Keith Land voted Redcliffe’s Best Sports Coach 2021

A true gentleman of sport and a stalwart in the game of baseball on the peninsula has been voted Redcliffe’s best sports coach for 2021.

His name is synonymous with baseball on the peninsula and now he’s been recognised as this year’s best sports coach.

He was one of 12 coaches nominated by Redcliffe Herald readers in our search to find the best.

Keith Land is a foundation member of the Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball Club and has been involved in junior coaching for just as long.

Club president David Hopkins says the 66-year-old is so deserving of the title.

He says the beloved stalwart is always willing to lend a hand.

“Even though his kids stopped playing he still kept there with the club helping out, coaching and field maintenance and things like that,” he said.

“He’s a life member of the club and two seasons ago we named our bating complex after him after all the hard work he’s done.

“He’s always there and he still helps out.”

Jaxon Land, poses with grandfather Keith and father David at a Baseball ground in Brisbane.

Mr Land says he’s very humbled to have been nominated.

“There’s a lot of people involved in a lot of sports and we’re all volunteers,” he said.

“We all put time and effort into it and we all do it because I’d rather see kids playing sport than kids around the streets.

“Get them off the streets and playing sport – so if I could help with that I’m a lucky man.

“I’m blown away, you don’t do it for that reason you just want to see them succeed.”

The foundation member will celebrate a three decade milestone with the baseball club in 2022.

The Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball Club has a proud history.

It was founded as a senior club in 1948 by an American ex-serviceman named Chuck Carroll and was later named the Redcliffe Whitesox.

Founding Redcliffe Padres member Keith Land pictured during the club's inaugural season.

Juniors used to play at Redcliffe Police Citizens Youth Club then went elsewhere if they wanted to go on with their baseball careers.

In 1991, the PCYC was no longer able to support junior baseball and decided to join forces with the Redcliffe Baseball Club.

And as they say the rest is history.

Mr Hopkins says the junior coach is beloved at the club.

“You ask many of them and they just love him,” he said.

“I don’t know if they love his dad jokes as much.

“But they certainly respect him and look up to him.”

Padres Baseball former president Keith Land.

The popular coach says he’s just happy to have made lifelong friends along the way.

“My son often says to me ‘oh Dad, you’re a bit of a tart you’ve got so many friends on Facebook’,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s kids who ask me that have grown up asking me to be their friend, so I must have done something right.

“Now I’m coaching kids of kids I coached, second generations and it’s just so gratifying and humbling.”

Mr Land says he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“I could do this the rest of my life and I would still owe the sport so much,” he said.

“I’ve gotten so much out of it, I’ve been to America 16 times, I’ve been to China four times all with baseball I just owe the game so much.

“It keeps your focus on life.”