A much-loved football coach was remembered last weekend with the Forrestdale Falcons Football Club hosting a special fundraising event in his honour.
League coach Stuart Bates lost his battle with cancer on April 11 this year, aged 52.
President Gary Hearne said the club decided to host a community fundraiser for Cancer Council WA to not only raise valuable funds for the not-for-profit organisation but to also remember their friend Stu.
“Stu, as everyone knew him and called him, came to the club at the start of 2018 and straight away you could see his passion for the game,” he said.
“The community day was held in high spirits for the memory of Stu who was a very passionate coach and got us back into the finals last year and oversaw the club returning to C4.”
Mr Hearne said even after Stu learned of his diagnosis he was still very committed to the club.
“He was an extremely committed coach who never missed a training session and that showed with the club playing finals in 2018 after missing out on the finals in the three years prior,” he said.
“At his funeral he was well represented by the football community, which showed he clearly left his mark on every club he was involved in.”
The event raised more than $6000.
Photographs – Aaron Van Rongen.
