The Coburg Football Club wishes to advise its members, supporters, players and the VFL community that club Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Spagnuolo has tendered his resignation effective Sunday 24th June 2023.
Spagnuolo joined Coburg in November 2014, initially in a volunteer capacity as a Development Coach for the club’s Development League team
In season 2016, Spagnuolo was the club’s volunteer List and Recruiting Manager before leaving his full time leadership role at Foxtel’s Melbourne HQ to become the club’s General Manager in March 2017 and immediately began a period of growth for the club.
His role then became Chief Executive Officer in January 2022.
In his time as General Manager/CEO, Spagnuolo has achieved the following for the Coburg Football Club.
- Growth of membership with successive years of 1000+
- Sponsorship revenue growth.
- Returned the club to a position of profit in 2019.
- Back to back profits in 2020.
- Led the club through the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Transitioned the club into the new-look VFL competition which incorporates interstate teams.
- $6.75 million Government, Council and AFL supported redevelopment of Piranha Park/Coburg City Oval’s facilities.
- Introduced a Women’s football program in 2021.
- Oversaw the transition from SEWFL to VAFA for our Womens teams.
- Introduced and maintained an all-Coburg juniors EDFL program in 2017.
- Created opportunities for the Mens (RMIT) and Womens (Jackson Reserve) programs to have pre-season training venues like the club has never had before.
- Created a Junior football base at Jackson Reserve Coburg North.
When reflecting on his time at Coburg FC, Spagnuolo provided the following statement –
“Dear Coburg FC members,
I want to start by thanking each and every member of the club for their support of the club during my time at Coburg.
I have always lived by the motto that nobody is bigger than the club and whilst my tenure hasn’t resulted in much on field success, even with the obvious challenges that we have faced, I have always tried my best to serve you as our members, players and staff with as much passion and motivation to make Coburg as great as it can be.
In my time with the club, there have been many exciting projects and times, from the redevelopment of the facilities to the amazing wins that we’ve had along the way, I have always cherished the responsibility of leading our great club.
Our club is full of special people and I want to thank the Presidents and Board Members that I have served and worked with. From Kevin Breen who believed in me and allowed me to develop my leadership and creativity and to current President Alex Sapurmas who has shown the most amazing support to me and my family throughout my entire time at the club, I thank you and your fellow Board Members for your support.
Without Alex, it’s fair to say that the last couple of years wouldn’t have been possible.
To our current Board Members Michelle Johnston, Nick Carnell, Angela Livingstone and Steve Russo, thank you for your support and guidance through many challenges and great times.
My predecessor Craig Lees is also someone I thank for believing in me and providing me fantastic support.
Kerion Lawson, Ian Liversidge (dec.), Phil Cleary, Alan Walsh, Vin Taranto, Brad Nimmo, Nick Carnell, Wayne McLachlan, Robert Evans, Bruce and Nancy McDonald, Chris “Narra” Lalor (dec.) are people who I have also learned so much from over my years at the club, thank you for your ongoing support and valuable lessons about what makes our club so special in the hearts of many.
To the coaches that I have worked with, firstly Peter German who taught me about the true spirit of Coburg and how we can achieve what we want with what we have, Leigh Adams who brought a new edge to the list and playing group, Andrew Sturgess who helped me and many others see what we were capable of with a fighting spirit and will to improve and to current coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara who is doing a great job in his first year as senior coach, I thank you for always giving everything to our club whilst in your positions.
To Liam Cavanagh, our initial Women’s team coach, I thank you for your amazing work and support in helping allow Women to play football for Coburg and to current Women’s coach Tom Chitsos who is also doing a great job in a strong VAFA competition, I thank you too. And wish you and the team all the best in the VAFA competition.
To the players, Men and Women that have served our club in my time here, thank you for giving it your all week in, week out. Thank you for bringing joy to many people, who not too long ago, thought that they’d never again see the blue and red of Coburg take to the field as the Lions and to the current playing groups, anything is possible when you truly buy in and give as much of yourself to our great club as possible.
There is no reason why, with great connection, care and passion for the club, that you can’t be part of a successful period in our club’s journey, I urge you to keep fighting for our club, on and off the field.
To the staff that have worked closely with me over the years, Alex Morella, Gilbert Northrop, Kirra Johnston, Tristan Paglianiti-Roberts, Luke Foley, Grace Papagiannis, Adrian Dixon, Will Sedawie, Nick Duryea, Doriana Pinazo and many more, thank you for your support throughout all of the challenges that we faced over the years. I am grateful for all of your hard work and outstanding efforts but also your friendship and support.
I’d like to also thank the VFL competition administrators who have always been great to work with and have shared the common view that Coburg FC is deserving of as much support as possible as a traditional club without major funding models. I would challenge the VFL over many decisions and rulings over the years, but always with respect and always coming from a place of keeping Coburg in the fight.
I also thank the long term sponsors that have stood by our club for many years and provided a financial platform for us to do the best job possible. Special thanks to Piranha Snackfoods, Coburg Brewing Co, First Traffic Management, Corcrete Constructions, Picture Paving, Coburg Toyota, Breen Auction Group and MRW Painting as our sponsors that have been part of the club for 5+ years.
Coburg has a special place in my heart and always will, my Son Alessio (10) and Daughter Ava (7) have only really known their Dad to be at Coburg and I hope that my children but also future generations will also get the opportunity to support the mighty Lions of Coburg.
I have decided to move on from my role at the club as I feel that it is the right time to provide an opportunity for someone new to come in and continue to grow the club towards a more successful future. I know that a successful period can be achieved and I would love to be sitting in the Piranha Park stands to witness it as a supporter. To achieve this, the club really does need all hands on deck…if you know a business that has the capacity to support the club, please encourage them to do so, if you know an individual that has skills that the club can benefit from, introduce them to the club’s Board. Everyone needs to play their role to ensure sustainability for the club.
My role as Husband and Father comes first and is one that has been tested over the years given the amount of hours that the role of CEO of the Coburg Football Club can consume and my wife Christine has been the most supportive person to me, so I thank her for that amazing support which allowed me to fully invest in the Coburg Football Club.
Whilst my new full time role will still be in the football industry, it will also provide me with more opportunity to dedicate myself equally if not more to my growing family.
I wish the club nothing but the best for the future, I look forward to continuing my support of the club for many years to come.
Carn the burgers!”
The Coburg Football Club sincerely thanks Sebastian Spagnuolo for his determined commitment to the club and to his role and wish him, Christine, Alessio and Ava all the very best in the future.
The club will make further announcements about the CEO role in the coming days and weeks.
End statement
