Always smiling, lending a hand and taking pride in servicing his people in a community that is very much his own, Andrew Pirchan is one of the many leaders taking Western United into a successful future.
A born and bred westie, Andrew jumped at the opportunity to work with Western United when chance presented itself.
A football person by trade, working in the sport he loves was something that was made for him.
“I felt an immediate connection with the club,” he said.
“I’d been working with the AFL and Etihad Stadium before that, but following structural changes, I felt that the timing was right to re-enter the game of football.”
As Western United’s Commercial Partnerships and Sales Manager, Andrew is a quintessential people person and has relished working within the communities he has called home.
His goals and attitude towards the role have embodied the ethos and values of Western United, being togetherness, effort and growth.
And it is growth that gives Andrew the biggest motivation as he thrives on helping the club to reach as high as it can and be as ambitious as possible.
“I want to see the game grow. This is the fastest growing area in the country, there are a lot of people in the west that love the game,” he said.
One of many partnerships that Andrew has been instrumental in forging is with the City of Ballarat, stretching United’s reach across the west of Victoria.
Andrew attended the University of Ballarat and played senior football with the Ballarat Red Devils (now Ballarat City Soccer Club) for four years in the late 90’s, so he has a deep personal connection with the region as well.
“Geelong and Ballarat are very important to Western United, not just now but for the future as well,” he said.
“They’re in our catchment in the west of Victoria, and there are lots of people who play our game and love supporting elite-level sport.”
It was this work plus his can-do attitude that led to Andrew being recognised at the club’s annual awards night in June. Andrew was given the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution, Presented by Tasman Logistics.
Andrew said he thought CEO Chris Pehlivanis was joking when he told him the news, and was very grateful to be recognised.
“I was really honoured to win the award, I was actually humbled by it,” he said.
“One thing we own is the attitude we bring to work. I pride myself on always having a smile on my face, always being professional, being up and about.
“I do like to go out of my way and help anybody that needs help. That’s just in my DNA.”
Looking ahead, Andrew is eager to continue to watch and participate in the growth and continued success of Western United.
Most importantly to him, this club will continue to offer his family and others like him, something to represent them.
“We (the west) have a club of our own with unique colours and a unique business model. My kids growing up will have a team to support only 20-25 minutes from home, which is amazing,” he said.
With the club continuing to grow its legacy in the west, Andrew remains a key instigator behind the success of Western United.
