Terry Jeffs will be remembered as an outstanding president and a leader that always gave 100 per cent at the Pinjarra Football Club.
Jeffs, who died on Saturday, August 13, after suffering a heart attack, has been recalled as a tireless worker and the backbone of the Pinjarra Tigers.
Pinjarra Football Club vice president Bronwyn May said the club would not be the same without its leader.
“Terry was the absolute heart and soul of our football club. It’s impossible to replace someone like Terry,” she said.
“He devoted a huge amount of his time to the football club and he was loved by everyone involved.
“The club committee, players, members and supporters are devastated with the sudden loss of Terry and our thoughts are with Nola, Hannah, Sam and all family members.”
Jeffs took over as president of the Tigers in 2013 after 13 years of involvement in the club. He took on many tasks around the club, including managing players, bar staff and working in the canteen.
He was also instrumental in reuniting Pinjarra’s juniors with the senior teams.
May said the club would feel the affects of Jeffs’ passing for a long time, particularly over the coming 12 months.
“Terry knew running a footy club was not just a one-day per week job, and he gave seven days of effort each week to drive our club,” she said.
“On our last game day, it took about seven or eight people pitching in to cover his game-day workload. He will be sorely missed for both his contribution to the club and his lovable personality.”
Pinjarra’s junior and senior teams held minutes of silence and wore black armbands in their matches over the weekend to commemorate the loss of their president.
The club’s senior teams played on Sir Ross McLarty Oval, where the ground had been painted in Jeffs’ memory.
In an emotional result, Pinjarra’s league team upset league powerhouses Halls Head with a 60-point win.
May said the victory was the perfect way to honour Jeffs.
“To get two wins on the day was special for our football club and the people involved in it,” she said.
“Terry was so passionate about everything he did and you knew he loved to celebrate a win for the club as much as anyone.”
May thanked the Peel Football League community for rallying behind Pinjarra and offering support following Jeffs’ death.
“The support we’ve received from other clubs in the football community has been outstanding and overwhelming,” she said.
“To see players, members and fans of all clubs sending us messages of support has really meant a lot to us and it shows how admired Terry was within the football world.”
The Pinjarra Football Club will hold a funeral service for Jeffs on Thursday, August 25. Club members are encouraged to wear their club shirt and a guard of honour will be formed.
People are then welcome back to the club to celebrate the president’s life.