Football Queensland is excited to announce the appointment of Drew McNamara as the new Club Development Ambassador and Community Engagement Officer – Central Coast (Rockhampton). 

With previous experience working in various roles including Game Day Coordinator, Wide Bay Academy Coach and Participation Officer, McNamara’s unique knowledge base as both player and coach will be invaluable as he drives the development of football in the Central Coast region.  

“I have found that the level of football that I’ve seen here is at a really high standard, and so I believe that there is a great opportunity make a real impact by continuing to support and develop it even further,” McNamara said. 

“I’m here to be someone that listens to the clubs, someone they can engage with and someone that they enjoy having around in their community and developing the game they love.  

“A key focus of mine is to start building those strong positive relationships with the broader community whilst also networking closely with the clubs, the players and coaches in order to better understand how to help them to build on their football experience.” 

McNamara said he hopes to make a visible difference to the game in the region by not only placing a focus on developing the clubs and players, but also on upskilling the coaches to support growth across the board. 

“I want to help the community feel more connected to the rest of the state in the sense that we are creating and improving on existing pathways and opportunities for the players and the coaches to go further in their careers if they would like too,” he said.  

“I have only ever spent my football life in regional Queensland, and I have been fortunate to turn that passion into a full-time job and so hopefully I can inspire the Central Coast in that sense and show them how to utilise the pathways provided. 

“I love football. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I started playing it, and so I hope to develop and promote the game so we can get more people participating and enjoying it just like I did.” 

FQ General Manager – Football & State Technical Director Gabor Ganczer said McNamara’s appointment will be a great boost to the Central Coast community in Rockhampton as he draws on his experiences in regional football to drive growth opportunities for the game.  

“We are very excited to welcome Drew into the Football Queensland team and are confident that his skillset will complement Mark Delaney’s expertise who is our Gladstone based Club Development Ambassador. 

“Their support of local clubs and their commitment to developing overall football talent will be of great benefit to the Central Coast region.”