North Geelong Warriors is branching out to community development in collaboration with local clubs after an eventful 2015 in National Premier League Victoria.
The club has this year widened its focus to building relationships and identifying how to help clubs with operations both on and off the park.
New club Leopold FC was an obvious beneficiary, with Warriors figures Michael Anderson and Josip Zilic recently meeting Leopold’s Mitch Vials to discuss its opportunity to provide the town with a valuable community service.
The group discussed how the club’s reserve, in Leopold’s Estuary estate, could become a local sports hub with support from Football Federation of Victoria and City of Greater Geelong to deliver lights for training.
Vials said that in the meantime Leopold FC’s base for senior football would be Howard Glover Reserve, while the town’s primary school could provide a temporary facility for juniors.
Further discussion centred on how the Warriors could help with training plans, coach education and advice on grants and fund-raising.
“Mitch and his team deserve and applause for the brave step of stepping into the administration of a brand new club,” Zilic said.
“It isn’t easy but when you can build these networks and align the initiatives to the regional planning then it makes life easier for all clubs knowing there are others there to help and listen.”
Vials said Leopold FC priorities included fund-raising, coach recruitment and education.
“Realistically, we’re looking at October before we can look at entertaining some clinics and having the right people on board. Right now we look forward to working with North Geelong to open those opportunities” Vials said.
The Warriors planned to develop a shared list of information for Leopold and other clubs “wishing to leverage off our learnings”, Zilic said.
“Hopefully that’s a good start to initiate their development and take them to the next step.”
