Soccer: Cassi Cudmore named Northern Inland Footballs October community coach of the month

Taking on the coaching role with the Kootingal Kougarettes this season, the former State League player's commitment has seen her recognised as the Newcastle Permanent community coach of the month for the Northern Inland for October.

Nominated by the Kougars for the award in what was her first foray into coaching a women's side (she had previously coached one of the club's men's sides), Cutmore said while it was lovely to receive the accolade, "you get enough reward out of a season without needing to be recognised for it".

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She had formerly played with the Kougarettes, linking up with them in 2014 upon returning to Tamworth from Goulburn, where she had been playing in the ACT State League.

Unfortunately though her time in the purple was cut short. After injuring her knee playing during the 2017 season she ended up having a reconstruction on one knee and a replacement in the other in 2018.

"It just made sense to do something. I couldn't not any more," she said of stepping into the coaching role.

The club had approached her, and while she knew it was probably going to be hard not being able to be out there, she was keen to give it a go.

So every Wednesday after work, and Saturday, she would drop her two children, Izaac is 6 and Harper 2, at her father's house and coach what was a pretty rag tag bunch.

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Originally planning to field three graded teams, after the COVID-suspension that became just one, leaving Cutmore with a side of varying abilities and ranging in age from 14-51.

"I think that was the fun of it though," she said.

"You've got everyone from different skill levels and backgrounds and putting all that into a team, it was fun."

The players too thrived off just having "a fun season".

Gunnedah FC coach Andy Cygan was named the volunteer of the month and Danny Laws the referee of the month.