HE has worked with the likes of Ange Postecoglou and Ferenc Puskas and now Barry Horsfall is set to bring his wealth of experience with the round ball game to the Kempsey Saints as their new head coach.
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Having spent time as a professional player and administrator of the sport, his appointment represents a major coup for the club who are about to begin their sixth premier league season.
Horsfall said he is pleased to resume his involvement with soccer following a lengthy hiatus from the game.
“Up until September last year I was heavily involved in the bowls and also the Country Club but now I am no longer part of that so I have a lot more time on my hands,” he said.
“All my life I have only ever been associated with soccer so as soon as I saw that the Saints needed a coach, I was very keen to meet with Matt Baker, president of the club.”
Born in the UK, Horsfall showed talent at an early age and was accepted into the Manchester City Academy where he spent two years before heading to the Burnley Youth academy for a three year stint.
He played professional football for Grimsby Town for the two years preceding his move to Australia in 1963 at the age of 22.
Basing himself in Victoria, he continued to maintain a keen association with football, spending the next 13 years playing in the Victorian State League for various teams.
In the 1980s, he turned his attention to the coaching side of the game and was senior coach and administrator for Cranbourne, Waverley, Ferntree Gully and Mooroolbark.
His next position was as full time marketing manager for the South Melbourne Hellas Club which at the time featured current Australian coach Ange Postecoglou who played in defence as well as Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas who was recruited as a coach.
Following his retirement, he moved to South West Rocks where he has spent the last eight years as president of the Men’s Bowls Club.
Horsfall said he is now focused on helping the Saints reach their full potential in the Premier league.
“They seem like they are at the crossroads,” he said.
“From what I have seen so far, they have a good, healthy young squad which has been hovering around the mid table mark for the past few years. I’m looking forward to developing their skills so they may be able to reach new heights.”
Kempsey Saints President Matt Baker said having Horsfall at the helm is a major step forward for the club.
“We see Barry as someone who could be of huge value to the Saints,” he said.
“The Saints have never had someone with his type of CV involved before so we are thrilled to have him onboard.”
