At the 2023 Bankstown Football Annual General Meeting, it was resolved that Andrew Skaltsounis, Dimitri Hursalas and Laurie Warner be awarded life membership of Bankstown Football.
Bankstown Football would like to congratulate our three newest inductees and thank them for their invaluable contributions to Bankstown Football.
See below a short biography of our three newest Life Members.
Andrew Skaltsounis – Bankstown Sports Strikers FC
BDAFA – 10 Years of Service
Andrew Skaltsounis has been involved with Bankstown Sport Strikers FC where Andrew is an active coach, treasurer & a life member. He has given over 24 years’ service to his club and BDAFA. Andrew served on the BDAFA Management Committee for 3 years from 2002 – 2004 and then in 2013-2014 as the Senior Vice president.
Andrew would then return to the new Board structure in 2019 as a director and is still serving BDAFA as the current Deputy Chairman. Over his 10 years of service to BDAFA, Andrew has overseen Judiciary and implemented many changes within this portfolio.
Andrew has also facilitated club forums to build key relationships, create an organisation that welcomes feedback to create change. Andrew was also instrumental in the implementation of xero and staff training and ensure our financial reporting was updated.
Dimitri Hursalas – Revesby Rovers & Bankstown United
BDAFA – 10 Years of Service
Dimitri started his service to football as a Junior Referee in 2007 at the age of 14 through to 2011 at 19 years old. At the age of 19 Dimitri became a board member of Revesby Rovers Football Club, which at the time was a struggling club with a very low number of members. The newly elected board of young volunteers went on to build a strong vibrant club.
Dimitri Hursalas was nominated onto the BDAFA Board in 2014. After serving 5 years on the board, Dimitri then went on to spend 2 years as BDAFA Deputy Chairman from 2019 to 2020 before being elected as chairman in 2021, a position he still currently sits in today. All up, Dimitri has currently spent 10 years on the BDAFA board to date.
In 2016 Dimitri and the General Manager of Bankstown along with fellow board members & Bankstown representative arm, oversaw the birth of Bankstown United Football Club. Dimitri has been influential in creating an NPL club that is family football orientated like a grassroots club and has a focus on promoting local players and coaches. He has developed a NPL club which honours its grassroots association and works with them to build football in the district.
Since Dimitri joined the BDAFA Board in 2014 he has since then overseen with other board members the revitalization of Football in Bankstown. He has contributed to building strong positive relationships with clubs & stakeholders. He is a forward thinker, always looking to improve, innovate, build, and change.
Laurie Warner – Chullora Wolves (Central Sydney Wolves) & Bankstown Football Referees
BDAFA – 14 Years of Service
Laurie Warner has dedicated 30 years to Bankstown Football Referees and Bankstown District Referees, serving as a Branch coach, Assessor, Referee, and earning Life Membership. Additionally, Laurie is a Life Member of Chullora Wolves FC, where he has held roles as Club President, Secretary, and has coached and managed various teams.
Laurie has served on the BDAFA Management Committee & Board for a total of 14 years in the following capacities:
Commencing in 1984 – as an Assistant secretary, then moving into the Treasurer role in 1985 – 1987 for 3 years. He then returned to BDAFA in 1993 -1994 as an Assistant secretary, 1995 Jnr Vice President. He then served on the management Committee 1998-1999 to from 2002 – 2004 and then in 2013 -2014 as the Senior Vice president. Laurie would then return to the new Board structure in 2019 – 2023 as a director and also serving 2 years as Deputy Chairman.
Most notably, Laurie has overseen the referee’s portfolio and was instrumental in the smooth transition of the merging of BFR and BDAFA to create BDR. Laurie has been the chair of appeals and has managed the BDAFA regulations and recent changes to the constitution. Laurie has spent many hours at local parks supporting junior referees and always being available to answer questions of club members.
