The fixtures section of the State Cup website lists both Valentine and Edgy as having a bye. Edgy were drawn to play Westy.Originally Posted by United
The fixtures section of the State Cup website lists both Valentine and Edgy as having a bye. Edgy were drawn to play Westy.
OK
Why not bring up an ID Prem side?
Yep couldn't agree more. Love Westy or hate them they have been a great club. Crossed paths with them for more years than I can count. Always have been great contests and sportmanship. The criteria is an absolute joke. NNSW couldn't care less because its all about their precious State comp. Elam is a complete tool. Every so often some so called genius decides to revamp the whole comp. Once it was firsts and youth. Then came the Port Macquarie team and now this. They are never smart enough at NNSW to see that its about social/competative and always has been. If they want development to A-League. Leave it to the emerging Jets and their crap
who gives a crap about trial games, honestly?
????
Any scores from Maitland v jaffas
I heard 3-1 jaffas. Maj double.
To which division?
See today's herald
Herald story
Westy Bluebells in danger of folding
By CRAIG KERRY Feb. 25, 2014, 10:40 p.m
THE West Wallsend Bluebells, one of the oldest football clubs in northern NSW, are on the brink of folding and have been given nine days to prove they are viable for 2014.
The club, formed in 1891 by Scottish miners, has only 26 registered players to fill under-19, under-23 and first-grade teams in the second-tier First Division, which starts for them against Valentine on March 22 at Johnston Park.
Head coach Greg Smith is considering stepping aside.
‘‘The club’s not in a real good place. I don’t think it has been for 10 years,’’ Smith said.
Bluebells secretary Evan Gardiner said he had met with Northern NSW Football operations manager Alan Nisbet and his staff yesterday morning and the club had been given until the close of business on Thursday, March 6, to have 40 registered players.
West Wallsend also need to have a first-grade coach and present their 2013 financial records and a budget for this year by the deadline to prove they remain viable.
Gardiner, who came to West Wallsend last year to learn coaching under Smith, took on the secretary role this season but has been thrust into the leadership after president Mick Rae resigned last week due to work commitments. Long-time president George Devetak stepped down in December.
The Bluebells were relegated from the state league at the end of 2012 after finishing last two seasons in a row.
Smith, a multiple state league grand final-winning coach with Hamilton, stayed on for a second season last year and his rebuilt team finished fourth in the second tier.
But only one regular first-grader, Beau Lancaster, and a handful of fringe players have returned for 2014.
Smith said he had agreed to coach again this season because his squad had said they would return.
However, the squad has quickly eroded and Smith believed it was due to financial troubles at the club.
‘‘All I know is some of the players didn’t get what they thought they were going to get,’’ Smith said. ‘‘I think that’s got a lot to do with why a lot of players walked. But I was in the same boat.’’
Smith said he would not continue unless there was significant change.
‘‘There’s not a lot happening out there.
‘‘They won’t train. Guys just don’t come to training – that’s the worst part.
‘‘I can probably guarantee there won’t be 11 of the first team there tonight, and that will make my mind up for sure. I don’t want to leave them in a hole, but I can’t be bothered working with guys who aren’t interested in training.
‘‘If you can’t train, you can’t improve, and they’ve got a long way to go to become quality players.’’
He felt sorry for the club and its small band of volunteers and said they needed more help.
He believed the club’s troubles could be traced back to a lack of focus on home-grown talent.
‘‘They didn’t worry about their juniors. That’s the worst thing they did.
‘‘Since I’ve been there there are hardly any locals there.’’
Gardiner said the club had contacted about 35 prospective players in the past two weeks but none had come to training and he would understand if Smith stood down.
‘‘The club hasn’t been able to provide him with a first-grade squad to coach,’’ he said.
OK
Will be a massive shame for football in this area if this was to happen. Surprised at the bagging Greg Smith gave the club in the interview though, you would think he would keep those views to himself or atleast not print them as the article should have been used as an attempt to lure players and ex clubmen back to get the ball rolling again.
In fairness something serious has to be done about this competition!!
You can't have clubs below in ZPL, who would put a lot of new fm teams to the sword!!
What's the point of having a bye?? Promote a team who deserves it!!
Wallsend, Dudley and Uni have all been there before.
Wallsend, i know only promoted this year to ZPL but they seem to have everything needed to get there besides the stupid age restricted teams!
They seem to have the quality of players, facilities and a good committee working hard to make the club bigger and better.
WE DON'T DO WALKING AWAY !
I think a jump up from ID1 to Newfm would be a bridge too far for Wallsend.
Football-wise or criteria-wise?
WE DON'T DO WALKING AWAY !
they'd go close to winning the ****ing thing. Why would any zpl team want to get promoted. From a good comp were there will be close games week in week out. To a joke of a comp with a couple of good teams.
i was told west wallsend approached university at the proposal of some sort of last minute merger between the to clubs about a week ago. So uni could play in newfm and westy would have more players. Uni declined though.
Outrageous if true!!
The ZPL comp is going to be fantastic I 100% agree, but honestly clubs like wallsend and I would say other clubs more than want to be promoted and play in I higher division, hence why they have picked up these players so the club goes forward!!
It's dissapointing to think that age restrictions will stop this from happening
Can we as a community help Westy out? I mean, they have such a huge history in Newcastle Football, it would be terrible to see them not surviving.
No came to wallsends rescue when the club walked out on them and basically all went to west wallsend!
The history of the club has been fantastic but they have made some very very poor decisions and don't deserve to be there anymore!
We have to stop holding on to what has happened in the past in football in newcastle,
Has this fantastic youth system helped the jets or nbn sides??!
No!! Wasn't that the point of it!!?!
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