Affectionately known as “Mr Soccer”, Vic Tuting was, by his own account, “never a really good player”, but once he turned his hand to the game’s administration, he shone like a diamond.
He arrived in Launceston in 1920 from Rochdale, England at the age of 15. He and his older brother signed on for the Invermay club in 1921. Vic hung up his boots in 1934 and turned to administration, becoming the Northern Tasmanian Soccer Association secretary in 1935.
Work commitments moved him South, and in 1938 he joined the Tasmanian Soccer Association (TSA). He held various positions on the committee and became Chairman of the TSA in 1956. During this period, Vic instigated that the TSA come under national control to unite Soccer Australia.
He was appointed the Tasmania Soccer Council’s first Life Member in 1953. In the same year, he became a Life Member of the Southern Tasmania Soccer Association.
From 1956, Vic had held every conceivable position on the board. His administration skills were highlighted when he was voted Vice President of Football Australia in 1974, a position he held until 1983.
In 1990 FIFA recognised Vic’s dedication to the sport by awarding him a medallion for “Long Service to Football”, with the Honorary Presidency to the Oceania Confederation. He received his medallion from Heinz Marotz, one of FIFA’s top coaches at the time.
He was awarded an MBE for community services in sports administration rendered. Vic covered every angle of the sport in administration and was very good at bringing all parties together to resolve situations. One of his famous quotes was: "Rules are never black and white, there always has to be some elasticity."
At the age of 84, Vic was recognised by FIFA for his life-long dedication to the sport at an Oceania Conference meeting held in Fiji.
The Vic Tuting Medal is still awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Southern Championship, and Vic was also inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 1999.