Falcons President steps down after 8 years

After eight strong years at the helm of WA’s oldest football club, West Perth Football Club’s Brett Raponi has stepped down from his role as Club President.

Raponi becomes the fourth-longest serving president in the club’s history after deciding not to stand for re-election at the upcoming poll.

Raponi said he would remain a member of the club he has supported since he was young.

“I will still have a strong interest in the West Perth Football Club. I have many friends there and I’ll continue to attend social functions where it’s possible,” he said.

“It’s very humbling to have been President of this football club. It was never a position that I set out to have… but the chance presented itself to join the board after I moved into the northern suburbs in the late 1990s and the importance of holding this position was not lost on me, but probably means a lot to my family and friends.”

Raponi’s decision means former Vice President Scott Ballem will be elected President unopposed.

Raponi said he was pleased to hand the mantle over to Ballem and a new board.

“The next board is going to have to work hard to connect with the West Perth football community and to bring in new sponsors, but those opportunities do exist. They will need to engage with the wider community,” Raponi said.

Before becoming President in late 2008, Raponi served as a Club Director for three years, and two of those years as Vice President.

An election will be held for the six vacant directors’ positions, with Chris Erikson, Rob Jackson and Richard Homsany seeking re-election. Former league players Peter Cutler, Russell Ellen and Rob Hunt have nominated, as have Joondalup Women’s Football Club president Dave Burton and long-time club members Owen Douglas and Brent Howard.