The Peter Armstrong Award
The Peter Armstrong Award is an award given out each year to support young players of BHNFC and is named after Box Hill North’s 2000’s Coach of the Decade and Life Member, the late Peter Armstrong.
The Peter Armstrong Award Winners
2018 - Chris Waiting
2017 - Tom Cheslett
A Message from Kerrie & Antoinette Armstrong
The reason we chose to start this sponsorship was to honour Peter but also to continue his legacy of recruiting young men from local universities and TAFE’s into BHNFC. The sponsorship will pay for the recipient’s registration fees to ease the financial burden this creates.
We’re thrilled each year to meet the chosen recipient of the Peter Armstrong Award. We look forward to watching them play and getting to know the recipient personally.
All the Best
Kerrie and Antoinette Armstrong
GO BOCKY
Peter “Armie” Armstrong's Football Story
As a child Peter was born, bred and raised a Hawthorn supporter. His father and grandfather were trainers at Hawthorn FC in 1970s. Peter and his cousins Deane and Zane Job (Whitehorse Pioneers FC and Eastern Ranges FC) were on Hawthorn FC Under 19s list until Peter broke his back. His mother, grandmother, aunt and uncle all attending matches, training and functions.
Peter joined BHNFC in 1989 after returning to Melbourne from Wangaratta/Beechworth Vic. He had previously played for Tarawingee FC (North East Vic).
Played Seniors at BHNFC between 1989 – 1993.
His playing career was hampered by a back injury and several breaks in his foot. He turned to an alternate role that was fast developing in AFL. This role was commonly referred to as a spy but later became known as a tactical coach.
Was a spy at Brisbane Bears/Lions FC (AFL) during 1990-1992.
This role was Melbourne based. It involved watching training and attending games of other AFL clubs prior to Brisbane playing them. Peter was responsible for looking at set plays, game styles and potential plans of the opposition teams. Identifying players strengths and weaknesses as well as spotting injuries or flaws in players skill set. Peter would often sit with the coaching staff in the box at AFL games Brisbane played in Melbourne, providing advice and stats to the Senior Coach, Norm Dare and Robert Walls. Peter was also heavily involved In Brisbane’s 1st AFL success as an Assistant to Rodney Eade. Brisbane won the AFL Reserve Grand Final in 1991.
Peter decided to pursue Senior Coaching again after missing out on a permanent role at Brisbane FC after Robert Walls sacking. He was talent scouted by Carlton FC (AFL) but turned the gig down being a Hawthorn supporter as a kid he couldn’t bring himself to work for the Bluebaggers! He applied for a role at Horsham VIC, Cairns QLD and Merimbula NSW.
Senior Coach in 1993 at Merimbula Diggers FC on Sapphire Coast Far South Coast NSW.
Merimbula made the finals for the first time in many years and went into the finals campaign having finished in 2nd place. Unfortunately, they were knocked out in straight sets after two finals (gaining the 2nd chance) to rivals Pambula and Narooma. Tathra their main rival won the flag that year. Merimbula beat Tathra for the first time in years at their home ground. This victory gave the players swelled heads so close to finals and influenced their player performances. Peter had decided to return to Melbourne for family reasons after this one-off season. Many clubs with the SCARFL hounded him to be their coach.
Assistant Coach of the Senior Representative Team of SCARFL in NSW AFL state championships. Which was the successful winning team of the tournament. This was held at the SCG in 1993.
1995-1996 Peter was appointed Senior coach of BHNFC for the 2nd time. During this period, he assisted the Reserves Coach with formulating a successful win in the 1995 Reserves Grand Final. Peter stepped away from coaching as Kerrie his partner of 6 years was unexpectedly due to have their daughter, Antoinette.
Peter then returned to BHNFC 2002-2011 as the Senior Coach.
In 2006 he travelled with a group of players to Japan for Japan AFL Narita Cup as a player/coach. In 2007 BHNFC has 28 players, a few kids and couple supporters tag along to Japan to again play in Japan AFL Narita Cup. Peter coached the side to win the Grand Final of this competition. Finally, some Senior Coaching glory.
In 2009 he was made Coach of the Decade for BHNFC and a Life Member of BHNFC.
Peter had to give up his football coaching career after suffering a serious heart attack. He was diagnosed with a rare form of cardiomyopathy / heart disease. This condition was hereditary and took his life much earlier than anticipated. Peter also played cricket and golf. He enjoyed most sports and was an avid reader. Peter is survived by his partner of 26 years, Kerrie and their daughter Antoinette. BHNFC is firmly in their DNA and their massive supporters of the club.
