Terry Hopkins Junior Development Foundation

Terry Hopkins 1962-2005

Terry Hopkins played for Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club in the under 17’s and 18’s in 1978-1980. He was awarded the Most Determined player for the under 17 side in 1979 and the Best Utility player for the under 18 side in 1980.

He played over 100 senior games with the club from 1980 to 1991. During this period, he was awarded the Reserves Best Utility player in 1982.

His commitment to the club continued after his playing days where he served on the social committee from 1988 through to the mid 1990’s. He also served on the general committee from 2000-2002 and ran the $5000 draw for several years.  He continued his contribution to the on field football department being assistant reserves coach in 1995 and had a huge involvement in running and assisting the pre-season fitness sessions over the years. Terry was made a life member of the club in 2005.

Unfortunately, Terry’s’ life was cut prematurely short in 2005 as a result of cancer. The club renamed the “Royals Club” in memory of Terry as recognition of Terry’s contribution and involvement with the club.

Terry Hopkins

Junior Development Foundation

After an idea from then Colts Coach Graham Lenthall who discussed it with then senior president Andy Neville, Neville Roberts was approached and became the prime instigator of this initiative and through consultation with the senior club, this idea was taken to the junior club and the birth of the then “Royals Club” took place in 2001.

A coterie group was raised with a view to forming a foundation whereby a support group could be set up to assist the transition of junior players into the senior ranks of Upper Gully. This group was originally named “The Royals Club” and their agenda was to offer financial, attendance and moral support, mentoring, guest speakers and skill specialists etc. to keep our great club going. Our target group was the Under 15’s and 16’s of the Upper Gully Juniors in conjunction with the Colts (under 18’s) of the Senior Club. With the change in EFL age groups this has now become the U17’s and U19’s groups.

It was agreed that a U/16 player would be selected at the end of the season as “The Royals Rising Star”. A unique criterion was set for the selection of this award with the intention being to select a player most likely to play senior football at Upper Gully.

In 2005 the club lost dear friend and devotee Terry Hopkins following a long battle with cancer. In recognition of his courage and passion for our club, which was an inspiration to all, the former “Royals Club” was renamed in his honour.

Over the past years, the Terry Hopkins Foundation has continued to evolve from what began as a passionate attempt to set up a formal organisation to assist the senior club in promoting and developing players for the future.

The charter of the THF is simple; it is devoted to raising funds to help ensure the future of the club through the support and development of our young players.

All proceeds from THF fundraising initiatives are used to benefit our younger players. Primarily the THF provides in conjunction with the Junior Club funding and support for the development of our junior players through coach education provided by “The Modern Game”.

Since 2001 the THF has sponsored the club’s under 19 “Rising Star” award, provided warm-up jackets for the club’s under 17’s and under 19s, funded information/education evenings for the club’s juniors, provided Sherrin footballs for awards to under 17 players, continued to contribute funds to retain the services of “The Modern Game” and provided funding for the under 19/under 17 Boot Camp amongst other contributions.

After 2014 the THF did away with the membership fee and instead decided to concentrate its fundraising on the annual luncheon.  In 2018 the Club decided to reintroduce the Terry Hopkins Foundation (THF) membership fee. We have found that over the past couple of years since this was dropped we have not been able to raise enough funds from just the THF luncheon to provide the foundation with the funds needed to maintain the Modern Game costs, offer the 17’s information nights on drugs and alcohol sessions and supply any other requirements needed to make their transition from the Junior to the Senior Club. This season as well as the annual lunch a THF Junior day was held at Kings Park with 6 junior games being held to raise funds and awareness for the Foundation.

Terry Hopkins Foundation

Rising Star Award

From the “Royals” inception in 2001 each year an Under 16 player was named “The Royals Rising Star” which was renamed the “Terry Hopkins Foundation Rising Star” in 2005. Because of the nature of football and the combination of two sections of the club, (senior and junior), the selection was made by a different set of people each year. And each year new or different interpretations of the criteria have arisen. Combine this with the fact that, as part of the criteria, selection needed to be based on a player who would definitely move onto senior football at Upper Gully, selectors all but needed a crystal ball to have any hope of getting it 100% right!

Also, in fairness to the contenders, most of the boys were totally unaware of the existence of the award, let alone the criteria and selection process.  Hence, at the END of their season, 4 boys would be nominated, interviewed and a month later, one named as the Rising Star. Over and done!

This was felt extremely unfair and subjective in that the boys were not given suitable time to embrace their nomination, and they were expected to pledge their allegiance to play at the senior club the following year.  At 16 years of age they also had to consider work and study commitments.  And as we know, most 16 year old boys don’t know what they’re doing tomorrow, let alone next year!

In 2007 After much discussion and consultation, the Foundation ratified a new selection process which, whilst still remaining true to the original criteria, removed the “grey” areas and, more importantly, gives every U16 player control of his own destiny and the opportunity to prove himself to be the Rising Star as opposed to being “picked” as the Rising Star.

It was decided that selection would take place over 2 years, being the last year of junior football (U16) and the first year at the senior club (U18). In 2012 with the change of age groups in the EFL the rising star assessment years changed to the last of junior football (U17) and the first year at the senior club (U19)

Frame work for the Terry Hopkins Foundation player assessment.

• All players will be observed throughout their Under 17 (Top age) year.
• At the conclusion of the season every player will be assessed by a committee that includes the Under 17 Coach and 3 other persons who have had an active involvement in the Under 17 team.
• Every player will be scored between 1 and 100 for each of the 4 criteria below.
• Similarly, at the end of their first Under 19 season, every player will be again scored in the same manner.
• The votes awarded for the Under 17 year will contribute 40% to the 2 year aggregate score and the Under 19 year the remaining 60%.
• Of the 4 assessment criteria below the ‘A Good Club Citizen’ and ‘On Game Day’ elements will be scored between 1 and 100. However the ‘In Preparation’ and ‘The Future’ will have a maximum of 50 points.

The Player/s that has been awarded the highest aggregate number of votes will be announced as the Terry Hopkins Foundation rising star.

The players will be assessed for the award under the following criteria.

• A Good Club Citizen: The player should conduct themselves in a manner that displays courtesy, honesty and friendliness to all other members of the club community. We want our players to contribute to the constant improvement of our club so that we can provide club with sociable and friendly atmosphere for all players and families in the future.

Players should be involved in club functions and club occasions, not only as attendees but as enthusiastic contributors to the events.

Our clubs reputation should never be spoiled by a player’s behaviour in the wider community.

• On Game Day: The player should display courage, skill, leadership and put the interests of the team before their own. The player should conduct themselves in a manner that brings pride to the Upper Gully jumper.

The player should be respectful of the opposition and should not be involved in vilification of any sort.

The player will also be respectful of umpires and all officials of the game and will not engage unsportsmanlike conduct.

• In Preparation: The player should attend the required training sessions and participate to a level that will positively develop their fitness and football ability. Players need to be striving for improvement in their individual skills and the overall teamwork. Players will be recognised for the manner in which they assist their team mates and how they contribute to the cohesion of the team.

• The Future: The Upper Gully Football club wants to recognise players that are going to be long term contributors to the senior club. They will be active contributors on and off the field to the benefit of the club and themselves. They are committed to playing football in the Upper Gully senior ranks whilst playing in the EFL competition.

Past Award Winners

2001 – Joel Beilken

2002 – Sholto May

2003 – Ryan Beilken

2004 – Chris Hosek

2005 – Ben Heuston

2006 – Anthony Lorusso

2008 – Tim Smith & Chris Michaliades

2009 – Craig Bridle

2010 – Tyler Willis

2011 – Bryce Hards

2013 – Nick Heuston

2014 – Luke Leslie

2015 – Tom Meagher

2016 – Josh Begley

2017 – Calan Hewitt

2018 – Rory Bailey

2019 – Ben Reynolds

2021 – Buster Todd

2022 – Brock McDonald