Donal Miller, long-standing coach of Melbourne Dynamo Football Club, found himself being presented with the Tony Coffey Memorial Shield after finishing a training session on April 22.

Each year Donal himself is behind the presentation of the shield, which is given in memory of Tony Coffey, who is remembered for being an inspiring coach to many young Melbourne footballers in the 80s and 90s Donal included.

Tony's son, Liam, said this year the family could think of no better recipient of the shield than Donal himself.

A crowd of family members, plus many coaches from Melbourne Dynamo, gathered by the Astro turf at Melbourne Sports Park to spring the emotional surprise on Donal.

Handing over the shield with his children - and Tony's grandchildren - Freddie and Rae, Liam said: "Donal played for my dad's team when he was a young player. My dad would have been so proud of how Donal has conducted himself as a coach and as a player.

"The legacy that he carries on with the values that my dad held dear... my dad loved him to bits, he really did, and I think Donal also put the hard work into keeping my dad's name alive in the club, which my family were blown away by."

Handing the shield to Donal, Liam added: "You absolutely are the epitome of what this trophy represents, you really are."

Donal said: "This trophy means a massive amount to me. I never expected my name on it."

The presentation ceremony heard from fellow coach Conor Raynor, who told how Donal's commitment to bringing on young footballing talent at Melbourne knew no bounds.

Conor said Donal had done particularly wonderful work in keeping together last year's under-15 side which had been rocked to its heart after the death of Thando Ndlovu who had got into difficulty in the river near Swarkestone Bridge.

Having coached that team for many years, after it disbanded Donal then returned to the club to take on the youngest children at Melbourne Dynamos.

With a severe shortage of referees in Derbyshire, Donal has also taken on the refereeing whistle to help football matches go ahead.

"He had really dug us out of a hole to be a referee," said Conor. "He is a club legend."