Central Coast Football is delighted to announce that KEVIN BEST has been awarded the Order of Australia medal in today’s Australia Day Honours List for his contributions to the sport of football over a period of more than 60 years.
Kevin has made a lifelong contribution to the sport of soccer/football in all aspects of the code including as a player, coach, administrator, historian, archivist and author. Despite being almost 70 years of age his dedication to the sport remains as strong and passionate as ever especially in his determination to address the deficiencies in the preparation of young players at the grassroots level.
Importantly Kevin has made all of these contributions on a voluntary basis and has never sought or received any financial gain. Indeed, although few know it, he has on a number of occasions covered the cost of many of his programs and historical research out of his own pocket.
Kevin Best’s contributions to football on the Central Coast are legendary and there are few, if any, more highly respected people in the region. This respect is based not just in the remarkable contributions that he has made but also in the manner that he has conducted himself throughout, a manner that reflects the highest of community standards and with extreme modesty, good humour and composure under pressure.
Among the numerous honours and awards that Kevin has received are:
1974: Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club – Life Membership
1975: Wyoming Football Club – Senior Player of the Year
1979: Central Coast Football –Services to the Game Trophy
1979: Wyoming Football Club – Life Membership
1984: Gosford City Council – Australia Day award for services to soccer
1986: Wyoming Football Club – Senior Player of the Year
1992: Central Coast Football – Life Membership
1996: 2GO Radio – Central Coast Sports Person of the Year
2010: Researching & Co-Writing ‘Tiger Tales – The History of the Wyoming FC 1970-2010’
2011: Wyoming Football Club – WFC Medal for Continuing Long Service to the Club
2013: Researching & Co-Writing ‘The History of Central Coast Football 1963-2013’