Local Legends: Kevin keeps Kyneton afloat
75-year-old Kevin Richiardi has been a stalwart of the Kyneton Football Netball Club for over 30 years. Over those three decades, Kevin has worn as many hats as you can possibly think of, including team manager, coach, and his longest standing position of line marker.
Kevin is always the first to arrive on match day to prepare the oval, setting up the goal post padding, even coordinating the team sheets back when they were done manually on paper! Anything and everything football related has to go past Kevin on a match day. He has seen the club evolve over the decades he has been there, through the struggles and the successes including a hiatus from competition in 2013 when the club could not field a side.
In recent years, Kevin has been instrumental in pursuing change for the club. Kyneton had been part of the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) for over 90 years, and when they sought to change leagues, Kevin was heavily involved in ensuring the club was set up to thrive within the local community well into the future. That ultimately led to the decision for the club to move into the Riddell District Football League at the end of the 2023 season.
Kyneton FNC Club Manager Nikki Young said that Kevin is the lifeblood of the local sporting community, and their club would not have survived periods of adversity without someone like Kevin advocating for its best interests.
“His compassion and loyalty to our club is unmatched…Kevin’s dedication to the community and to team sport fosters participation, connection and positive role modelling,” said Nikki.
“Without people like Kevin who are willing to give their time volunteering, community sport would be lost. Although he has ‘retired’ Kev is still there bossing the boys around on line marking day!!” she said.
The Kyneton community is grateful to have Kevin keeping their footy club afloat for over three decades.
AFL Victoria’s Local Legends initiative aims to recognise the local heroes who are the lifeblood of their local clubs and communities.
Whether it be a coach, player, umpire, local business owner, administrator or volunteer, AFL Victoria wants to celebrate the people who are the backbone of community football clubs. Community football clubs simply could not survive without those who are willing to show up each weekend and make sure that the game goes ahead, crowds are well fed, players are supported and success is enjoyed.
Nominees for the AFL Victoria Local Legends initiative can be anyone who is involved in a community football club in any capacity, whether it be paid or unpaid, directly related to the game or a behind-the-scenes super star, these legends are who make community football what it is.
Do you know someone with a great story like Kevin's? Nominate them now.
