The University Football Club committee voted on Wednesday to unanimously elect Annie Simpson as Vice President at the 2023 AGM. Annie will succeed Alex Novatscou who has held the position for three years.

In a milestone for the club, Annie will be the first female vice-president in the club’s 100 year history. Female members have held various other positions at the club from coach to secretary and most roles in between since the launch of the women’s program in 2018.

Annie has been an integral member of the club for many years, part of the first ever University Football Club women’s game and a constant contributor on and off the field since. On the field, Annie is a premiership player  and has led the Bike Bar A Women Stormers as captain in recent seasons.

In the last two years, Annie has done a mountain of work off-field, displaying her passion of the club and ability to get things done. Annie has been a driving force for sponsorship, formalising the process and bringing in multiple new sponsors that will assist the club for years to come.

The biggest and most important project in the clubs history is the Neil Donaldson Pavilion development. Along with President Jake Colvin, Annie has sat on the development committee and led a lot of the fundraising efforts. The timing of Annie’s appointment to Vice-President is perfect, as the club recently broke ground on the development, which is due to be completed in time for the 2025 Perth Football League season.

Annie was recently recognised by the committee as “Club person of the year”, winning the award jointly with current Treasurer Bradlee Applegate.

The club would like to acknowledge the work that outgoing Vice-President Alex Novatscou has contributed over close to a decade on the executive committee. The thankless role has been expanded in Alex’s time and he has left the club in a better position than when he arrived.

Alex will continue at the club next season, focusing on football as he recovers from an ACL tear in 2022.

Committee members for season 2024:

President – Jake Colvin

Vice President – Annie Simpson (Alex Novatscou outgoing)

Secretary – Elena Cardacci

Treasurer – Bradlee Applegate

Registrar’s – Piers Kirk, Jill Saunders

Women’s Rep – Phoebe Kelsbie

Communications & Social – Oscar Devereaux