Nick Di Giovanni: A Life in Football

Nick Di Giovanni - photo Nikki Long

I have known Nick Di Giovanni for the entirety of my time as a club president.

Over many years, we have sat across tables from each other in meetings, shared rooms where difficult decisions were discussed, and navigated the realities of leading football clubs in a small state. We have not been close friends, but we have always been respectful, direct, and able to engage honestly, even when football politics made things uncomfortable.

Nick is one of the longest-serving presidents in Tasmanian football. Through Hobart Juventus, the evolution into Hobart Zebras and the merger that formed Clarence Zebras, he has been a constant presence during a period of significant change in the game. His experience spans grassroots football, club mergers, infrastructure challenges and the increasing demands placed on volunteer leaders.

As part of my own written record of the past twenty years in football, it felt important to include Nick’s story. Not as commentary and not as analysis, but in his own words.

What follows is Nick Di Giovanni’s reflection on football, leadership and what it takes to sustain a club over decades in Tasmania.

A football beginning

Nick’s football journey began with Juventus.

His first game was with the Under 13s, coached by Franco Cortese, who stayed with the group through to Under 17s. It was a successful team that won multiple titles and included players such as Luciano Fabrizio, Bruce Pears, Darren Bacon, Leon Darko, Frank Genovesi, Alistaire Cochrane and the late Darren Wells.

All of them went on to play senior football at Juventus under the guidance of Ken Morton.

Nick also represented Tasmania as a goalkeeper from Under 13s through to Under 18s and was coached by Steve Darby and Barry Shacklady, both of whom he remembers as influential figures.

In 1985, Nick moved to Queensland to open Jupiter’s Casino, now known as The Star. While there, he continued playing with Merrimac, another Italian-based club on the Gold Coast.

Four years later, he returned to Hobart. Work commitments at Wrest Point made it difficult to train at the level required for senior football but he stayed involved, playing socially and remaining connected to the game.

From member to President

Like many of that era, Nick’s deeper involvement came through volunteering.

Football clubs were busy, social places and one role often led to another. Over time, that hands-on involvement grew into responsibility, and eventually into leadership.

Nick believes he has now been President for close to eighteen years.

He stepped into the role when long-serving Juventus President Michael Pace retired and no one else put their hand up. There was no defining moment, no dramatic call to action. The club was in a good place and simply needed someone to take on the role.

So he did.

What the role really involves

Being club President, Nick says, is a year-round commitment.

Day to day, it involves constant communication with players, coaches, councils, Football Tasmania, committee members, sponsors and parents. It never really stops. There is always someone wanting a friendly chat, some information, or occasionally voicing frustration.

What people often don’t see is the work behind the scenes, or the fact that the role doesn’t end when the last match is played in September.

When Clarence Zebras formed through the merger of two clubs, Nick expected both the difficult and the positive moments that would come with it. The work was hard, but he believes it was necessary and hopes it proves beneficial for football on the Eastern Shore in the long term.

The Home of Football

The idea of a Home of Football has been discussed for many years, and Clarence Zebras has often been mentioned in that conversation.

From Nick’s perspective, sharing a facility with Football Tasmania would not be a problem in principle. The venue is large enough, similar to KGV but on a larger scale.

He sees clear opportunities if such a project were to eventuate, including year-round astro pitches, new club rooms, improved playing facilities and a covered grandstand. Much of this infrastructure is currently lacking and the venue itself is tired, having seen little upkeep compared to facilities for other sporting codes.

Nick is clear, however, that the club’s identity would remain, regardless of any shared arrangement.

He is also realistic. From what he understands, discussions so far have been limited, and when councils and government are involved, progress is slow. In his view, the project is a long way from happening.

Personally, Nick doubts it will occur at Wentworth Park. Even if the significant funding required were found, he believes the timeline would be five to ten years at best.

Access remains a major challenge. Limited seasonal availability, high costs, and shared use with touch football make the venue difficult to sustain without significant volunteer effort and sponsor support.

Longevity and stepping away

Rumours about Nick stepping away from the presidency have circulated for years, and he confirms there is truth in them.

He now has family on the Gold Coast and has purchased a place there. For now, he remains President, but like many long-serving volunteers, he believes the time is approaching for new, younger faces to step forward and shape the club’s future.

What has kept him in the role for so long is simple. He has loved being involved.

But the role is changing. Increasing expectations from Football Australia, combined with work commitments, have made the presidency feel more like a full-time position.

When the time comes to step away, Nick expects it will be difficult. The club has been part of his life across multiple identities. Still, he is certain he will remain involved in some capacity, regardless of where he is living.

Meetings, mergers, and reality

Reflecting on years spent in Presidents’ meetings, Nick doesn’t point to any single pivotal moment. There were many sighs, many disagreements, and frequent moments where clubs and Football Tasmania found themselves at odds.

In the end, decisions were accepted. There was often little choice.

On the subject of mergers, Nick believes they are likely to become more common in Tasmania. With too many clubs, increasing administrative demands and volunteer fatigue, mergers may be the only path to long-term survival for many.

He is clear that for a merger to work, both clubs must contribute meaningfully and be prepared for a difficult beginning. Success depends on ongoing committees and volunteers maintaining the commitment over time.

Without change, Nick fears more clubs will retreat into social football only, fielding a few teams without junior or youth pathways.

He is particularly critical of national expectations that do not account for Tasmania’s population and resources. What is required of a state of 500,000 people mirrors expectations placed on much larger states and he believes that imbalance is unsustainable.

Final reflections

Nick says his greatest pride has been growing the club and seeing so many juniors and youth now playing football on the Eastern Shore.

What he wishes people understood better is that club leadership is a volunteer role, requiring countless hours of work each week, often with little reward and significant stress.

Despite everything, football still gives him joy.

The excitement of match day remains. So does the camaraderie and the lifelong friendships built through the game.

For Nick, that remains the greatest reward of all.

About the author
I’m Victoria Morton. I’ve spent 20 years in Tasmanian football as a volunteer, club leader and advocate.

I’m writing a personal record of what I’ve seen, what I’ve learned and what Tasmania’s football community lives every week.

👉 Read more about me here: About Victoria