THE West Wallsend Bluebells are here to stay.
That was the message last night as the short and long-term future of the third oldest soccer club in northern NSW was addressed at the Museum Hotel, a stone’s throw away from the Bluebells’ home ground, Johnston Park.
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About 50 past and present players and supporters attended the meeting, called by Northern NSW Football and the club to form a working group devoted to saving the Bluebells.
The Herald reported last Wednesday that the club, formed in 1891 by Scottish miners, appeared on the brink of expulsion from the second-tier, first division competition.
With only 26 players on their books for three grades and head coach Greg Smith walking out, West Wallsend were given until tonight to have 40 registered players, a first-grade coach and produce 2013 financial records and a 2014 budget to show they are a viable club.
However, their place in the competition seems assured after a positive meeting last night when the club laid bare their troubles and sought help for a sustainable future.
The help came in the form of incoming NNSWF club development officer Ross Hicks, a former Wallsend club president, who will chair a working group made up of six volunteers.
The group, consisting of a player, a resident, parents and a junior club representative, will work in the coming months on building a sustainable senior club.
Club secretary Evan Gardiner addressed the meeting, saying the club had debts of $8700 and faced tough times for the next few seasons as it tried to extinguish the burden.
However, Gardiner, who received warm applause for his efforts in keeping the club alive, said the Bluebells had gained great support from NNSWF and the football community to reach 38 registered players.
‘‘There’s two more down here,’’ someone in the crowd said.
With the player quota reached, Gardiner said the next target was finding a first-grade coach.
Although down to coach the under 19s, Gardiner said he would take on the top role to ensure the club stayed in first division this season.
‘‘There are probably 10 players who have first-grade experience and six or seven of those are up to the standard,’’ Gardiner told the Herald before the meeting.
‘‘The biggest thing is the coach. We have three or four experienced players who are not willing to commit and if we had an experienced coach, hopefully they would step forward.’’
He thanked the players who had stuck by the club, saying this season was ‘‘not going to be easy’’ and the group knew ‘‘there was going to be cash flow problems at three or four points during the season’’.
NNSWF chief executive David Eland also addressed the meeting, saying the federation was committed to helping the historic club and ensuring a strong pathway for junior talent in the town.
‘‘We want players who want to play for West Wallsend,
not just get paid to play for West Wallsend,’’ Eland said.
Originally Posted by God bless zpl
