Proposal for Amalgamation

billy the kid · Post by **billy the kid** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:14 am

I have said this for many years. The way to really promote cross club support for the girl's/women's soccer scene in Adelaide is to consider the following:

Find a suitable venue and each and every week of the season have multiple games played throughout the day is what I envisage.

I'm just thinking but an atmosphere similar to the old zones comp whereby 100's of people converge on a park to watch games beng played on 6/7/8 pitches.

It would create a great atmosphere whereby many teams would get the support from people who would otherwise not come to see a game. I for one would envisage that as many of the players in one team have friends in other teams would stay and watch their friends play. There would be the situation where the teams vying for top spot would hang around to see their upcoming opponenets or to see if Para Hills or Campbelltown can cause an upset win against Ad City, Fulham, etc.

The women's game is great but rationalising grounds and provide excellent facilties is the place to go. There isn't the money/resources or volunteers to provide the support needed to be a successful club. They could do with cross-club support. This will promote the game because it needs it. How many people are at most PL games over the weekend? The Ressies also struggle. This way the girls deservedly get an audience to appriciate their efforts.

An idea worth watching. Otherwise in time when the good people working hard at clubs retire, we can kiss the compeition goodbye.

Keeps · Post by **Keeps** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:53 pm

While I think it's great there are people out there trying to come up with new ideas to promote the women's league, I do think billy, your view is too simplistic. Many women's teams are social teams, social clubs where the girls are playing sport to keep fit, have fun and many girls in these social clubs have no ambition to one day play for the Matildas or a premier league club. I think there's a big difference between the premier league clubs and clubs in the lower divisions.

Maybe the reserve and premier leagues might be interested in this but I would think that clubs are really looking to promote their own brand as opposed to looking to amalgamate with other clubs.

Unfortunately I think ALL female sports play second fiddle to men's sports and until men's soccer gets bigger in Australia, women's soccer will never draw crowds.

billy the kid · Post by **billy the kid** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:00 pm

Hi

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My proposal is about:

1) Keeping clubs that are stuggling viable by amalgamating resources.
2) Increasing the exposure of ALL clubs

Yes many play for the social aspect and there are soem teams that offer that. However, many games/leagues are played in isolation and many of us have not even seen a div 1-2-or 3 team play. who knows if there are players there who probably know about the Prems league but don't get out there to see for themselves if they should try out for a PL.

Given that some clubs struggle to keep teams in PL that are competitive I see this as an idea (or something along those lines) worth pursuing. There's nothing more depressing than going to a game 3pm on a miserable Sunday arvo and watch the players slug it out in a parkland.

My prediction is that in 1-2 years time many teams will fold and go by the wayside. Just look at the gap between the top 4 and the rest in PL.

I for one would love the Carnival atmosphere of one centralised venue where all the games are being played and I can give my support to other teams.

KrAzY · Post by **KrAzY** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:03 pm

Maybe you should consider writing a proposal to SAWSA

billy the kid · Post by **billy the kid** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:22 pm

You girls deserve to get your game promoted as best it can. ts not about competing with the boys and men. Its a different game. Its not as widely publicised as the men's game (it won;t either) and that's why if you centralise the grounds ie Central North Sth clubs won't have to fing mega $$$ to run a facility on their own. It needs to be the full package.

You all deserve a better way. Wouln't you like to play in an atmoshpere that's buzzing and not dead pan quiet??

Need to start thinking outside the square. Mine is probably way off the mark but then again, it may promote discussion.????

You're a smart girl Krazy. You think of something too.

Daintree13 · Post by **Daintree13** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:59 pm

What the womens league really needs is a sponsor, someone that can give each club that competes in the premier league $2000 a season, which goes straight towards maintaining the pitch, clubrooms and other necessities.

Maybe SAWSA needs to commit to teams that have a juniors and a solid foundation and say 'right for the next 5 years, you are all in the premier league, we will find the money to help promote and advertise this', which will again lead to greater interest, greater revenue and more crowds at games

The rest of the teams could possibly be packaged as social teams, put under the amateur league umbrella like the mens competition. Younger more serious players will come out to the 'premier' league teams whilst older players or players that do it to keep fit can then play for an amateur club.

Premier
Adelaide Blue Eagles (Plenty of junior teams, will be up there in 2/3 years time)
Adelaide City
Adelaide Olympic
Campbelltown City
Cumberland United
Fulham United
Gawler
Metro United
Para Hills
South Adelaide (Plenty of junior teams, will be up there in 2/3 years time)
Sturt Marion
Western Districts (Plenty of junior teams, will be up there in 2/3 years time)

Possible Premier League in the future
NAB
Noarlunga Lions
Para Hills East (Needs to kick its senior players out and start afresh, poor culture there, some very good junior players though)
Mount Barker United
Port Adelaide Pirates (Need juniors, strong senior team)
Salisbury United (Need juniors, strong senior team)

Social
Adelaide Comets
Adelaide Cougars
Adelaide Hills
Adelaide University
Athelstone
Barossa United JSC
Elizabeth Downs
Elizabeth Grove
Elizabeth Vale
Flinders University
MU Lions
Munno Para
OUT
Parafield Gardens
Pontian Eagles
Stirling
UNISA Infernos
Western Strikers

billy the kid · Post by **billy the kid** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:29 pm

I doubt that $2000 will make any diff. None at all. Zero and Zilch. We;re not big or powerful enough to make an impact by being divided we have a wekak comp. Joined together its a diff story. Big, strong and have presence.

Those younger girls at those other clubs you mentioned that would be ready in 2/3 years time will probably move to a PL club OR leave the game OR would want to stay in the social team structure.

This is the critical period. I think that in the interim, better scheduling of games for PL teams to be played at the one venue on the same day and make it a showcase day (3 or 4 times a year) would be a far more positive way to move.

Positive Promotion is the key.

KrAzY · Post by **KrAzY** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:49 pm

i like having home and away games

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:39 pm

billy the kid wrote:I doubt that $2000 will make any diff. None at all. Zero and Zilch. We;re not big or powerful enough to make an impact by being divided we have a wekak comp. Joined together its a diff story. Big, strong and have presence.

Those younger girls at those other clubs you mentioned that would be ready in 2/3 years time will probably move to a PL club OR leave the game OR would want to stay in the social team structure.

This is the critical period. I think that in the interim, better scheduling of games for PL teams to be played at the one venue on the same day and make it a showcase day (3 or 4 times a year) would be a far more positive way to move.

Positive Promotion is the key.

1) Im sure every club would like to receive $2000 to help run every season. Pretty sure it would make a difference for most clubs.

2) If you want a showcase make it every cup round then. Leave the reg season for home and away

neits/burgo/shadow · Post by **neits/burgo/shadow** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:48 pm

Daintree13 wrote: Possible Premier League in the future
Noarlunga Lions

In premier league b4 south adelaide. esp when all the old lions girls head back there

hehe. a dream of mine...

but i think south adelaide and noarlunga need to combined to make one strong team in the south. then there will be a better chance of having a southern team back in the prems...

htfc · Post by **htfc** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:27 am

Don't be surprised to see Elizabeth Downs pushing for Premier league in a couple of years.

Strong club with great resources could easily support a successfull Womens program.

From juniors thru to seniors at both men and women levels, The Downs are an integrated club which will support development where needed.

SAD GAL · Post by **SAD GAL** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:08 am

I've heard that teams from Nthn Districts are developing a strong base from which some strong competitive teams will emanate. lets hope so for the sake of the PL.

With the continual demise of the Womens National League (from the highs of curtain raiser for Ad United #1 to no shows in the last 2 years and beyond) SA needs to get its act together and build a strong PL for the sake of the girls and for the sake of the National teams!

Where else are the hard working and talented girls able to show their wares if there is WNSl!