It’s 400 for Hampton Park’s coach Kevin

By Marc McGowan
JUNIOR football coach Kevin Read readily admits his own playing career was brief.
But his contribution to the sport has been immense over 22 years of coaching at Hampton Park Junior Football Club and he oversaw his 400th game on Sunday.
Fifty-year-old Read’s initial involvement in coaching coincided with his oldest son Tony’s first foray into the game.
“I took my son down to Hampton Park when he was five and I was standing on the boundary line and the bloke who was coaching (Bruce Couch) asked if I could give him a hand,” he said.
“Bruce said to me halfway through that season, ‘you’ve got these boys next season’ and it just went from there.”
Five premierships later and Read is one of the most successful junior mentors going around.
The Hampton Park resident has also coached at interleague level, but gauges his success on one important factor.
“It’s great if you can win a grand final, but there’s nothing better than seeing the kids you coach play senior footy at your club,” he said.
“There’s probably nine kids at the moment who are playing senior footy at Hampton Park who I have been involved with.
“That’s really good when you’re standing on the boundary line and you see kids you’ve coached playing good football at your senior club – you just think ‘it’s all been worthwhile’.”
Read, a labourer, also mentions the excited expressions on his players’ faces when they kick a goal as a major highlight.
Tony, now 28, no longer pulls on the boots for Hampton Park after making it all the way to senior level, but Read’s other son, Luke, 23, still plays for the Redbacks.
He is unsure about his coaching future – conceding he may be too old – but wants to remain involved in some shape or form at senior level.
And Read’s coaching philosophy at junior level should be just as meaningful to Hampton Park’s senior players.
“All I ask from the kids is to give me 100 per cent of your ability – don’t worry about the person standing next to you,” he said.
“Not every kid is a star. You just want to give them the opportunity to give you their best and that’s all you can ask for.”