Chapman Athletic Soccer Club award to Gregory Thomas Lumley draws criticism

One of Geraldton’s oldest sporting clubs has attracted criticism for honouring its former president, who was convicted of paying for and downloading child exploitation material, with a lifetime membership. At a ceremony last month, Gregory Thomas Lumley was praised for his commitment, dedication, hard work and loyalty to Chapman Athletic Soccer Club over the past 25 years, including serving as president from 2000-2014. MORE NEWS In 2005, Lumley pleaded guilty to possessing or copying child pornography after being charged the year before when police seized two computers and some software from his auto electrician business. Lumley has since surrendered the award after an outcry from members of the public. Several community members, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Geraldton Guardian they felt concerned Lumley had been present at local soccer matches since his conviction, as a number of under-aged players as young as 14 years old played in the senior grades. They felt it was inappropriate for the club, which has members as young as four, to grant the award. A Football West spokesperson said it did not support Chapman Athletic’s decision to award Lumley life membership and had strongly advised the club to reverse its decision. A Chapman Athletic FC committee spokesperson said Lumley had since voluntarily given up the life membership. “Four life members were inducted (at the 75th anniversary awards). As some were on the committee, the decision to induct them bypassed the committee. It was a life members’ decision,” they said. At the time, Judge Robert Mazza was told Lumley paid to access two websites from which he downloaded and viewed 17 video files, each depicting the sexual abuse of a child or number of children. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $5000 fine, with Judge Mazza saying he believed Lumley was remorseful and jail time was not warranted as he did not think Lumley would be at risk of offending against children in “any hands-on way”. “Of course, the evil of this offending is that the people who pay and view it provide the market and the motivation for its production,” he said. “Its production involves the cruel exploitation of children who are often vulnerable. “Every video file depicts child abuse. The fact that you and others are prepared to pay for it and to view it perpetrates its production.” There is no suggestion Lumley has committed further offences during his activities with the club and it is not clear if those activities required him to hold a Working With Children card. At the awards ceremony, current Chapman Athletic FC president Carlo Licastro told attendees Lumley had been a club member since 1996 and continued to volunteer and attend “every senior game.” “This person used to attend every senior game Chapman played, men’s and ladies’, to support the club as good supporters do, and to see him still come down and watch our senior teams play is really pleasing,” he said. “Life membership to Chapman Athletic Soccer Club is a great honour of an award to receive ... to recognise a person for their commitment, dedication, hard work and loyalty to the club for a long period of time. “His time at the club is so valuable and is one of the main reasons why Chapman are in a great position today as a club in performance and financial ways.” Chapman Athletic participate in the Midwest Soccer Association and Geraldton Junior Soccer Association competitions under the authority of Football West. The Midwest Soccer Association and Geraldton Junior Soccer Associations have been contacted for comment. Lumley declined to comment.