Welcome everyone to Season 2020.
There is a significant level of excitement around the club as we enter season 2020 following the success the club experienced in season 2019, which saw our Senior side return to playing finals for the first time in over 15 years, our Reserve side tasting the ultimate success, capturing the premiership, and our U19’s team, in their first season in Division One, falling just short in the Grand Final.
This success has not happened by accident and as President of the club and on behalf of the 2020 Committee I need to thank a number of people who have helped to generate this success on which we can hopefully build in 2020 and beyond. Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the significant contribution Andrew Toomey made to the club over many years and in recent years as club President. He has been tireless in his dedication to the club, particularly when it comes to driving business support. Thank you Andrew for your guidance, support and dedication, your leadership will be missed. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the 2019 Committee members, all who volunteer their time and energy to help support the ongoing running and management of the club.
Season 2020 also brings with it a fresh coaching group. After four seasons at the helm Scott Hamill stepped down following a tremendous period in which he has helped to develop a youthful list into a base that will be able to continue to strive for success in 2020 and beyond. On behalf of everyone at Surrey Park we would like to thank Scott and his partner Danielle for all the time and energy invested into the club and we look forward to what lies ahead. We would also like to thank Andrew Comello, our reserves coach for the past three seasons, who was able to take our reserves side to the ultimate success in 2019, claiming the clubs first premiership in over a decade. We wish both Scott and Andrew the best for the future and look forward to seeing you down at Surrey Park. To the numerous assistant coaches, team managers and trainers who tirelessly support our players and coaches, we also thank you for your ongoing support, without your support clubs such as Surrey Park would not be able to exist.
With the changing of the guard, Surrey Park is excited to announce a number of new faces into the Surrey Park community. Dave Jensen joins our club as the new Senior Men’s Coach, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the development of young footballers and an enthusiasm to succeed, having previously been the Reserves Coach at Ringwood Football Club. Joining Dave in the coaching department is James Forrester, who will take over the role of Reserves Coach. James has joined us from Gippsland League powerhouse Leongatha. We are also pleased to welcome back Chris (Chops) Langkau for Season 2020 as our Under 19’s coach, a role that he has thrived in for the past two seasons, reaching back to back grand finals.
The other exciting development for the club is the creation of the Women’s team for 2020. We welcome Joe McCarthy as our inaugural Senior Women’s Coach, and look forward to what will be an exciting time in the clubs future. We would like to thank the women’s team sub-committee who put in a significant amount of work to help get the women’s program off the ground and to where it is now, allowing us to provide a future for our junior girls as they transition into open age football. There has been significant interest from female players and with the team commencing training this Sunday (2nd of February) we’re looking forward to watching as we grow our women’s program into what we’re sure will be the base for many years of success.
Finally I’d just note and acknowledge that we very much rely on the dedication of volunteers to keep the club running day to day and I’d encourage you to get involved if you have an interest in seeing the club being successful both now and in the future. There is no truer saying when it comes to footy clubs than ‘many hands make light work’ with the more people who are able to assist, the easier it is to continue to provide the wonderful club that we have, and to provide the great sense of community we have built at Surrey Park. If you are interested in helping out in any way, shape, or form, please feel free to contact either myself or anyone within the club to work together to find the best way to assist.
I look forward to sharing a successful Season 2020 with the Surrey community.
Go Panthers!!!
Michael McKenzie
(President – Surrey Park Football Club)
Last Modified on 03/02/2020 15:14