I hope this message finds you all well and you’re all having a great Christmas and New Year break.
To all the junior players and their parents, last year was a very big year for you all, with the new synthetic pitch opening and the U/15s going to Melbourne and doing so well. The year ahead will also be one of great advancement as we are looking at sending more teams to Melbourne. Also, the new club rooms will be built and much more.
To the senior men, there is going to be a very big and exciting year to come, the club rooms, new coaches Mark Strickland (Division 1), Gerry Whelen (Division 2), Division 3 will be announced soon, Nathan Henschke will be U/17 coach and working with Mark. All of this is happening so that in 2013 we can look at taking a senior mens team to Melbourne. This is what a big group of players are looking for, but not all. There are junior and senior players which just want to play football and have fun, that is fine, and some who want to push themselves hard but still have fun. Both will always be welcome and catered for at Barwon.
To womens football, this is area in which we are doing well but could do a lot better. We would love to have more teams, but you have to have players, the number of junior girls will put us in good stead in the years to come, but it will take time.
The committee is also a team, the one in which I am playing for, we have a lot of new players but are still looking for more. Secretary is a position we have to fill. If you think you can fill this position please let us know. We are also looking for a junior co-ordinator. We, like all teams, have a lot of fun. The committee, like all teams, will drop the ball and make a lot of mistakes, but we will just keep on learning and just keep on trying to build a better club.
I believe a great club doesn’t have to win every game but makes all players feel welcome and catered for as a member of a community. If we do this we are a great club and the wins will come.
Finally, Pre-season for senior men will start 10/1/2011. If you know someone who is not already playing at Barwon but has said they would like to tell them about all this and say get in on the ground floor and have fun with your football. Spread the word. Women start to be announced soon. Juniors will start in February, date soon.
I am very excited about the years to come.
Thanks, Leon Bourke