Wakehurst Football Club’s Over 45 division 3 players have been stunned by the decision of Northern Beaches Council to allocate only one quarter (that is only 25%) of one football pitch at Lionel Watts Reserve, Belrose, one night weekly, for their training this year. Club officials are outraged by the council’s action whereas Australian Rules Football and Rugby League receive a disproportionate training space on the same park, considering their player registration numbers.
Wakehurst club president Greg Dick is livid about this move by the council, which is emblematic of the nationwide ostracism of the world game and its’ participants, in favour of those of the less populous football codes. Dick points out that Wakehurst club registrations have soared by 26% in 2024, yet training space has diminished.
This prejudice against Association Football has also been highlighted recently by national team boss Graham Arnold, who was only able to train the Socceroos once on a rugby field prior to an important World Cup qualifying match. Wakehurst team stalwart, Robert Brennan scoffed at Arnold’s complaint and in a feigned Yorkshire accent said “luxury ! At least the Socceroos had a full pitch to train on and we get one quarter of a pitch for a squad of 22 players”
Wakehurst Over 45/3 were champions in their division last year and some cynics are laying the blame at the feet of Beacon Hill (now known as Allambie Heights Beacon Hill Football Club) the team Wakehurst defeated in last year’s grand final and who, some are suggesting, got into the ears of Northern Beaches Council officers, in an attempt to sabotage their rivals 2024 title chances.
Wakehurst team spokesman, Cameron Smith said “if I phone Northern Beaches Council and say it’s Cameron Smith and I need some space to coach a rugby league team,” council would reply, “how many grounds would you like Mr. Smith?” But Cameron Smith, the soccer player and his team mates have to make do with a miniature training space, so small that players get dizzy completing laps.
The paltry training space is going to seriously impede the Wakehurst team’s preparation this season. Free kick specialist, Tom Dolan (“The Narraweena Messi”) affirmed that practising his dead ball free kicks at half a goal, will play havoc with getting his angles right. Left full back Rod Lloyd, who seriously needs to practise his throw ins, will not have this opportunity, as his side of the training “area” will not have a touchline, so all throw ins will be taken on the right hand side and Rod misses out on the chance to improve his throw in capability.
Not all players were unhappy however, with the mini training space. The team’s diminutive goalkeeper, Sean Poulson now only has half a goal to cover at training and stands a better chance of saving some of his team mates blistering shots thereby avoiding the subsequent banter that normally comes his way.
Wakehurst midfielder and physical fitness guru Tico Rios is concerned that players are going to have to complete forty laps of the training pitch before raising a sweat whereas previously, two laps of a full field would have the defibrillators primed.
Once again, the “Beautiful Game,” the “World Game” or whatever you would like to call it, is the victim. Something must be done and how many FIFA World Cup wins by the Matildas or the Socceroos do we need before Northern Beaches Council afford the round ball game the space and facilities that it deserves?
David Jack © 2024
David Jack 