David Latham moved to the Southern Highlands at the end of his own football career that was spent playing with Blacktown RSL and Toongabbie Tigers.

He knew few people when he relocated in 1994, so he got involved with the football club and has been a fixture at Mittagong ever since.

All Group 6 clubs could nominate for the award and Latham was chosen by Group 6 area manager Kevin Felgate in consultation with CRL head office in Sydney.

Latham said he enjoyed giving back to the game he grew up loving.

“It’s a pleasure to help the club,” Latham said.

“And you get to see the club go through good times and bad times, meet all sorts of people and watch players grow up.”

Group 6 president Grahame Andrews, who has worked alongside David Latham at the Lions, said Latham was a deserving nominee.

“He [Latham] has been involved with the club for a long while and done most jobs in that time,” he said.

“He has never really been involved in management as such but is always available and willing to help out.”

The CRL Volunteer of the Year five finalists will be announced at a gala dinner held at the Holiday Inn Potts Point later this month.