Sport
27 April, 2023
Maryborough Soccer Club looking to build ahead of first home game of 2023
As the Maryborough Soccer Club embarks on its first home game of the season in the Ballarat District Soccer Association (BDSA) this Sunday, president Joelle Clinton looks back knowing that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The club had...
As the Maryborough Soccer Club embarks on its first home game of the season in the Ballarat District Soccer Association (BDSA) this Sunday, president Joelle Clinton looks back knowing that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
The club had a setback over the off-season when they weren’t able to field a women’s team after a season which yielded one win in 2022, while after a struggle to gain player numbers for their men’s side, they have succeeded in their aim to field a competitive team for the BDSA division one open season.
Clinton views it as somewhat of a miracle, but the benefits have been clear to see.
“It’s been exciting, and a little overwhelming. It was something that we thought wasn’t going to happen, but we somehow managed to do it,” she said.
“We’ve also had some amazing people on board that have contributed. We have had a few backpackers from the UK. “We’re just really excited that we have a team and get to keep going in the competition.”
The team was rewarded with their first point of the season last week — a pulsating 3-3 draw with Ballarat which saw Brett Davy score an equaliser in the 94th minute.
That result was the culmination of improved chemistry between the team, according to Clinton, after a tough start which saw them lose their first two games 6-0 and 6-1 respectively.
Maryborough now hosts top team Ballarat North United Black at Jubilee Oval, and while it will be a tricky assignment against the top-of-the-table team, Clinton believes anything can happen.
“The point was definitely needed. We are getting better and better and we’d love nothing more than to get a win this weekend. I know the group needs that,” she said.
Jonathan Melton is the coach of the division one men’s team. Clinton says that having him onboard as someone who has been there from the start was crucial for the club going forward.
“Jonathan has played with the seniors since the club started, and he is a really respected player,” she said.
“We had a chat at the start of the year and we wanted a coach to be just a coach. We didn’t really want players coaching at the same time, and he made that sacrifice to coach the team and not play, which has been beneficial, as for the first time in a long time, we have someone who can guide the team and direct everyone. “He’s very respected, he knows all the players and he meets all the new players.”
Clinton says that kind of camaraderie is needed, masking all the club’s off-field struggles at the moment.
Getting their own facilities is their biggest fight at the moment. While the club plays their home games at Jubilee, it moves around to complete social programs, with some being completed at the hockey fields, while others are done at Frank Graham Oval.
Clinton says securing their own facilities sooner, rather than later, would do wonders for the club going forward.
"We have struggled not having a home ground. We’ve been going around three different places. My car has been constantly filled with boots, balls, cones and other equipment,” she said.
“I’ve been dropping things off at one place, going to another, cooking a barbecue in public for our kids. It’s been tricky, but we are still making it work.
“Having a home ground to us means we can run things at more of a professional level. We can get the members and make it a huge club, and be taken seriously through the BDSA.
“We have been lucky to have great sponsors, and we want to put their signs up and give back to them for their support. It’s been another tricky thing, but we really want to focus on getting a home for soccer next year. The numbers are there, there’s so many kids there that want it to happen. We’d love to do our programs easier, but it makes it ten times harder when we don’t have our own venue.”
The growth of the club, particularly at junior levels, has been encouraging, and Clinton believes that there’s enough interest to continue to grow, with her experiences with her own son shaping those views.
“I’m a mum of four kids. I know my son loves soccer — it’s his passion,” she said.
“He goes to a school in Timor where they play soccer at lunch every single day. It was obvious to me that there were lots of other kids in his position that also wanted to play soccer, so for me, doing this is all for the future for the kids.
“It’s not easy to get in the car and drive 50 minutes for training — I knew how important it was to have something local, so I took on the role as president and I have a lot of respect for anyone who does it, as it is a lot of work. But I feel like we are heading in the right direction.”
It’s seen an under 13s team established, with strong numbers coming through, while Clinton is hoping to have an under nines team established in 2024. Clinton has big plans to develop the juniors into the next crop of stars in Maryborough.
“I honestly think that in 2024 we can do an under nine’s team,” she said.
“We would love to keep our under 13s throughout their time in juniors so they can eventually be the senior team for Maryborough. The kids love it. It’s great to see how confident they get. They have adapted so well to learning the rules and getting their fitness up.
“We have a total of 16 registered kids for our under 13s, which is a full side. We didn’t think that would happen, we thought we would be begging for numbers, but instead, we have substitutes. We had a game last Sunday in North Ballarat where we had subs and the other team did not. It was cool to be in that position for a change.”
At the moment, Clinton can only emphasise that the Maryborough Soccer Club is a good place to be.
“The club is a good vibe. The connection with the senior team is amazing. They are building friendships and it’s great for their mental health,” she said.
“My husband is a train driver, who does 12 hour shifts. He gets a little bit tired, but mentally, after he’s played soccer, he’s a completely different man.
“The kids get the same feeling and they are able to form friendships with people who aren’t in their school, while also having a safe place to play the sport they love, do some exercise, meet new people and be surrounded by coaches, our community and our committee that are decent people who want the best for their kids.”
Maryborough’s match with Ballarat North United Black will start at 3 pm on Sunday.