By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
The North Sunshine Football Club is excited about the opportunities the 2018 season will bring, with club hopeful of fielding a senior women’s and a junior girls team for the first time.
The response to the new teams have been well received by the wider community, with the Roadrunners already hosting some pre-season training sessions.
“After so many years of fielding only two men’s teams, essentially, by providing our new female football pathway, we have the potential to double our playing membership,” North Sunshine’s Brett Kennerleysaid.
“For a small club like North Sunshine, that is a huge part of heading back towards viability.
“Having female participants also gives the club the opportunity to continue to reach out to new members of our community.”
Kennerley said it was important to capitalise on the rise of female footy and said his club, like others in the west, have been busy trying to develop opportunities for juniors and seniors to get involved with the sport.
Up to 30 women have shown an interest in playing for North Sunshine next season, while several junior girls have also flagged an interest.
“There is certainly a large amount of interest in this opportunity,” Kennerley said.
“We have people calling and a large social media group discussing the opportunity, but now it is time to take the next step, and see them out on the track.
“That is the hard part with new members to football, doing the pre-Christmas sessions in the heat. Training has just begun and the uptake has been good.”
North Sunshine has appointed Brendan ‘BJ’ Smith as its senior women’s coach and Nat Cook as the Youth Girls coach.
“BJ comes with many years of involvement in women's sport, including coaching at South Melbourne, and as an umpire in the VFLW,” Kennerley said.
“BJ has a passion for football, and moreover for women in our sport, and has the drive to make this a resounding success.
“Nat comes to us from Albion, where she previously coached Youth Girls football. Nat has been a driving force in the implementation of the female football pathway that we will be endeavouring to offer, and will be looking to add her flair as a player to the Senior Women's team as well.”
If you are interested in getting involved with North Sunshine, please contact Brett on 0466 133 505, Brendan on 0430 194 933 or Nat on 0403 674 597.
Last Modified on 21/11/2017 12:09