It was a moving presentation, held at dusk in Springwood's Lomatia Park, prompting tears of loss but also smiles of tribute, comfort and hope.
Talented 14-year-old footballer Max Peters from Valley Heights was awarded the inaugural $3000 Matt Dyer Memorial Striker Scholarship last Thursday, which he will use to sharpen his already impressive skills at the Winmalee-based Golden Boot Striker School (GBSS).
Matt Dyer excelled as a goalkeeper and striker at representative level for Springwood United Football Club and took immense pride in his role as an assistant coach at GBSS. The 18-year-old was preparing to begin a football scholarship in America when he tragically died this February after falling at Hawkesbury Lookout.
Presenting the scholarship offer, Matt's mother Moya Dyer described the annual award as "such a worthy way to honour Matt's memory".
"It is fitting because Matt really enjoyed working with the juniors. The more Golden Boot coaching shifts he got, the happier he got," she said.
Max, who plays for Springwood U14s, said he was nervous at the trial "but I thought if I give it all I've got, then I'd have a bit of a chance".
"I think I've improved a lot lately because I've practised lots and lots of shots on goal."
GBSS head coach Michael Robson said 20 juniors applied for the scholarship and participated in a two-and-a-half hour trial on June 14 featuring drills and small sided games designed to assess speed and agility, ball skills, shooting ability, positional play and responsiveness.
"We'd sought to identify a shortlist of three potentials from the trial but the level of talent was so high we settled on five kids - Max and Zoe Peters, Marcus Harrison, Nicholas Sharp and Leo Campaner," Mr Robson said.
"Then it came down to watching them play a match for their clubs on June 27. When we watched Max play, he really showed us his full potential.
"Max is raw talent - he is constantly moving to get into scoring positions and it seems to be instinctive.
"While he's got some work to do when it comes to finishing, what really sets him apart is how he can create chances in the first place."
Max said he only got to have one training session under Matt Dyer's guidance, but it left a huge impression on him.
"My first thought was what a really good goalkeeper he was, because I couldn't get a shot past him," Max said.
His dad, Kelvyn, said: "I remember Max coming back from that session saying he felt inspired.
"He'd heard Matt was about to go to the US on a sports scholarship and since then he's had that in mind as something he'd like to aim for.
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity Max has been given and hopefully he can do Matt proud."
Close friend of Matt and assistant coach at GBSS, Pat Rosato, described Max as "a great representative of what this scholarship is all about".
"Like Matt, Max is not only very good at football but is also a very good person on and off the field - the type of person and player that always gives 100 per cent for their team," Mr Rosato said.