Today a decision was made by the EFNL board to cancel the 2020 season for the entire senior competition including netball due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the many restrictions in place that directly affect local sport in particular local footy.
This is obviously a decision that will be widely unpopular by many but one that has been made in the best interests of our clubs, our players, our staff and the local community.
Football would not have been as we know it and many of the reasons we love the game so much would not have existed. In my opinion local footy is much bigger than the players and the clubs, it is something our loyal volunteers and supporters live for and not too have them at games this year would defeat the purpose.
Many have questioned whether this decision was a financial one and although there were concerns on how it would affect us as a club the financial component comes a distant second on community involvement and the health and safety of everyone involved at our club.
EFNL CEO Troy Swainston has done a fantastic job through what has been a frustrating and difficult few months. Troy and his staff have kept the clubs updated and informed throughout this whole process and ultimately have let the clubs have the final say. It’s important to remember that no stone has been left unturned when it came down to making the final decision.
There has been a power of work done by those involved on committee, our football department and our staff when it comes to preparation for the 2020 season so this announcement is disappointing. Nobody wants to pull the pin right at the death knock after putting in so much time and effort, but again this was a decision that needed to be made and our club accepts and supports what has been announced today.
I would like to thank my committee, our playing group, coaches and those who have been involved throughout this whole process for their patience and understanding. The club will look at ways to keep our players and staff engaged with the club as restrictions continue to ease.
The support the club has received from our members and more importantly our sponsors has been second to none. In a time of extreme uncertainty the Mitcham FC community has banded together to make sure the club can remain viable throughout these difficult circumstances. It is still a long road ahead but this support has gone a long way in making sure we will be ready to hit 2021 full steam ahead.
With our new club rooms complete we are hoping to have our members and supporters enjoying our new facilities in some capacity in the very near future. We will continue to support those who have supported us and I ask our members to do the same wherever possible especially when it comes to our loyal sponsors. As a club we will keep our members and supporters engaged with the club through our social platforms and will do whatever we can to fill in some of the gaps in what will now be a very boring winter.
The positive news is that our juniors will be in action is some form throughout the next few months so we look forward to supporting Anthony, his committee and the junior club in whatever way we can.
I look forward to catching up with you all in the near future but until then stay safe and look after each other.
If anyone requires any further information on the above please feel free to contact me via email on president@mitchamfc.com
Matt McCubbin
(President, Mitcham FC)
Last Modified on 03/06/2020 22:05