GAMBIER CENTRALS SOCCER CLUB
GAMBIER CENTRALS SOCCER CLUB
Photo Courtesy Melissa Prior SE Voice
The Gambier Centrals Soccer Club wishes to congratulate Christian Fleetwood on being named the Football South Australia Limestone Coast Regional Development Officer. Christian has been an integral part of our Premiership winning men's team and was our Miniroos Co-ordinator in season 2022. Football South Australia's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Carter penned an open letter to clubs, members and associations on Wednesday 1st February.
The SE Voice has also provided a great write up in the Thursday edition of it's newspaper.
Football in the Limestone Coast is set to expand with the appointment of a regional development officer.
Well-known Gambier Centrals player Christian Fleetwood started in the role on Tuesday, ready to oversee the sport in the region.
Football SA (FSA) is in the process of appointing several regional development officers across the state to establish strong relationships with stakeholders to expand the sport, particularly through Futsal and social football programs utilising indoor recreation facilities such as Mount Gambier's newly opened Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.
Fleetwood will work with the Limestone Coast Football Association (LCFA) to expand the winter league competition, introducing the possibility of year-round soccer.
"Football SA's objective is to increase participation in soccer in the region and that's across a whole range of different areas," Fleetwood said.
"Expanding the MiniRoos program for ages 5-11 through the use of the Wulanda Recreation Centre, building a development centre for talented young athletes and increasing the number of female participants in schools will all be major focuses of my role in the region.
"Introducing new people to the game is important during such an exciting time for soccer on the back of the Socceroos success in the recent FIFA World Cup and the fact that Australia will be hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup in July later this year."
Fleetwood will be working collaboratively with the LCFA and directly with clubs to expand participation, coaching and refereeing across the Limestone Coast.
His role will cover establishing relationships with local schools to create community connections with Limestone Coast clubs, as well as growing the participation of women's soccer, particularly with the Women's World Cup to be held in Australia later this year.
Fleetwood is excited by the prospect of developing a Futsal competition in the region.
"We have got this great new facility in Wulanda and that brings huge opportunities for us to get that off the ground," he said.
"The new courts are amazing and provide a great opportunity for us to offer indoor competitions with the gaps in the outdoor season we have here.
"Indoor soccer is such a great introduction to the sport socially.
"I'd also like to see people who are playing all sorts of other sports come and give it a go."
Fleetwood said he looked forward to value-adding to the work already undertaken by LCFA, which had built a strong competition in the region.
"I am very thankful for this role, but also very, very thankful to be able to draw on the work that has been done previously," he said.
"This is an opportunity to build on what has already been put in place.
"I'd like to hit the ground running. I'm looking forward to getting more kids involved and building upon the league. We already have a lot of passion, a lot of buy in.
"I will be looking to get more people involved.
"Whether they are volunteers in the canteen, doing the line for the Under 12s or coaching the main event, whether it's women's or men's.
One of Fleetwood's first roles will be to oversee the start of the MiniRoos junior competition next month.
Football South Australia's chief executive Michael Carter said supporting regional areas in their expansion was a major focus.
"The Limestone Coast has a very strong history in football," he said.
"We are committed through the employment of a full-time resource to grow participation in the region and support the development of quality competitions and programs for players to participate in.
"Christian will be great for the area and is a great role model for young players.
"We look forward to further announcements as we approach the start of the new season in 2023 for the region."
