Cup fever rubs off on local club

To The POINT
With Malcolm Alder

ALL SAINTS Hunters Hill Soccer Club kicked off its 2010 season in fine style down at Clarke’s Point on Australia Day.

With its spacious new marquee and banners, all in the club’s distinctive orange and blue colours, it was impossible not to notice them.

The club is 50 years old and caters for boys, girls, women and men from 4-year-olds right up to Over 35s (some of whom are in their 50s).

It also covers all standards, from essentially social all the way up to the Men’s Over 35 Division 1 team who won the NSW State Champion of Champions title late in 2009.

At the youngest end of the spectrum, All Saints runs one-hour skills development sessions for 4- and 5-year-olds bright and early on Saturday mornings during autumn/winter term time. There is then a comprehensive range of mixed teams from Under 6 up to Under 16s.

* * *

SINCE THE last World Cup, football has been growing strongly in Australia and All Saints has certainly experienced this, particularly amongst women and girls. And ever more, mums and dads are playing - the club now fields more than seven Over 35 teams.

With the World Cup in South Africa just around the corner, the club is expecting another surge in numbers. To prepare for this, All Saints is refreshing its website, outdoor promotion around the district and investing in a whole new online club management system.

This season, it will be easy to build an online community around each team with all members contributing photos, match reports and helpful information.

* * *

ALL SAINTS Hunters Hill is always on the lookout for new players of all ages. The mixed and men’s teams play in the highly competitive Gladesville-Hornsby Football Association, and our all girls and ladies teams compete in the North West Sydney Women’s Football Association.

Generally, GHFA games are on Saturdays with the odd Sunday game for seniors whereas NWSWFA plays solely on Sundays. In 2010, we are starting an Under 7 girls team with a special offer of just $25 for the season.

All Saints Hunters Hill held a registration day on Saturday and there’s another tomorrow, Thursday February 11 (4pm-7pm), at St Mark’s Church Hall in Figtree Road, Hunters Hill.

Grading for mixed junior teams from Under 9 and upwards is on Saturday February 13.

* * *

THE SEASON proper kicks off straight after Easter in April, but of course, training and trial matches for most teams will be under way well before that. The club would be keen to hear from any experienced football coaches who are looking to get involved with a friendly, family club, particularly to coach at the Under 12 age group.

You can find out about All Saints at www.ashhsc.com.au or by dropping in to one of the registration sessions. You can also call me on 0414 277 315, or the women’s co-ordinator Kath Odgers on 0425 239 785.

* MALCOLM ALDER is president of All Saints Hunters Hill Soccer Club.

| TOP |