EFNL 2024: Josh Allison appointed Fairpark coach for 2025

The son of an Eastern league coaching stalwart will follow in his father’s footsteps as he takes the reins for the first time.

EFNL 2024: Josh Allison is Fairpark’s new coach. Picture: Fairpark FC

Coaching is in his DNA.

Josh Allison has been unveiled as the man to lead Fairpark in Eastern’s Division 3 following the exit of Sean Stanton.

Allison featured in South Croydon’s top division flag in 2017 among stops at Boronia and East Ringwood, joining Fairpark as a playing-assistant at the start of 2023.

He’ll step back from playing next season after 294 games.

The 35-year-old follows in the footsteps of father, Rod, a former Eastern league coach who led Boronia across two stints in the ‘80s and ‘90s, winning a premiership in 1986 before becoming Ringwood’s longest-serving mentor.

It was a path the Lions’ new leader had long wanted to pursue.

“The club knew at some point I was working towards becoming a senior coach, and when the opportunity arose, it just felt like it was a good opportunity to see if I was the best person to fill the position,” Allison said.

“It was a thorough process from what I witnessed, and they were trying to do the best thing by the club.

“It was good to go through that process and come out as a senior coach.”

EFNL 2024: Josh Allison in action for Fairpark.

Allison’s education on coaching began from an early age.

From ground to ground on any given Saturday he would observe his father moving the magnets and calling the shots.

His later coaches included former AFL Kangaroo Leigh ‘Patch’ Adams in a premiership-winning stint at South Croydon, Luke McCormick (South Croydon), dual flag coach Ben Osborne (East Ringwood) and most recently Stanton – Fairpark’s longest-serving mentor and only premiership coach since 1995.

Their lessons will ring in Allison’s ear next season as he takes the reins for the first time.

“There’s a whole host of things I’ll take out of every single one of my coaches … that’s something I’ve been doing throughout my whole life,” Allison said.

“As a kid I was running around with my old man as a coach at those clubs, and even as I’ve been going through footy, picking up things off coaches as a player of what I like and don’t like.”

Fairpark missed the finals after finishing the home-and-away season in seventh with a 6-12 record.

But the incoming coach was bullish his charges could climb the ladder next year as it looked to add some depth in the off-season.

“The club and the list have been building over the last couple of years,” Allison said.

“The list will continue to evolve … but it’s definitely in a great position to move forward.

“Having some experience with the players and I think they get a feel for my philosophies, I’m really excited about taking charge, setting a game-plan and structure.

“The club’s probably never been in a better position to succeed – we’ve got a perfect new facility, the location’s really good, we’ve got a great field … we’ve got a core list that’s going to be competitive in most games next season.

“The club’s in a great spot and I couldn’t be prouder to be the head coach.”