At our recent Manly Touch 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner we welcomed our 15th Life Member – Graham Knights.
Life Membership is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a member. It is recognition of outstanding dedication, loyalty, service and immense contribution that a member has made over a period of time for Manly Touch, and we are so delighted our Honours Committee has bestowed this prestigious honour on our current President Graham Knights.
As a long time player, coach, referee, and Executive Committee member, Graham has positively influenced the club in so many ways, as outlined below in this summary. Congratulations GK!
Player History:
- Has played in MWTA local competition since 1988, and continues to do so in 2024
- MWTA 20’s Representative player from 1991-1992
- MWTA Men’s Opens Representative player 1993-1996, 2006
- MWTA Men’s 30’s Representative player 2017
- MWTA Vawdon Cup Men’s Representative player 2018
- MWTA Men’s 40’s Representative player 2019 – 2022
- Scorpions, City, NSW and Australian representative player
Coaching History for MWTA:
- Men’s 20’s Coach 1995 – 1996
- Men’s 30’s Coach 2007 – 2008
- Men’s Div 1 Coach & Manager 2008 – 2009
- Men’s Open’s Coach & Manager 2008 – 2016
- Boy’s 18’s Coach 2011 – 2013
- Girl’s 12’s & 14’s Development Coach 2016 – 2019
- Boy’s 16’s Coach 2020
Other Coaching History:
- Scorpions Men’s Open’s Coach 2012-2015
- NSW Men’s Open’s Assistant Coach 2013-2016
Administration & Committee Roles:
- Club Vice President 2012 – 2014
- Competition Manager 2014 – 2016
- Club President 2014 – 2018
- Grounds Manager 2019 – Present
- Club Vice President 2021 – 2022
- Club President 2022 – Present
Awards:
- NSWTA Blues Award 2014
- NSWTA President of the Year 2016/17
- NSWTA Rod Wise Medal Volunteer of the Year 2016/17
- NSWTA President of the Year 2017/18
- TFA Volunteer of the Year 2017
Key Highlights and Achievements:
- Resurrecting the Men’s A comp in 2009 –
- For 2 years there was no local Men’s A competition. Graham pooled all rep players & created 4 teams. He paid for all 4 teams and attempted to get reimbursed by all players. He refereed each week to ensure the competition could go ahead.
- There has been a Men’s A competition ever since.
- During time on the Executive Committee:
- Graham grew our local Junior competition from 80 to 384 teams.
- Assisted in the implementation of a part-time Administration Manager to oversee day to day running of the club in 2012.
- Hosted double header Vawdon Cup days at Nolan Reserve.
- Won Junior & Senior State Cups all years as MWTA President (2014 – 2018).
- Won NSWTA Affiliate of the Year 3 times as MWTA President (2014 – 2018).
- Sourced MWTA timing clocks & scoreboard, bringing local competitions a new level of professionalism.
- Managed to utilise storeroom at Nolan Reserve with the assistance from Christian Brothers.
- Orchestrated an agreement with Christian Brothers and Northern Beaches Council to share the clubhouse at Nolan Reserve.
- Refereed at local competition.
- Refereed at NSWTA JSC 2018, 2020 and 2024.
- Rewrote the MWTA Constitution (2017).
- Involved with implementing a full-time Operations Manager to oversee day to day running of MWTA in 2023.