Cecelia Lee

Cecilia Lee Award (for the Female Member that has given the greatest contribution to the Club)

Cecelia Lee [b.28-1-1932; d.27-1-1986] was a young school teacher married to Nigel Lee [co-founder, player, coach, President, and Life Member] who used her connections at Eastwood P.S. and Denistone East P.S. to establish the formation of the Club’s Junior coaching program which continues to grow to this day. 

In 1959 Celia, as she was known, was possibly Australia’s first female coach of boys’ football and a role model for women of all ages. 

Celia and Nigel’s sons, Melvyn b.1960 and Trevor b.1962 both played for the Club with distinction. 

Celia continues to be an in inspiration for our great Club – St Andrews AFC.

1. In honour of Cecelia Lee, who was married to Nigel Lee and as a school teacher was heavily involved in promoting the club within the local community and possibly the first female football coach in Australia, sadly she has passed away.
2. This award is for the Female club Member who has given a significant contribution to the club over not only for one year but over many years.
3. The ethos of the award can be summed up by Ali Krieger (US Womens Soccer Team) – QUOTE “Surround yourself with good people, surround yourself with positivity and people who are going to challenge you to make you better. If you just kind of let yourself stay alone and be by yourself, the negative, it is just not going to help you. You can control two things, your work ethic and your attitude about anything."
4. Confirming criteria (five categories) for Women Involved with the St Andrews Club:
   1. Club Involvement and Commitment
      1. Has this person shown the ability to assist Committee, Coaches, Managers and or Parents with games and general duties required in the Club.
      2. Strong and decisive but also humble, recognises that may not have all the answers.
   2. Impact the individual has in the Club
      1. Is this person a person that everyone notices and comments on, without the person wanting the pat on the back and just show the quality without the reward.
      2. Passionately owns the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.
      3. Contribution of time and effort, with length of Service to the Club
         1. A person that you view around the Club or on game day enjoying just being a part of the atmosphere of the Club. Has been involved with the Club for more two (2) years.
         2. Taps into the emotion of others around that person.

1. Roles played
   1. Have they been on the Committee, a Manager, a Player, a Coach or just a loyal Parent.
   2. Has nothing to fear, nothing to hide and will do the right thing.
2. Leadership qualities and Achievements
   1. Does this person have the integrity and recognize the value of others without feeling threatened.
   2. Has self-confidence and self-awareness.
3. This award can’t be won by the same person 2 years in a row.

Congratulations to the following recipients;

2016 - Vicki Masulans & Diane Jones

2017 - Kathryn Khiroya

2018 - Emily Higgins

2019 - Sheree Knappstein

2020 - Diane Jones