For Bradley Ashworth, better known to most as Brad, Kenwick Football Club has been a lifelong constant.

From junior football through to his senior playing days and now into club leadership, Brad has spent years contributing to the club in countless ways, long before stepping into the president role.

“I’ve always had some degree of a job title within the committee,” Brad said.

“Bar manager, helping with sponsors, I’ve always been around the club.”

Becoming president was never originally part of the plan.

Brad admits he imagined taking on the role much later in life, potentially once he had more time on his hands, but when the club’s previous president stepped down and nobody else moved into the role, he decided to step up.

Now in his second year as president, Brad is helping guide a club he has seen through both its highest highs and toughest periods.

During his early years around Kenwick, Brad witnessed one of the club’s most successful eras, with the club winning eight premierships across roughly a decade between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But he has also experienced the leaner years, when wins were harder to come by and the club faced more challenging periods on field.

“I’ve seen both sides of it,” he said.

Brad also reflected proudly on the transformation of the club’s facilities following a major redevelopment completed in 2017, something he believes has played a significant role in helping attract and retain players within the local community.

“We’re blessed to have the facilities we do now,” he said.

“To have those types of facilities at our level is unreal.”

While the club’s history and growth are important to him, Brad says his greatest motivation comes from helping shape a strong future for the next generation coming through the doors.

“We’ve got an abundance of Colts this year, and to see some of the talent coming through and the potential available is huge,” he said.

“You want to make sure you’re doing the right thing so the club will still be around and in a strong position in 10 or 20 years’ time.”

Like many community football volunteers, Brad says some of his biggest motivation during difficult periods comes from reflecting on those who helped hold the club together before him.

“The previous presidents before us holding it together to get through the other side definitely motivates you to do the best job you can,” he said.

For Brad, ensuring younger players have a place to call home remains one of the most important parts of the role.

“You want these young players coming through to have somewhere they can be proud of,” he said.

Brad also praised the club’s long-serving volunteers, acknowledging the enormous role they play behind the scenes every season.

“We have a really good core group,” he said.

“Our secretary and treasurer have both been involved for well over 10 years. Without them, I’d find it very difficult.”

He gave special mention to Richard Mills and Lesley Clarkson for their continued commitment to the club over many years.

“A club is only as strong as its members,” Brad said.

“The more volunteers you have, the more input you get into what people actually want from their club.”

This National Volunteer Week, the Perth Football League proudly celebrates volunteers like Brad, whose commitment helps ensure community clubs continue creating opportunities, memories and a place people are proud to call home.