Answered an advertisement in the sporting globe in late 1969 for a coaching position at the Strathmore football club, after a meeting at Alf Pearce’s house. I was appointed coach of the u/13 reserve team.
Started coaching in 1970, coaching our bottom age team the u/13 res. we played sat morning at 8-40am and finished by 10-00am, our u/17 followed us.
1971 coached the u/13 res again, moved up in 1972 and coached the u/13 “a” team.
In late 1971 approached the Essendon football league and asked could the u/13 play fifteen minute quarters instead of twelve minutes, they agreed, but we had to start at 8-30am,so we could finish by 10-00am.
While in Adelaide on our underage footy trip in 1972 a very sneaky delegation lead by Brian lynch, approached me to become our senior coach in season 1973.Imagine my wife’s surprise when I got home and announced I was coaching our senior open age team in 1973.left home Friday u/13 coach arrived home Sunday our senior open age coach.
In 1973 we went thru undefeated and won the open age “B” grade premiership
1974 into “A “grade, made the finals, first Strathmore open age team to appear in “A “grade finals, finished third. Also coached “A” in 1975 & 1977
In 1978 coached our u/13 res. In 1979 first aid to u/13 “A” grade
1980/81 coached our u/15 “A”grade-1982/3/4 coached our u/16 “A” grade –all won premierships
1990/91 coached u/16 “A “grade [won flag in 90]
1992/93 coached u/18 “A “grade [won flag in 92]
1993 coached u14 res team
1994/95 coached u/16 “A” grade
1999 coached u/14 “A” grade.
Was on general committee from 1971/1981
Member of ground marking committee from mid 80’, marked ground Friday nights for approx 15 yrs followed by a few beers, no longer mark ground, but still having a few beers on Friday nights.
In 2012 was asked to organise our life members board which was not up to date and in need of some repair , which I did over a twelve month period, we now have a life members reunion every year attended by eighty life members, family and friends.
On the last game in 2012 with the help of Steve Carey I organised a past players reunion, first one in years and had a full house, the reunion is now held annually, it is now called the PAST PLAYERS, PAST COMMITTEEPERSON AND SUPPORTERS GROUP. And we get approximately a hundred people in attendance each year.
The Strathmore Football Club in 2015 have decided to create a coaching award; it will be called the KEN PRIDHAM COACHING award.