Bolwarra short on players and looking at folding
Bolwarra short on players and looking at folding
Just got confirmation from them today about playing a trial on the 11th, so that doesn't seem right
Over the last few years Tenambit and kurri suprised me the most when they folded.
Tenambit have a great setup, good grounds and a growing area population wise. It was one of the more enjoyable places to play. It appeared that when they went back up to league 2 due to a lack of numbers, they simply weren't ready for it. They struggled and must of lost players on the back of that.
Kurri appeared to have a good player culture amongst the group. It also suprised me after a very successful year in zl3 they folded after an average year the following season in zl2.
Coaches is a problem across the board, many now that want to get into coaching follow the NPL juniors as a pathway instead of doing lower zone leagues.
I think more is needed to entice players and clubs at this level. Success is the key to retaining players, most count a successful year as making the finals. Perhaps in 10 team competitions more teams then the current 4 should be in the final series? This may help retaining players.
I believe there is more all age clubs that could and would make the switch to zone league football if the correct approach was made. Entry fees for some of these small clubs that have little money might turn them off. Entry fees might need to be looked at zl3 level?, are they really required?
Simply there are plenty of guys around to have a successful competition right down to 10 teams in zl3. The key is just to find a way of keeping players and clubs. As we at Dudley have found out, its takes alot of work to maintain a squad.
Going up to ZL2 on the back of coming 5th in ZL3 ( a decision made without consulting the players was one of many reasons it started to fall apart, and as I said before a committee who weren't all that worried about keeping the team.
Tenambit also lost the coach from that season who everyone enjoyed playing under and had them playing some good football, they then replaced him with a former player and unfortunately that didn't work out players lost interest and the following year the club had about 5 all age teams and no zone league.
I do know the current president at the club is keen to get a zone league team back but the all age teams have no interest in joining and all the neglected juniors have left so it's going to take a few years for the current crop of juniors to make there way through.
Kurri collapsed because the 1 couple who ran the club, called it quits due to work and family. No one stepped up. Too many shiftworkers put stress on player numbers as well.
Weston Swifts fell over due to blokes retiring and no one replacing them.
Abermain have always struggled for numbers and have relied on an ageing player base, which has now diminished
Crazy to think that their is no zone league teams in kurri and cessnock area. Must be some decent all age players running around in those areas?Where do all the guys that fall out of cessnock new fm end up? Abermain appeared that long term it was always going to struggle given an older squad and lack of juniors.
Tenambit is a worry given how many all age teams there are. Zone league football should be represented at most clubs as a pathway for juniors at the very least.
Due to movements within our squads Thornton Redbacks NL1 are looking for 2-3 players in both the 15's and 17's squad as well as 2 players and a keeper for the under 19's. For more information or to organise a trial please PM me.
Word is Greta Branxton are looking to re-enter the competition in the next few years.
They've got a big population boom coming with all the new 'suburbs' popping up around them.
Shame to see the comp back to 8 teams but stoked to see we have 21 games again.
Are most clibs using the full squad size now there is 21 games?
Too early for predictions across both grades?
Bolworra will be strong with 2 ex a-league players apparently and a new young bloke up front for 1st grade.
Andy Roberts?
Not sure, we have a few Ed Sheran lookalikes tho haha