The former president of the Gungahlin United Football Club has been found guilty of stealing more than $31,000 from the club.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard Aaron Alexander, 50, spent the money on his personal car lease to the tune of $8,000, at a jeans shop, a pet shop and the movies.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston also found him guilty of spending the money on fines.
The court heard Alexander had been in control of the club's finances between September 2016, when the treasurer left, and July 2018 when he was stood down.
Magistrate Theakston said he did not accept the explanation from Alexander that his girlfriend and other club members may have used the club's card.
"I find it inherently implausible that the card issued to the defendant, was borrowed by unknown others on game days to pay fines or taxes at the ACT Road User Service, or purchase goods or services from Telstra, Hoyts, [or] a pet store," he said.
"I also note that on each occasion the card was not used on the weekend."
Magistrate Theakston also took aim at Alexander's car lease.
"The repayment of the defendant's private leasing expenses for his personal vehicle was patently beyond the legitimate use of club funds," he said.
"There was no evidence that this exceptional arrangement was authorised by the club.
"In any event, there was evidence that the vehicle wasn't used much for club purposes."
The court heard that there was capacity for club members to claim reimbursement for club expenses.
But Magistrate Theakston said Alexander had the debit card and access to the main account.
"It beggars belief that he, as an experienced businessman, would routinely first use his own funds to pay legitimate club expenses and then separately obtain reimbursement."
In the end, Alexander was found guilty of more than 60 charges.
He was cleared of several others, including money spent at a darts shop, and several cash withdrawals.
He is yet to be sentenced.
