At the Mt Barker United SC AGM recently we had the pleasure of inducting three new Life members. All three have given the club great service over the years in various roles and thankfully a couple of them are still heavily involved for which we are grateful for.

Carl Engley
Carl has been at the club since we were playing at Dunn Park in Mt Barker, way back when. A long term player and volunteer there are very few roles Carl has not held over the years. Carl played in our Community Mens teams this year as well as coaching his daughter in the Under 10s Mixed team.

Other roles Carl has held over his time at the club include:

• First State League Reserves coach
• First Women’s coach to win a league trophy
• Carl’s business Plasterboard by  Carl is also a club sponsor helping kit out our Community Men’s teams.
• He’s played for the club for over 10 years as well as coaching a number of junior and senior teams.

Sally Haselgrove
Sally joined the Executive Committee in 2016 and has been flat-out ever since, she’s going to be hard to replace in 2022.

There have been numerous positions and roles that Sally has volunteered for over the years including:

• Club Secretary and Public Officer
• Anembo Park Sports and Recreation Association Secretary for 3 years
• Canteen Co-ordinator at Anembo Park
• AHJFA Representative Member

Whilst Sally is stepping down from holding an official role, we are sure to see her around the traps as her children are still playing for the club in our State League Men’s program, and helping out when she can.

Rob McIntyre 
Our final inductee for this 2021 was Rob McIntyre. Rob holds the distinction of scoring the first ever goal scored at the Summit Sport and Recreation Park (SSRP), playing for our Div 5 Community Men’s team. Being the furthest located player within our Community Men’s group, Rob made a special trip just to play in the club’s first home round at the SSRP. 

Rob started with the club as a junior way back in the Dunn Park days. Whilst his participation has been off and on over the last 20 years (mainly due to living interstate), he has remained a supporter of the club, coming back from time to time to play in our Community Men’s group. Rob also a sponsors the club through his businesses Pixel Pusher and TFP Fitness Equipment. 

Mark Swithenbank (2020)
We also were able to finally award Mark Swithenbank his Life Membership this year after he unable to attend the AGM in 2020. Mark is a long time member of the club, contributing his thoughts and expertise at committee level, but his main passion has been coaching. 

Mark has coached juniors for many years and was our Under 15 Junior Premier League squad in 2016, as the Club took its first tentative steps back into the top-flute junior competition. He took that group through to the u18 State League competition. He coached the State League Reserves in 2019 before taking a break due to work commitments. We’re glad to welcome him back to the State League Program in 2022 when he again will take on the Reserves squad and assist Head Coach Nathan Fleetwood.

Mark is a passionate club person and rumour has it he played a game or two for our Senior Men’s team when we competed in the SAASL. That’s how long he has been at the club.