney. Here they scored 23 goals and only conceded twice. That victory saw them book their place as Australia’s representative at the Junior World Masters in Warsaw, Poland, where the juniors were coached by John Brown and Ross Kelly. Ashley Maynard Brewer who is currently playing for Charlton Athletic was a member of that side.

ECU Joondalup were the only Australian entrant at the tournament in Poland which saw them up against teams from Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Germany and Spain. This team of under 13s won their way through to the quarter finals after finishing second in their group.They played six matches and only lost to the two teams that competed in the final, Germany, and their opening day opponent Italy.

It would appear that all of that junior development is now in tatters as 50 players and coaches have walked away from the club in the past month.

With Mr Donnelly’s company Brite Advisors being put into receivership by Justice Patrick O’Sullivan in February of this year, one wonders where the future of the club lies. It is alleged that Mr Donnelly is not allowed back into Australia, but is still financing the club.

He is, as far as we can ascertain still President of the club, although trying to find the list of officers is extremely difficult as there is no club website. If that is indeed the case it actually goes against the constitution of Perth Redstar which was registered on 03 February 2022. As section 14.1 subsection d states: “A person shall not be eligible to hold a position on the Board if the person is, according to the Interpretation Act section 13D, a bankrupt or a person whose affairs are under insolvency laws, unless the person has obtained the permission of the Commissioner.”

Some have said that Mr Donnelly should have been excluded from the position of President from the start, as news of convictions in an English court in 2004 and 2010 relating to David Beckham shirts came to light, however the constitution states that “A person is not eligible to hold a position on the Board, if the person has been convicted of, or imprisoned in the previous five (5) years.” That period had passed.

With no website for the club it is as if all of that rich history has been erased. All there is today is a Facebook page, and again no list of club officials, coaches or playing squads.

So why the mass walk out of junior players? It would appear to be the result of internal politics.

After that first season when Mr Donnelly took over as President and Kenny Lowe was inserted as coach John Brown was advised that he was no longer required to coach the juniors. He was offered a role as chief scout, but he declined it.

However, his son Andrew who had played for the club was giving back by coaching one of the junior sides.

The club held its junior trials from the 7th-17th of October this year. On the 15th of October James McKnight the U15 coach sent a text advising Andrew Brown’s nephew that he had been selected for the U14 squad in 2025. On the 16th Andrew Brown who was coach of the U12’s announced that his son and his nephew had been selected for that squad, which was confirmed by the club’s technical director Danny O’Shea on the 17th.

It seems pertinent to mention that Ironically the 10th -17th of October was Mental Health week in Western Australia.

Also on the 17th confirmation from the under 16 team manager Richard Rancatore on behalf of the coach Dale McCulloch was sent in an email confirming this squad to the Technical Director and the General Manager. In this squad was another of Andrew Brown’s nephews, not only was he captain of the squad but was also one of the longest standing juniors at the club having been there for eight years. It should be mentioned that two of these boys have represented Western Australia at State schoolboy level.

On the 19th of October coach Dale McCulloch via a group text confirmed his squad for the season ahead. On the 21st Danny O’Shea confirmed that the U12 squad had been sent to the General Manager. On the 22nd October offer letters were sent out by the General Manager. No offer letters were received for Andy Brown’s son or his nephews.

That same evening Andy Brown was advised by the General Manager, Simon Hicks, that he would not be coaching the juniors in 2025. When he asked why he was no longer required, according to Mr Brown he was advised, “I don’t make the decisions.”

On the 25th of October Natasha Harvey, Andrew’s sister, realised that her sons had not received their confirmation letters. She called Rick Rancatore to find out why. He in turn called Simon Hicks, the General Manager, and was allegedly told to call the Technical Director.

It is claimed that when he did so the Technical Director advised that he had been told to retract all offers made to the Brown and Harvey families, and that this instruction had ‘come from above,’ and was not supported by him.

The coaches in charge of these teams at this point in time were unaware, and had not been informed of these decisions.

The Vice President, John Higgins was alerted to the situation and called to discuss the issue with the General Manager. He was alleged to have been told at this time that the decision had come from the President, who no longer wanted the Brown or Harvey families at the club. It is claimed that Mr Higgins put forward a suggestion that the children should not be victimised and should remain with the club, and that the issue should be dealt with in house. It is also claimed that there was no response on the matter.

On the 28th of October Natasha Harvey called Danny O’Shea, the technical Director to discuss the withdrawal of the offers. Once again it is claimed that Mr O’Shea advised that this was not his decision. When told that one of the boys was suffering mental stress because of this issue, Mr O’ Shea was said to be genuinely concerned.

On the 28th of October Mrs Harvey sent an email to the General Manager, Simon Hicks requesting an explanation. She did not receive a reply. On the 30th her husband Ian called Simon Hicks and left a message. They also sent him a text message, and received no response to any of the messages sent or left.

When one of the other coaches at the club, who also happens to be a major sponsor of the juniors heard what had transpired he too is said to have called Mr Hicks, and warned him that it could have a larger impact on the club. It is alleged that the response was along the lines of ‘everyone is replaceable.’ The coach in question has since resigned and withdrawn their sponsorship.

On the first of November Ian Harvey met with Football West to discuss what he described as the bullying and victimisation of four junior players by the General Manager. He was told to put his complaint in writing, which he duly did.

The response from David Lewis the General Manager – Football at Football West was unlikely to calm the turbulent waters. Mr Lewis is new to the role at Football West having been appointed in February this year, and has an extensive background in the fitness industry. His rather patronising reply may well have worked with a patron complaining about a gym membership, but did little to bring closure to this unfortunate situation.

A subsequent meeting was held with Mr Lewis and the Chief Operating Officer of Football West, Mr Perry Ielati where there was nothing resolved, however Football West did say that they would be looking to hear Mr Hicks version of events and would inform the families of their findings.

For the families the lack of response has caused untold duress to these children, in part as with trials having taken place at other clubs and squads locked in they will find it hard to secure a place at another JDL1 Team. The Harvey’s 13 year old son has opted to walk away from the sport altogether.

The Brown and Harvey families have been around sport a long time. They understand that sometimes decisions are made that you may not agree with. They also understand that under the “new football” regime the appointment of Technical Directors was supposed to alleviate situations such as this. As coaches have to justify decisions to the Technical Director to ensure that there is no favouritism or victimisation.

Here it would appear that the system has broken down, as the role and integrity of the Technical Director has been undermined by the General Manager, who it is alleged was acting on the instructions of the President. So is the President really just an investor with a senior position at the club? Or has this once community club now become and oligarchy?

A situation such as this should not arise at a community club. Despite Mr Donnelley’s financial input, nowhere can Not The Footy Show find any document stating that he is in fact the owner of the club. Most importantly the Constitution of Perth Redstar does not state that the club has a sole owner.

Football West’s own constitution states under “Objects of company” section b that one of its roles is “to govern Football throughout the State and protect Football from abuse.” Section d goes on to say that they are “to take all reasonable steps to ensure that discrimination or distinction does not occur among Football participants on any grounds regulated under any Equal Opportunity Law.”

Do they therefore need to step in and take a stance in this matter no matter how unpopular it may be?

The General Manager and the President will undoubtedly claim that they are acting in the best interests of the club. They may feel that they can ride out this storm, but already with the under 9’s, under 10’s, under 11’s and under 12’s all walking out, they may find that this is going to be harder than they imagined. At the end of the day public perception will rule the day at this level.

It is certainly a very sad day for a club that has always prided itself on its junior development.

The club will no doubt continue to attract players for their NPL team, as they are currently one of the highest paying clubs. However, Mr Donnelly may find that his focus and time is going to be taken up more with his business interests across the globe in the coming months, and one wonders where Perth Redstar will sit in terms of his priorities. Once bills are not paid, or players not paid, it could prove to be a veritable house of cards.

Whatever the final outcome proves to be, this is a community that has suffered, and one wonders how long the wider football community will take to forget what has happened. Will parents still be so keen to send their children to play at the club? At the end of the day community development is only successful when you develop and sustain relationships. In this case clearly those relationships have been broken.