Surf Coast FC aims for back-to-back promotions

SURF Coast FC’s senior men side are gunning for back-to-back promotions as they face Heidelberg Eagles this weekend at Banyul Warri Reserve.

Surf Coast sit second on the ladder and a victory tomorrow (Saturday, September 6) afternoon will confirm the incredible achievement of climbing up divisions in consecutive years.

The senior men side are in the State League 3 competition but will jump into the State League 2 competition should Saturday’s result go their way.

Such a potential feat has senior co-ordinator Tom Langman both excited and proud of his group.

“The success of the first promotion last season was a huge achievement for the club, to be able to go back-to-back is amazing,” he said.

“This year the club is celebrating its 25th year, and before last season we had never been promoted.

“When we sat down before the 2023 season with our new coach Ash Dafter, we set some ambitious targets and one of those was to be in State League 2 in five years.

We are ahead of that target, but this is definitely where we wanted the club to be. We always wanted to push for promotion this season, but to be so close to achieving it is an unbelievable feeling.”

Langman said the key to the side’s recent success was continuity and a high-level program.

“One of the great achievements with this squad is that we’ve been able to keep most of the squad together over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

“We have also tried to maintain high standards on and off the pitch which we have worked hard to maintain.

“I don’t think there is just one factor that is key to success, it has been multiple factors across the club – the players, the coaching group, the co-ordinators, and the committee. But special credit to the playing group who ultimately are the ones who have to put the performance together each week for 22 games.

He said there was a buzz around Surf Coast FC with another promotion on the horizon, and hopes that there will be plenty of support on the sidelines at tomorrow’s match.

“We are hoping for a massive crowd this week to help support the team and hopefully share in the success that promotion would bring.

“As a club, promotion to State League 2 would strengthen our junior boys pathway for players wanting to play at the highest level locally. It reduces the need for players feeling like they need to leave to play for another club in Geelong as they want to play at a higher level.”

The match will kick off at 3pm.