As NAIDOC Week celebrations continue, Football Queensland caught up with United Warriors FC junior girls coach Renee Crilly, who is described as “a beautiful mentor for all young players” and someone who lives and breathes for the club’s youth and their development.
“I have never been part of a club that fosters such an inclusive mindset, and that is mostly thanks to Renee and her openness to share her culture with our players,” United Warriors FC Vice President Lisa Hayward said when nominating Crilly to be featured as a NAIDOC Week Hero of Change for 2022.
A club member for the last 10 years and coach for the last eight, Crilly has mentored young players across multiple age groups over the years.
“I feel privileged that someone thought I am deserving of a being hero of change,” Crilly said.
“My old people and the platform they created for my family has always instilled the value of giving more than you receive. I have always felt blessed to be a part of a big family where everyone takes care of each other.
“This is the same philosophy I apply to the club and teams I have coached and played with from the club to playing masters.
“My husband and I have spent many years coaching youth girls and women teams and ensuring that everyone we coach is always developing skills and knowledge of the game.”
United Warriors FC has celebrated NAIDOC Week as a club for a number of years, with Crilly playing an instrumental role in sharing Indigenous culture with fellow club members.
“NAIDOC Week is a time where we are able to acknowledge and pay respect to First Peoples of the countries on which we all play,” Crilly said.
“It is a way that football recognises and values our culture while it also provides a platform for our mob to stand proud and showcase our talents in community.
“This will be our second NAIDOC celebration during the season where I will share native food tasting, a welcome to country from the Butchulla people on the country where we play and acknowledge their traditional connection to the country.
“A proud moment as a Wulli Wulli woman was when our women last year wore an Indigenous shirt to the game, and next year we will have our own design for our club to wear during the Indigenous Round.
“All our players we have coached are always willing to embrace and learn culture, which makes me so proud to be a part of the United family.”
The NAIDOC Week theme for 2022 is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! which Crilly describes as “a genuine commitment by all of us within the clubs to strengthen our voices and walk alongside each other.”
“There are a lot of deadly people out there doing some great things to showcase the talent we have across the nation, and I would like to acknowledge everyone that is doing things in community and all the volunteers that work so tirelessly within clubs; without them at the grassroots level, playing any sport would not be possible.”