Chris Bourke

Chris coached at Byron Bay FC for 18 consecutive years from 1988 and returned again in 2012 after a small break. He has taken five teams to Grand Finals, winning three.

His efforts in developing playing and life skills of juniors is a benchmark in commitment. He has spent countless Saturdays picking up children to make sure they could get to the game before coaching and watching matches himself, particularly with his two sons.

Bourkey has held a variety of positions at the club from grounds coordinator and referee, to Director of Coaching, Gear Steward, junior delegate to BBJSA and Canteen coordinator.

In 1994, before the time of Microsoft Excel, Bourkey wrote the entire spreadsheet by hand for the U6s to U14s which included every ground and every kick-off time. It became a template on which the competition was based for several years.

In 1997 he coached the Women’s Dividion 3 team as coach – with his wife Shelly as manager – taking them to the Grand Final that season and through to first division in subsequent years. Shelley has also been involved with the Club as a canteen volunteer and canteen coordinator for several years and as a fundraiser for the club.