By Ed Merrison
UPWEY-TECOMA Football Club has been busy kicking goals in the off-season ahead of what it hopes will be a highly successful year.
As well as a number of upgrades, the club has created a brand new role by appointing Steve Hayes as its first ever football manager.
Mr Hayes’ appointment is designed to leave president Andrew Peterson free to concentrate on running the club while coaches focus on their individual teams.
“I’ll be working with the coaches, making sure they have everything they need, while also providing an avenue for the players if they have a problem or if there’s something they want to discuss,” Mr Hayes said.
The club will be fielding a first, reserve, veterans’ and under 18 side, coached by Peter Johnston, Glenn Douglas and Trevor Smith respectively, with the under 18 side’s coach yet to be confirmed.
The club, which has already begun training two nights a week at Upwey Recreation Reserve, is pleased with numbers and confident it can be better after the seniors’ five-point loss in the 2005 premiership final.
“We have recruited very well, with a number of ex-Upwey players returning to the club, and we’re confident of another successful season.
“Numbers at training have been excellent and strong enthusiasm is very evident on all levels at this time,” Mr Peterson said.
As well as the football teams, the club will field two netball sides under the tutelage of coach Kate Rhook.
An extra side for 2006 has been added to cater for demand from local women wishing to join the success of last season, when Upwey-Tecoma won the inaugural Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League netball premiership.
The club has not slowed down its fundraising efforts, raising about $110,000 in the past four years and is now eyeing up one or two new Plexipave netball courts on Upwey High School land as part of a joint venture with the school and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
While the new netball courts are a project for the future, new features for this season include a shire-aided upgrade of the Thompson Oval, with the addition of a sprinkler system, fencing and new lights.
The shire has also jointly funded a significant upgrade of the main oval, while the club has authorised an upgrade of an existing shower system and plans to add upper-level coaching boxes on the main oval and undertake further improvements to the social rooms.
“Our policy at Upwey is to provide the best facilities for our players and supporters to enjoy, and this is a big factor in maintaining such a strong local content in all our side,” Mr Peterson said.
