Former Finley Football Netball Club president Ashley Haynes is among esteemed company, as the latest Finley Football Netball Club member to be honoured with life membership.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
A special presentation was made before the Good Friday clash with the Deniliquin Rams.
It was during the ‘Lunch with Tom’, celebrating the return of one of the club’s favourite sons - Tom Hawkins - to play with the Cats that day.
Haynes said the life membership was “a big thrill” and “an absolutely great honour.”
Haynes was involved with the club through the maternal side of his family and as a player, growing up hearing and being involved in eras of success at the club.
“I played football at the club in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.
“My mother’s family played a big part in the 1940s and 1950s when it was just the Finley Football Club.
“They were very successful in that period, and we used to hear stories about the club at that time, which were spoken about in very reverent tones.”
Once finishing his stint as a player, Haynes took a break from football while still heavily involved in the Finley community.
He was then called in to take over as president, a role he stayed in for 13 years from 2009 until 2022.
“After I finished as a player, I moved away from it and actually became president of the golf club for a period.
“Kerry McDonald talked to me about getting involved as president (of the Finley Football Netball Club) around 2008 to 2009.
“There were some clear things to be done, including the facilities to improve on.
“Having a very stable committee helped a lot.”
Under his leadership, the Finley Football Netball Club was successful in the sporting arenas, winning their first A-grade netball premiership and reaching Murray League senior football grand finals, each two years apart in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Meanwhile, around the club, Haynes also oversaw the development of the Finley Cats facilities and juniors development that still exists today.
“There are many good memories, which is not to say it was not without its challenges.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have a very supportive wife, and four kids.
“I run a business, so something had to give, but I’m glad for my family’s support.
“I also had a very supportive committee, which made so many things possible.”
Haynes said he has had many positive experiences during his time involved with the club.
“A highlight has been in developing lots of contacts over that time.
“The thing is you can’t do it without the support from committee and sponsors.
“The redevelopment of facilities in 2013, we were all very proud and thankful to get contributions from the community, and it took a lot of work, getting involvement from three tiers of government.
“I also wanted to acknowledge the farming operation we started, with Mark Robinson among many others, to support the club, which was a really rewarding project.”
Ahead of the presentation on Good Friday, Haynes said the club “caught him” attending the Tom Hawkins event.
“I wasn’t aware (I was being awarded life membership) and who isn’t going to go listen to a Tom Hawkins Q and A?”
Haynes confirmed he had been involved with Hawkins closely in the past.
“I followed his career very closely and with great interest.”
In a recent interview with the Country News, Hawkins mentioned his friendship with Haynes over the years, leading to Hawkins’ return to play for the Cats this year.
Hawkins and Haynes struck up a ‘contract’, a famous piece of paper which was drafted and redrafted as Tom’s career went through ebbs and flows of its own.
“I’ve always had, I suppose you can call it, a signed contract with Ash Haynes,” Hawkins said.
“Ash technically gave me my first job; I used to sell eggs in his butcher store. He’s always been a great friend.”
Haynes said the presentation at Finley on Good Friday was very meaningful to him.
“It was pretty special to have Tom Hawkins and Michael Archer present me with the medal.
“I join my grandmother as a life member. She was one very early, and also my uncle through marriage is up there.
“It definitely brings home the enormous achievement it is to be a part of.”