Starting his football life at Belmore Police Citizens Boys Club, it did not take long for a young Holmes to become heavily involved in sports administration as he took on a committee position with his local club.
From there, he progressed to the CDSFA and seven years later, was elected President of the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation in 1982.
With football needing an overhaul from the top down, Holmes was soon in a position to help make fundamental change as the General Manager of the NSW Soccer Federation (1987-1991), CEO and Commissioner of the Australian Soccer Federation (1991-1995), General Manager of the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation (1998-1999), General Manager of Soccer Australia (1999-2002), and General Manager of Football NSW (2007-2011).
His services to the national and state governing body coming to a close, Holmes returned to CDSFA in 2012, taking over as CEO in 2014.
Holmes has been instrumental in securing over $15 million in government grants for the region and its clubs.
He said working with positive difference makers at the CDSFA and the clubs, has been very meaningful.
“There is also an extraordinary army of volunteers,” he said.
“Many things have changed over 50 years but the CDSFA still relies upon volunteers to deliver the game at its very core. Working with so many of them has been an honour.
“I have walked my own path in sports administration. You do have to risk a little crazy if you ever hope to escape the gravitational pull of the ordinary and I believe I have done that while serving the game across multiple levels.”
Hangs up boots after 50 years of serving football
THE youngest ever president of the Canterbury & District Soccer Football Association (CDSFA) when he was appointed at 19 in 1975, Ian Holmes has decided to hang up his boots after serving football at local, state and national level for more than 50 years.