So when Lake Albert president Andrew Manton offered the Wagga coaching stalwart the chance to head up the club’s soon-to-be re-established Leonard Cup team, it was an opportunity he could not refuse.

“I’m really going to embrace the challenge of helping Lake Albert get back to where they were five or six years ago,” he said. 

The former Tolland coach and current Wagga Futsal president said he planned on pushing for a positive style of play.

“I like to play attacking, creative and enjoyable football,” he said.

“As long as the girls play with a smile on their face at the start and the end of the game, I think we’re achieving something.”

Manton has remained confident Lake Albert’s bid to field a first-grade team will be successful, and said Gray was the perfect candidate to lead the charge.

“Having Sam on board just give us that extra level of expertise and knowledge that we were looking for,” he said.

“He has a lot of contacts in women's soccer and we think that will lead to some new women coming over to our club, both from out of town and within Wagga.”

Manton said it was crucial for the Sharks to bring back its first-grade women’s side, as the absence of one was pushing away young players who were growing increasingly aware of the minimal high-level opportunities at the club.

Lake plans on fielding a second-grade team once again in 2018, with Ben Mavor impressing as coach last season.