Hello to all players, parents, guardians, volunteers, supporters, sponsors and members of Inglewood United Soccer Club.
Here we are in May 14 nearing the midway point of our Football Season and whilst it is easier for me to talk about the great results of individual teams and development of players, I thought I would do something different and reflect about club culture and where the club is heading into 2015 & 2016.
Let me say from offset, we were established in 1951 and our past committee’s worked extremely hard to give us these great facilities that we have today. They were strong foundations based on ethnic ties to the Ukraine community.
Whilst the original ethnic ties may well have gone, we remain a diversified club, made up of all nationalities and off course we are Australian.
From the first General Forum meeting held back in the September/October 2013 after the new Executive Committee was formalised, we listened and took on board the general feeling (and at times – quite specific feeling). We knew we lacked certain volunteers, volunteers with the necessary skill set, business acumen and self motivated drive to take this club to another level.
Achievements:
1. Formalisation of a fully functional Junior Committee.
2. We recruited a Technical Director to ensure that player development was correctly and carefully instilled as a club philosophy from U12’s onwards.
3. We engaged appropriate licensed coaches – where required (who are doing a fantastic job) to teach your child, to not only play football, but to love it, enjoy it, experience it.
4. We engaged, coordinated and carried out an exceptional footballing experience for Inglewood United select players to undertake a training and playing tour of Real Valladolid in Spain.
5. We provided new kits and strips for all players
6. We provided the coaches the tools to carry out their roles.
7. We implemented auditing systems of the clubs finances.
8. We created, formalised and implemented this Social Media Page and our Website, which is absolutely fantastic.
9. We have engaged some absolutely fantastic volunteers, who work tirelessly (lets remember all volunteers including Committees receive no remuneration for what we do)
10. We have engaged some fantastic sponsors to the club, and without sponsorship support, the club would dearly struggle.
11. WE ARE RE-FORMING THIS GREAT CLUB.
Short Term Future
1. Formalising a fully functional Senior Committee
2. Preparing for the Real Valladolid tour to be an annual event for select players – partnership is currently being negotiated.
3. Formalising Age Group Leaders (volunteers) for 2015. we expect our numbers to swell.
4. Ground usage for summer training and Winter usage
5. Social Membership of the club.
Long Term Future:
To be an unassuming powerhouse in football, not only on the field, but off the field.
Players – Be Proud who you represent and the badge you wear
Parents/Guardians – Don’t be hesitant to be involved, support your child and support the club
Sponsors – See you soon to negotiate 2015.
Volunteers – Thank you – without you there is no club!
Whilst I understand that we are far from where we want to be at present. There are many things to improve on, 2014 is a year of consolidation, taking stock of issues and implementing change, learning to crawl again.
2015 will be a year of continuous improvement, learning to walk
2016 will be year of taking stock of achievements a solidifying our place as a club on the WA Footballing public and our community. WE WILL BE RUNNING
WE ARE INGLEWOOD!
Luke MartinIUSC President
