New Year Soccer Resolutions….
The glories of 2006 have all but faded into the past as Waiuku gets ready for another season of outstanding football in the New Year. Can we top last year? As Bob the Builder would say…”Yes we can!”
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2007 as we prepare for the new season – the first training day is just a couple of days away! Yep, this Sunday (Jan 21) at the George Street grounds there’s a training, weigh-in, speed tests and a few other bits and bobs for any player looking at Prems or Reserves (Mens). Anyone else is welcome for the time trials though, so if you are trying to get yourself into some sort of shape for 2007 and want to a bit more incentive, turn up and we’ll check your current status.
It would be interesting if a few of the ladies tried their hand at the speed and control tests as well – I’d say you might show up a few of the poster-boys of the Prems; especially those who had a double helping of Christmas pudding!
We’ll be repeating the tests in six and twelve weeks and there’ll be a prize for those people who make the best improvements over the three-month period.
This Sunday is an 11am start – Jim will be running some sessions and I’ll be dragging players out for the measurements as we go. Bring suitable shoes or mouldeds, shinpads essential, a BIG bottle of water, sunscreen and a few dollars for the debrief session at the Kentish around 1pm. We’re trying to organise some nibbles in the Garden Bar so it’s a good chance to have a run around and catch up with the guys after the break.
We’ve got some hot competition coming up with the Pukekohe and Mt Albert Derby Days, the return of the family day at Karioitahi (remember those days lads?), a coaches barbecue and the official sponsor and media function for the announcement of the Premier squad all coming up in the next few months. There’s a delayed start to the season this year so we’ve got an extra couple of weeks to fill and there’s sides queuing up to use us a yardstick of their own performance so let’s take the opportunity to frighten them ahead of the season. Last year’s pre-season demolition of Pukekohe put them on the back foot for the first two months and if we get teams coming out here worried about us we are already ahead in the mind games. Foot on the throat and keep squeezing I say….(hmm, note to self, be more politically correct this year…)
The inside word is that there’s a new player or two on the horizon which is going to put even more pressure on for places in the first team, and I hear the reserves side is going to be even better than the amazing squad they fielded in 2006. All will be revealed in coming weeks….
Sponsorship – opportunities available
There are still some opportunities available to be involved as a sponsor of the region’s most successful sporting club, in both the mens and womens side of the game. We have packages available from $250 to $2500, and there are still one or two Prems match day sponsorships available as well. If you own a company and want to associate your name with Waiuku AFC, or if you work for a company that might want to be involved, flick an email to me at waiuku.editorial@xtra.co.nz and I’ll fire off a package to suit your budgets.
Coaching the juniors
Pretty soon the juniors are going to be advertising their enrolments and looking for coaches. Have a think about whether, as a player, you can give something back to the club by taking on a role as a coach. I know a few of the lads already are involved, but the kids are always desperate for good coaching and as players you guys have probably got a lot better idea about what to teach them than some mums and dads who have only watched the World Cup highlights package. There’s an obvious time commitment, but how about you and a friend alternating to take the sessions and games? I’ve done it in the past and you get a lot of enjoyment out of it. On a purely selfish level – these local kids are the future of the club, so the better we can get them now, the better they’ll be when they replace you in a few years time. Have a think about it, we’ll publish details of the juniors contact details in coming issues.
Referee and opposition player sledging
Last year the level of sledging for referees and opposition players was abysmal. As I believe in being professional in all areas, we clearly need development in this area.
We are looking at running a conference on effective sledging pre-season. Highlighted topics will include:
· Dastardly deception: How to get your marker sent off by feigning injury. Participants receive a free fake blood capsule and instruction in screaming and falling safely to the ground.
· Were his parents married? Ways to question referees without getting a yellow card.
· Upsetting goalies: “Hey, keeper, can I borrow your brain, I’m building an idiot” and other discussion topics for spectators seated behind the opposition goalkeeper.
· Retaliation: Is it acceptable to get your retaliation in before he hits you?
All this plus a FREE video: “Tackling from behind and effective use of elbows when heading”
Reader endorsements:
“I wish I’d been to Nigel’s course on casual headbutts BEFORE the World Cup” – Zidane
“This man could have taught me a thing or two” – Saddam Hussein
“I attended one of the courses but it was too tough for me” – Mike Tyson.
“Get stuck in lads!” – The Pope.
*Obligatory Note: For those people who were brought up after the loony left and radical feminine separatist tree-hugging sandal-wearing liberals took over government, the above is a complete and utter piss-take and is not necessarily the view of Waiuku AFC or anyone involved in it.
Random thoughts
Sponsor your butt: If we ran a buy-a-chair campaign and you get to have a chair at the club with your name on it as a sponsor, how keen would you be? We need new furniture and it might be fun to have players, their families, grandmothers, pets or (for those who like to live dangerously) their mistresses recognized on the back of the chairs. Like a handle club for your bum. Just a thought, but with a hundred or so players we could probably get the clubrooms sorted pretty quick. I’ll check out the costs and feasibility if there’s some interest.
Marketing committee
Last year we really raised the profile of the club and I’d like to see that continue but I’m only one bloke (based on numbers of arms and legs, not weight!). I’m particularly thinking about Chatham Cup (if we ever get a bloody home game!) as we will have a relatively short time to prep the day. Those who were around a few years ago may remember the champagne breakfast, decorated clubrooms, special programmes, banners and of course the stunning win over former semi-finalists Ngaruawhaia. If we have an off-the-shelf promotion ready to go we can swing into action if the powers that be do the draw right. Three or four people with a bit of spare time could do wonders with support from the rest of the club so if you fancy having a crack, find me and have a chat.
Supporters Club and Match Days
As above, has potential but needs someone to grab it and run with it. In the past we had supporters t-shirts etc which was a bit of fun and involved people who weren’t actual players but felt closer to the club. The “I love Eric” theme last year was neat, so there’s potential for banner competitions (like at cricket), ‘Bring a Friend’ match days, half-time entertainment (supporters trying to knock over a cone with a 30-yard pass), things like that that might bring a few more down to Massey Park. How about a ground announcer? An official club song available on CD and played before matches? Ball-boys in sponsored gear? As always, plenty of potential but needs someone to take responsibility. It’s a chance for someone in your family to take on a role with the club and get involved – maybe a granddad who has some time and likes the idea of being the grounds controller; maybe a friend or neighbour who is at a loose end on a weekend and thinks it might be fun to run some kids games during the main game. Now’s the time to stretch your imagination and make the club even better this year.
Finally, best wishes to all players, coaches, management, referees and supporters involved with the club in 2007 and thanks, in advance, for your contribution to the best little club in the country!
Happy Football and Go the Blues!!
Nigel