Junior players, brothers, Brandon and Kaine Abela, William McPhie and Mani Schwieger, got in a little ball practice on their new home ground last week under the watchful eyes of experienced players Brodie Gallagher, Ashley McLeod, Jedd Sweetman, Edward Payne and Pat Graham.By Kath Gannaway
THE Yarra Valley Soccer Club has a new home and, not to put too fine a point on it, they just can’t believe their luck.
The club will start the 2006 season in April at the Millgrove Recreation Reserve.
The club caters for about 80 players, male and female, from junior to senior level and is affiliated with the Victorian Churches Soccer Association.
Club spokesperson Gail Lazenbury said the club had played two seasons at the Archery Park at Launching Place but with seven teams on their books were desperately in need of their own home ground.
“We went to the Shire (Yarra Ranges) and they gave us a few places to try but all of them were also used for football which wasn’t ideal,” Ms Lazenbury said.
“Wesburn suggested we have a look at the Millgrove oval which has been sitting unused for years apart from an occasional cricket game. It has clubrooms, a canteen and we can fit two pitches on the oval so we can run senior and junior games at the same time,” she said.
When club members saw that the oval is also fitted out with lights, Ms Lazenbury said they were “just blown away”.
Looking over the oval which is adjacent to the primary school and set with a magnificent mountain backdrop, Ms Lazenbury said the Millgrove base would become home to players, administration and supporters and would create an environment, which would encourage club morale.
Ms Lazenbury’s enthusiasm for the new home base is shared by Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, who has been working with the Millgrove community as they work to establish stronger community links.
Ms Lobato said the use of the local oval, providing a home base for a local club was another example of how the area is being reinvigorated.
“It is an example of how projects are taking off at grassroots level and how Upper Yarra communities are moving forward. These communities are being proactive and things are happening in Upper Yarra,” she said.
The Yarra Valley Soccer club is holding a registration day on Sunday, 5 February, between 10am and 2pm for new and experienced players at all levels.
They are also looking for coaches and people willing to assist with youth development.
Ms Lazenbury can be contacted on 5967 1539 for further information.
