Tony Judge started his playing career in regional NSW, Bathurst. Tony was accepted into the junior NSW Academy Program at Football NSW and represented the NSW Institute of Sport in the NSL Youth League.
Tony then went on to further his Football career with professional Football in Scotland with Clyde FC and Queens Park. Tony also played football in the NSW Premier League for Macarthur Rams and Sutherland Sharks.
Playing at a high level of football for such a large part of his life and receiving qualifications in Sports Science and Football Coaching formed Tony’s understanding of the game. Tony currently holds an AFC B Licence coaching qualification. Tony’s coaching expertise has allowed him to travel the world to learn at some of the best youth academies in the world. In early 2020 Tony travelled to the UK as assistant coach of the U16s Australian Schoolboys team.
Tony has been fortunate to work with some great players and win the FFA National Youth Championships 3 times with NSW state teams and progressing to coach at the NSW Institute of Sport.
After moving to Mid North Coast of NSW, Tony coached the Port Saints FC to their first ever FMNC Premier League Championship and worked with Football Mid North Coast (FMNC) representative squads. A highlight of Tony’s coaching career here in the community was working with the Newcastle Jets to conduct a regionally based Academy here in Port Macquarie.
Tony was also responsible for the start up of the community’s newest sports club IONA which was established in 2016. Tony remains President and Club Coach Coordinator at IONA FC. IONA FC, led by Tony Judge, won Fair Play in the FMNC Zone Awards for the Community in 2019. And the team that he continues to coach has won Championship, Major and consecutive Minor Premiership titles.
Tony developed the SHOOT program in 2013 to provide professional coaching. SHOOT Football is an innovative concept in football coaching providing a professional environment particularly suited to helping junior players reach their full potential as footballers.
SHOOT Football is based on developing and improving the crucial technical abilities of players utilising best practice activities providing a solid foundation to enhance decision making: the master key to match winning football players.