Matthew Cosgrave left Xavier in 2007 with high sporting hopes. He was a useful off-spinner and a burly, bustling forward who had, as a schoolboy, once kicked six goals in a half before coach Matt Hannebery had moved him to full back for the rest of the game.

However, Cosgrave sustained a serious knee injury in his first year at the Old Xavs. With playing off his agenda, (permanently, as it transpired), he joined the club committee and was given the responsibility of team manager of the U19s. At his first committee meeting in February 2009, he listened to tales about the traditional difficulties of collecting subscriptionsfrom the club’s youngest members. Cosgrave promised boldly that he would fixthat, and  a month later, turned up atthe next meeting and dumped the entire U19 subscription budget on the table.

Had Matt’s service ended there,his efforts that autumn would still be recalled by those who saw it, but thankfully, he pushed on. The following year, his role expanded to recruitmentof players, coaches, volunteers, officials and representing the Club asrequired at VAFA events.

By 2013, he had served in everypossible match day role with the Club and was appointed vice president. In 2015, he was awarded the William Denton Sr Perpetual Trophy for ConspicuousS ervice and then three years later later, he was elected as the club’s 25^th president.

During his time at the club, the Old Xavs has became the largest club in the VAFA, with over 400 registered players.  Driving this growth has been a stronge rrelationship with Xavier College, increased corporate partnerships, the establishment of the OXFC Foundation, and the grand renovation of Toorak Park. Matthew Cosgrave has been the driving force behind all of these initiatives.His relentless work to sustain and even continue building our club during the COVID interruption saw the Old Xaverians emerge in a strong position.

Despite a time-consuming and responsible career role, and now raising a young family, Matthew Cosgrave has somehow always found the time and energy to prioritise the demands of the OXFC. His efforts and achievements number him among the greatest of contributors in the 103-year history of our club.