Emerald Ealges Soccer Club

A Word From The Pesident -

President’s Post
Hello to all Emerald Eagles players, supporters and family, and happy new year to you all. And what a year we have in front of us. As you all know, Emerald Eagles is proud to have two teams in the CQ league for 2012: a premium and reserve men sides. With over 30 players pledging commitment to the upcoming season is a sure sign of the progression of the club, and its commitment to a higher level of football in the area. Both coaches, John Soligni and James Barley will have these teams ready to fire, once the draw is finalized over the next few months by CQ soccer,
We will be working upon major changes to the junior and youth structures in the club. The juniors, from under 12’s to Squirts, will start to play in extended age groups to foster a regular competition between teams. Then the under 13’s to 15’s will be combined into a playing group and a central highlands competition between the other towns, such as Blackwater, Moranbah, Dysart and Clermont will be fostered. This will be a weekly comp with a home game every 2nd weekend and a travelling away game on the other. A bye also may have to be included. We are having a meeting with the new director of coaching for CQ soccer, Joe Fenech later this month (some of you would remember him from the successful ultimate coaching event), so more details about this will emerge after that meeting and further discussion with the other central highland football clubs. We will keep you posted about this.
The successful twilight comp for Grades 6-7’s from last year will continue in term 3 this year. We are also looking into extending the competition to include Grade 8-9.
Also in the pipeline is a CQ U19 competition to be started next year. Joe Fenech is pushing this idea. This may be another division of the current CQ comp, which our men are competing in this year. There is also talk of this being extended to the state league and a U19 Cougars side being formed. That would be very exciting for our youth.
The Emerald Eagle Ladies have formed a great team, with regular training from their coach: Jason Cannons. These ladies will be competing against a Gracemere side as a curtain raiser for the upcoming Emerald Eagles vs. Capricorn Cougars at Blackwater Sports Centre. This is yet to be confirmed, but this would be a great hit-out for our ladies. We are also looking into a possible central highlands ladies competition. It is early days for this concept, but hopefully, we will be able to get this off the ground and make this a regular yearly competition.
Our senior 6 aside competitions for both ladies and men will still be run this year for all those players who wish to play at this level. Some details still need to be finalized, such as game nights etc as we now have training nights on both Tuesday and Thursday for the senior men teams. Also, Wednesday nights will be training night for the youth and the ladies.
The Frenchville 6 aside competition will be held in late February, and we hope to field three teams: premium and reserve men’s and the ladies. After the great result the men achieved in Mackay last year, hopefully a similar result is in the making at Frenchville.
As always, this club is only as successful as those who help run it, so please step forward and help us run Emerald Eagles Soccer Club this year. We need volunteers for helping the juniors, right through to the seniors. From coaching to the canteen. From referees to game day helpers. Every little bit helps.
Work on the flood damaged canteen will start in early Jan, and also changes to the storage building will happen later on. There is a new container at the grounds to store balls, nets etc. Further upgrades to the fields, light and change rooms are planned with the help of council and government grants
As you see, we have a lot on the cards at present, and still more to come.

Yours in football,

Brad Stanley (president)