Don Sutherland

Born in 1928, Donald Sutherland was a foundation member of the Victorian Soccer Federation in 1960.

Don will be remembered as a Soccer journalist back in the 1950s when he wrote a regular feature in the Victorian "Soccer News" entitled "Soccer Man's Diary.”

A former player with South Melbourne United and the Sandringham City Soccer Club, he was a member of the Council of the old Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association and was chair of the Metropolitan Leagues for six years in the early 1960s when the major clubs broke away to form their own semi-professional league, to be known as the State League.

Don's peacemaking efforts were rewarded when clubs at all levels came together in the new Victorian Soccer Federation under the founding chairmanship of Mr Theo Marmaras, with Don Sutherland as deputy-chair.

Sutherland was also deputy chairman of the VSF Trustees and a Life Member of the Victorian Federation.

In his role with the VSF Trustees, Sutherland established a 100 per cent attendance record for meetings and proved a hard working and tireless administrator.

In November 1996 he was selected by Soccer Australia to establish a committee to create a Hall of Fame, where he devoted considerable time and effort in the foundation of the current Honours program.