At every football club, there are those behind the scenes, who don’t seek the limelight or praise for their work.

But their importance to the organisation’s ability to keep the wheels ticking over during the mayhem of a football season cannot be quantified.

In 2016, Collingwood is delighted to present a Special Services Award to one of the truly exceptional people at the club and someone who has made a wonderful contribution behind the scenes for eighteen years: Tracey O’Connor.

O’Connor has worked at the club since 1998, and in that time has seen all manner of players, coaches and staff pass through the doors at Victoria Park and the Holden Centre during a period of great change for the club and the game.

She has been the Executive Assistant to three Chief Executive Officers, John May, Greg Swann and Gary Pert, and later transferred to the football department, where she worked directly with Geoff Walsh, Rodney Eade and now with Neil Balme.

O’Connor’s list of responsibilities is lengthy, managing everything in the football department from contracts, travel and accommodation arrangements, player ticketing, liaison with ASADA, match day paperwork and a host of other jobs.

She even works on match days in charge of all arrangements at the Players Change Rooms.

Importantly, O’Connor is like a second mother to forty-six young footballers, organising their every move while liaising with their parents.

All in the football department, including the players and the coaches, and the wider Collingwood family are thrilled with this award, as there is no one more deserving of a Special Services Award than Tracey O’Connor.