Season opener starts new era for Surf Coast FC

FOOTBALL season on the Surf Coast has arrived as Surf Coast Football Club prepares to begin its re-ascension to the top of State League 4 West.

The Coasters, led by former assistant coach and recently announced head coach Denis Holtgrefe, face off with Balmoral Football Club tomorrow (Saturday, March 23) at Banyul Warri Reserve in Round 1.

Holtgrefe, who moved to the club two years ago, said Surf Coast FC had continued to build over the past 18 months and is ready to show the community what it is capable of.

“The squad is feeling good at the moment, the lads have put in an enormous amount of work in their pre-season dating back to November.

“Overall, the club has moved into a new era, the club has also partnered with Coerver Coaching, which continues to develop our junior players from a female and male perspective. As a senior squad we want to be able to bring that all together and really enable the club to grow.

“Saturday will lay the foundation of hopefully another exciting season ahead.”

Surf Coast FC had a busy offseason with signings and new additions to the senior side.

Holtgrefe highlighted the key signing of Masamichi Kuroyanagi, who boasts playing experience in Japan and Spain before joining the club through a collaboration with Coerver Coaching.

Kuroyanagi provides the side’s midfield with balance and adds an element of aggressive attacking play.

Speedster Alex Quaynor is another import this time from Birmingham and will support the team’s attack and wings.

Centre-back Anthony Thomas arrives from regional neighbours Barwon SC and will pair up with skipper Kreso Jurkovich in the defence.

Surf Coast also welcomes back club legend Rhys Manning after few years away from the sport, along with club debutant and defender Ethan O’Connell.

Club stalwart Tom Langman will also assume the role of playing-assistant coach, following former head coach Ash Dafter’s departure.

Surf Coast fell just short of promotion to State League 3 following its semi-final playoff loss to Brunswick on penalties last season, but Holtgrefe said the heart-breaking ending had put a “fire into the squad’s belly” to get back to that point.

“The guys know what it takes to get to that stage and really go one step further, and that is certainly our goal for this year, obviously going for that top spot.

“First things first though, we want to develop something right, develop a solid foundation for the club and allowing younger players to continue coming up into the senior sides.

“We train very close with the Reserves players and that’s the kind of culture we want to build throughout the club and continue to give first team opportunities to some of those development players.

“We are really excited to see as many Surf Coast fans at the games Saturday, cheering our sides on as we get 2024 going.”

Tomorrow’s action at Banyul Warri Reserve begins at 3pm with the Reserves, before the Seniors kick off at 5pm.