Cougars hunt for new players

TIM BOTTAMS

MEMBERS of the Creswick Cougars Soccer Club are looking to fill their junior girls teams in time for pre-season training at the end of the month.

Having fielded a team of 16 young female players last year following the Ballarat and District Soccer Association’s introduction of an under 12 girls comp, senior women’s coach Raylene Knowles said the club is keen to fill three sides.

“We’re looking to field an under 10s, under 12s and under 14s and ladies in the female bracket,” she said.

“We’re hoping we get there by the end of the season in mid-April and we have two of our senior ladies players as coaches and two of our dads as coaches for the younger teams.

“We need about 25 to 30 girls so there’s lots of room.”

Taking place at Doug Lindsay Reserve, pre-season training is set to begin for under 12s and under 14s players on Wednesday 28 February from 5.15pm to 6.15pm.

Under 10s sessions will follow from Wednesday 13 March from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

Knowles said club management prefer new players register by the second week of training.

She also said it’s essential for the club to continue building junior participation.

“It’s extremely important for us to build this,” she said.

“We have a great club and a fantastic reputation for culture but we’ve had for years lots of sisters watching their brothers playing and training and wanting to give it a go.

“Having our female participation grow will also hopefully allow our facilities to grow because it doesn’t just affect the club, it’s the whole community.”

Call Knowles on 0409 021 300 to express interest in the juniors girls’ sides.