Well it is ‘one more sleep’ until season 2023 formally starts with Round One fixtures involving junior (ages 12-16) and senior players. There are plenty of games across the region, starting on Friday night and then a huge schedule on Saturday and Sunday. We also welcome about 50 new match officials (you will see these individuals wearing a GREEN shirt to signify that they are FIRST YEAR match officials) and we acknowledge their preparedness to answer the call and to come forward and to become a match official. Please support their efforts as they each venture onto the field for their first match as a match official.

To everyone involved in community football, I offer a sincere BEST WISHES and encourage us all to embrace the World Game in a spirit of good sportsmanship, respect for each other and with thanks that our community is continuing to rebound from much hurt in recent years. May football be a catalyst for renewal, purpose and MUCH enjoyment. Success that might come in the form of winning results, should be seen as a bonus, but not the main motivator for participation.

I hope to travel to Burringbar on Saturday to watch the Burringbar Bandits play in the men’s league 1/2 match, being a return of the Bandits to competition after a long recess, but look forward to hearing about lots of positive stories from this weekend. There are now more than 6000 players registered as we hopefully get close to (or beyond 7000) players this season.