Ian joined Avalon Bulldogs in 1983 as an U6 player and played straight through until 1995, when he played his last year in both the U17s and U21s teams. Being coached by some of Avalon Bulldog's biggest legends (Gordon O’Donnell and Dick Harris both Life Members of the Avalon Bulldogs). Ian also played alongside both his brothers at the Doggies.
Ian’s parents were heavily involved with the club, both volunteering and sponsoring through Ian’s father’s butcher shops whilst they were playing at the bulldogs. Ian’s mum was presented with “Club Person of the Year” in 1984.
Some of Ian’s fondest memories of his time as a junior at the Doggies are the annual Firecracker nights down at Clareville Beach, club day bus trips to El Caballo Blanco, where the senior players would scare the crap out of the juniors in the pitch-black waterslide, and the annual club end of year season trip to Lake Munmorah Caravan Park. Ian remembers that it had the best BMX track when you were a kid.
Ian has a small construction business on the Northern Beaches, which has been running since 1998 and is the current team sponsor for our two under-12 teams (Ian Dalgleish Interior Linings).
Ian has been a coach at the Avalon Bulldogs for the past six years, after doing his U6’s coaching apprenticeship through Brian “Friendly” Friend. He is a current Level 1 Sports Trainer (Blue Shirt), Ground Manager, and was the club's Vice President for the past year.
Ian is also an active member of the Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club and was recently awarded his 25-year service award last season. He brings a lot of first aid, club, and community experience that he has learned from his time at the surf club.
Ian’s two sons played in the U11’s (Kieran) and U13’s (Max) teams at the Avalon Bulldogs in 2023. All three are supported by Ian’s amazing wife Eileen.
Ian’s vision for the Bulldogs, as President is to build the social/family feel back to the club, and continue to grow our player base in both tackle and tag.
A few words from Ian: “Our current committee has been starting on a one, three, and five year plan for the club which will include an update and expansion of the current clubhouse. This will be exciting but will also take time and money to achieve.
If you have experience in this field or would just like to be a general volunteer at the Bulldogs, we will welcome you with open arms as we can never have too many volunteers and are in dire need of help, especially on game days/nights.
A club is only as strong as its members, and I think if we can all band together, we will see results on and off the field and have a heap of fun doing it.
Thanks for the opportunity to represent the Mighty Bulldogs as President.”
