Don Younger is being remembered as one of the key figures in football administration over many years after his passing last week in Victoria at the age of 85.
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Born in Benalla in 1935, Younger first came to Tasmania in 1957 where he trained with the Cooee Football Club during a three-month working stay.
He returned again to the state soon after for a more permanent visit and became the manager and secretary licensee of the Longford Football Club in 1977 and served as a part-time executive officer with the Tasmanian Football Council.
Younger then became the first full-time general manager for City South Football Club in 1979.
After a stint back in Melbourne, Younger moved to Ulverstone where he became secretary-manager of the NWFU up until 1986 before becoming part of a significant change to the local football landscape.
Along with inaugural president Neil Rawson, Younger helped set-up the NTFL, which saw the NWFU and NTFA clubs join forces, and became the competition's first general manager.
League identity and former general manager Ian Wotherspoon, who took over the role in 1989, said Younger was responsible for putting the league in a strong financial position from the outset.
"In the foundation year of the NTFL for example, Don arranged for Natwest to be a major sponsor and they contributed $60,000 which was a lot of money back then and allowed us to set the league up properly," Wotherspoon said.
"Don was also a passionate Essendon fan and convinced the club to come to Tasmania to play pre-season games against NTFL representative teams at Ulverstone in 1988 and 1989, which were a great promotion."
Younger was a regular presence on local radio and television shows to promote the NTFL and was presented with a certificate of service by the league for his contribution to the game in Tasmania.
He returned to the mainland but once again found him back in Tasmania, this time at Port Sorell in 1995 where he was involved in the Lions Club.
Younger passed away in the Victorian town of Ballan on October 21.
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