Who helps the players get game day ready? Meet Tia Pastore, Football Manager
11/08/2026
Meet Sandringham Football Club’s Football Manager Tia Pastore, a driven member of the Zebras community who is responsible for all things football and ensures that players and coaches have everything they need to perform at their best on game day.
From a young age, Tia and her family were always surrounded by many sports - Tia did callisthenics from the age of three and then started playing netball, volleyball and football during her schooling years. Her dad Tony Pastore played 189 games at Williamstown in the VFA and won the Norm Goss Memorial Medal in 1986 in the VFA grand final. Naturally, growing up in that environment, she fell into playing footy with the St Bedes Mentone Tigers at the age of eight, and continued until 2024, winning two Premierships in that time. During her football journey, Tia played for the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League (formerly TAC Cup and NAB League) in 2018, where she played until the age of 19, before her top age year was interrupted due to COVID.
Tia always loved playing footy but had no desire to try to reach AFLW level after dealing with a few injuries and being part of a very talented top age group. Although her playing aspirations changed, her passion for football certainly did not. Being involved with the Dragons gave her a behind-the-scenes look at the football program.
“I loved the atmosphere, the culture, and everything that happened off the field just as much as what happened on it. That’s when I realised that football operations was something I genuinely wanted to pursue,” Tia explained.
“Looking back, I'm grateful things worked out the way they did. While I may not have reached the elite level as a player, I've been able to build a career in the game I love and continue to make an impact differently.”
After finishing high school at Haileybury College, Tia decided to further her education and joined the Dual Diploma course in Sports Development and Event Management at Holmesglen in 2022, for which she was also awarded the Dean’s Award for Sports Development. The program consisted of two education and theory days and two days either at RSEA Park or external placement, getting hands-on experience in the industry. Her interest in this program was sparked after coaching the girls' football team at Haileybury, which drew her eye to the Coaching and Sports Development part of the program. The Event Management part of the program also drew Tia's interest, as someone who loved organising parties and taking on leadership roles.
Tia’s most memorable moment from the program was her placement at the Sandringham Dragons. Tia always wanted to be involved in sport and knew a 9-5 desk job was never meant for her after struggling in high school academically due to having no interest in the subjects on offer.
“I saw this course and jumped at it immediately, knowing it was something I was 100% interested in and invested in,” said Tia.
Through her placement at the Dragons, Tia was fortunate enough to get a full-time job as Administration and Operations Coordinator a year after her placement. Being a player for 4-5 years prior, she already had a very good connection to Mark Wheeler, who was Talent Lead at the time (now Sandringham FC CEO). Tia worked closely alongside Mark, as well as a previous Admin and Operations Coordinator, predominantly sorting apparel, completing stocktake and general administration. As she gained more experience and confidence, she took on greater responsibilities, including assisting with preseason presentations, player administration and the Best and Fairest.
“I think I approached every task with the mindset that no job was too small. Whether it was counting apparel or helping run the club events, I wanted to do it well and be someone the staff could rely on. That placement allowed me to build trust, learn the role from the ground up, and when the full-time Administration and Operations Coordinator position became available the following year, I was lucky enough to be offered the role.”
The opportunity at the Zebs came about when Marcus Ashcroft, the previous Sandringham FC CEO, reached out to Tia after Mark Wheeler was appointed as the new CEO. Mark had been Tia’s mentor, so when the opportunity to work with him came up, it was something she couldn't pass up.
With a big decision to make for her career, she emphasised how she’d be lying if she said she didn't have second thoughts after accepting the role.
“The transition was a lot bigger than I expected. I went from being in a role where I felt confident and knew exactly what I was doing, to stepping into a completely new environment with far greater responsibility. There were moments where I questioned whether I'd made the right decision.”
Tia reflected on her experience at the Dragons and explained how much she loved her time there and struggled leaving to continue on to the Sandringham Zebras.
“Being part of two Premierships and two National Championships was a true highlight and made the connection and love for the group and the people mean so much more. I loved going to work every day and seeing the development of the playing groups.”
Tia thought she'd continue at the Dragons for years to come, but when another opportunity appeared, she knew if she didn't take it, it would be a missed opportunity. She still has a soft spot for the Dragons players, especially for those who continue to play at the Sandringham Zebras in either the VFL or VFLW Program. She loves seeing those players who come to the Zebs grow into the young men and women that they are today.
“Looking back now, though, I'm so glad I took the leap. It's challenged me professionally, accelerated my growth, and given me opportunities that I wouldn't have had if I'd stayed in my comfort zone. And if I'm being completely honest, if Mark hadn't been the CEO, I don't think I would have taken the job. Having someone I trusted and respected leading the club gave me the confidence to back myself and make the move.”
Tia’s career goal is to be an Operations Manager at an AFL club, and hopes to continue to climb up the career ladder to get there. With a passion for football operations, she is eager to continue building her experience, developing her skills, and taking on new challenges that will help her progress towards that goal. She is focused on continuing to learn, grow, and climb the career ladder, while making a positive impact wherever she is along the way. This is why becoming Football Manager at Sandringham Zebras was a massive step towards the dream role she hopes to have in the years to come.
No two weeks are ever the same in football, especially with Tia managing both the men’s and women’s programs, which she admits is a lot of work, but she loves that every week is different.
During the week, she is working with coaches and medical staff, handling league compliance, organising travel and logistics, managing contracts and list changes, and making sure everything behind the scenes is running smoothly so the coaches and players can focus on football.
As game day gets closer, the focus shifts to team selection, finalising match-day operations, coordinating staff and volunteers, liaising with the opposition and the league, and ensuring everything is prepared for a successful game.
On game day, she is involved from start to finish, from setting up the changerooms and players' jumpers to being on the headset on the bench and then packing all the equipment up at the end of the day - essentially making sure the whole operation runs seamlessly.
“It's a fast-paced role with a lot of moving parts, but that's exactly what I enjoy. No two days are the same, and you're constantly solving problems and adapting to whatever comes your way.”
Football has always been considered more of a male-dominated environment, from the coaching staff to administration, but these days more female figures are slowly stepping into those roles. However, Tia has never found this ‘male-dominated environment’ to be intimidating to her. She stands her ground and is willing to speak on what she believes. Personally, she feels her biggest challenge has been her age - she was one of the youngest working in football administration and operations in the Talent League and then stepped into the Football Manager role at the age of 22.
Tia recalled, “At times, people underestimated me or assumed I lacked experience because of my age.”
“I often felt like I had to work harder to earn people's respect and prove that I knew what I was doing before my opinions were taken seriously. Over time, though, I found that consistently doing my job well and backing myself earned that respect.”
When asked about what advice she would give someone looking to work in the sports industry, she said,
“My biggest piece of advice for anyone looking to go down a career path like mine, or even women who want to pursue a career in sport, would be to back yourself. It's easy to walk into a room and feel like you're the youngest, the least experienced, or that you don't belong, but everyone starts somewhere. Don't be afraid to ask questions, share your ideas, and have confidence in what you bring to the table.”
“I'd also say be willing to say yes to opportunities, even if they're outside your comfort zone. Some of the best experiences I've had in football came from taking on roles or responsibilities that I hadn't done before. Every opportunity helps you build your knowledge, your network, and your confidence.”
“Sport is a people industry. Building strong relationships, being reliable, and treating everyone with respect is just as important as knowing the technical side of the job. Your reputation follows you, so work hard, stay humble, and let your actions speak for themselves.”
Written by Jess Holland - Sandringham FC Media