Eaton Dardanup Football Club etch two new members into history books as second and third life members

Two new members of the Eaton Dardanup Football club have been etched into the club’s history, marking the second and third to receive life membership to one of the South West’s newest soccer clubs. Jeremy Mills and Alan Buckley were presented the high honour by club presdient Oisin Buckley and life member Roslyn Ruland on Sunday, March 15, surrounded by family and friends before their monster clash with East Perth FC in the Australia Cup. Mills served as president for nearly a decade, leading the club through challenging years while Buckley joined the club as head coach of the men’s team, with both leaving more than a mark. Mills said sharing the moment with family made it all the more special. “My wife rocked up a couple of hours early, and then the rest of my family. My parents, my nephew, my sister. I said, ‘don’t you know the game doesn’t start until one o’clock?’,” he said. “Suddenly we all got pulled into the club rooms and the presentations happened. It was a real honour to be recognised.” Buckley said he was beyond words when he received the award. “I’m not often stuck for words, but I very much was on Sunday morning,” he said. “Obviously Jeremy was presented with his award which was fantastic, and then they called my name. I was shocked but that was followed by incredible pride. I am very honoured.” “Receiving it at the same time as Jeremy was amazing in itself. Jeremy is a club legend, so it sort of made the honour just that little bit more special to share with with someone of the calibre of Jeremy Mills.” Club president Oisin Buckley said the award came as a fitting tribute to two dedicated volunteers. “We all do it for a love or the game, but to be able to do this in a way that cements them into the history and the foundation of the club is obviously very special,” he said. “When you think of life members, these were just the first two people that came to mind. For us as a committee, it was a no-brainer.” While the club went down in a heavy defeat to East Perth later that day, nothing could take away from what was a special day for the young history of the club.