FC Leopold lights up to chapter ahead

FC LEOPOLD is excited to be back playing soccer for the 2021 season, with new lights only the beginning of an exciting chapter.

Like many clubs they experienced a rocky last year and are putting all of their energy and effort into getting back on track in 2021 and moving onward and upward.

Junior Coordinator Lisa de Vries said one major part of that journey was the installation of match-accredited lights, which were installed as part of a state government election promise in conjunction with City of Greater Geelong.

“The lights at Estuary Reserve, the club’s home ground, were handed over on April 22 and the club will be celebrating with a Picnic on the Pitch night planned for Friday April 30,” Lisa said.

“This date coincides nicely with the commencement of Female Football Week, which runs from May 1 to 10.”

Lisa said the lights were only the beginning of an exciting chapter, with a brand new pavilion being planned under the provision of CoGG.

“Like many community clubs this year FC Leopold has taken a small step backwards with numbers, but are still very proud to be fielding two Senior Men’s teams, a Women’s team, two Junior teams and six Miniroos teams,” she said.

“In the juniors they have a wonderful mix of new and experienced coaches, with many returning for their third and fourth season.”

Lisa said the theme for this year’s season was flexibility.

“The club has several job share coaches who are happy to step on board with a team approach.

“In the current climate of family and life balance, and work commitments FC Leopold strongly believe in making it work.

“Coaches are invaluable to the running of a club and an integral part of getting volunteers is by allowing joint roles and adapting to the needs of the coaches.”

Lisa said the senior teams were very enthusiastic and play under lights and have the luxury of now being able to train at their home ground – something that has not been able to occur every previous season.

She said some challenges facing the club were getting women and junior girls choosing soccer as a sport.

“Many females are doing the switch over to AFL and post-covid the club is finding it is exceptionally difficult to get females back into sport.

“They are wanting to be diverse and inclusive and dynamic and show the benefits of females in sport, but the only barrier to that is getting the numbers.

“All three female only teams (women’s, under 15 girls and under 11 girls) just scraped through with enough numbers and it is only by the joint determination of coaches, members and parents that the teams were deemed with fighting for.”

The club is excited to keep progressing forward and is very proud of its achievements since it’s conception in 2016 under the guidance and passion of its founders Jared Rudd and Mitchell Vials.