Gwawley Bay Soccer Club, Canberra Oval, Canberra Rd, Sylvania

Gwawley Bay News

Watch Football Stars Of Tomorrow Featuring GBFC
_{July 2009}

In case you missed GBFC appearing on Football Stars of Tomorrow this season, the article has been uploaded to YouTube.

GBFC in the Philippines
_{June 2009}

Gwawley’s Club Coach, Andrew Fletcher, recently visited The Philippines only to discover his Filipina partner’s nine year old nephew has a love for football. And, as his name is John Warren Violata he was bound to have a passion for the Beautiful Game! Following a request for a football shirt “of any sort” Andrew suggested John start his own team.

Three days later he had 12 players ready and keen to play. Our Club has now fitted out the Team, known as Gwawley Lebak FC, with our old kits, balls, bibs and some donated boots. The team plays for John’s local school, Salaman Central Elementary School in Lebak, Mindanao, and has the support of all teaching staff, including the Principal. The school arranges the players’ drinks and after game snacks and the local community is making a collection of timber and old fishing nets to “build” goals for the “new field”.

A coach has been found; Jojo Concha (a definite football name!) and he can be seen taking training in his Real Madrid shirt! Some pictures of our newest Team are here on the web site.

The school staff are approaching other schools for games and are hopeful of developing the game in the area in a country that has not had an affinity with football since their own Alcantara played for FC Barcelona in the 1930’s! John now reports that there will be a second team starting up very soon. We are looking to outfit the new team with kits as well. Andrew will be supplying the new boys with a different kit so they can have friendlies with the “purple team”.

Can you help please? Supply of football gear etc is very scarce in The Philippines so Andrew is asking for donations of second hand football boots and shinpads. Any other football gear/equipment will also be gratefully received to help these new and enthusiastic players of our game. To help or make a donation please contact Andrew Fletcher on 0415 576 711.

Canberra Road Gets Synthetic Grass
_{November 2008}

In what was a surprising move the Council has decided to trial a synthetic grass surface on the cricket pitch at Canberra Road. The synthetic grass requires no maintenance and will stay all year round. No more bumpy bit in the middle of the field.

The grass has already been laid and is in use over summer by the cricketers. Thanks to the Sutherland Shire Council for choosing our field.

Awards for 2008 Go To...
_{October 2008}

The Junior and Senior Presentations were held at Southern districts Rugby Club on Sunday 14^th September. A big congratulations goes to the following individuals and teams who gained awards this year:

Clubman of the year - Scott Freeman
Honorary Life Membership - Christine Hall
The Gladiator Trophy (senior team achievement award) - AL9
The Don Wilson Shield (senior team improvement award) - AL4
The Arnold Family Trophy (junior team achievement award) - U15C
The Bill Hopper Shield (junior team improvement award) - U12E
The Rhys Belbin Award (RooBall team who made a significant team contribution to the club) - U8G
Bob Fanning Family Trophy (Family who made a significant contribution to the club) - Nicole and Ben Kirkwood

Also celebrated were our grand final winners:

AL9
U15C

You are now all part of GBFC history.

Thanks to all who have contributed throughout the year and to those who made the Presentation Day run so smoothly, including Jenny Allen, Nicole Kirkwood, Antonia Krkovski, Jon Guld, and Susan Timmins.

2008 - A Year to Remember
_{October 2008}

2008 was a big year at GBFC. Significant events include:

Professional Coaches Stewart Porter and John Caleja, with goal keeling coaching from Josh.
The installation of two 35000 litre rainwater tanks, paid for through a government grant applied for in 2007.
Signing of a major sponsorship deal with SKG Cleaning Services.
A name change from "Soccer" to "Football".
Two grand final winning teams.
Two Minor Premiership winning teams.
Five Finals qualifying teams.
The best field in the Shire.

In addition the 2008/09 Summer Soccer season has kicked off for the third year in a row. A total of 76 teams have are playing in this extremely successful and highly regarded competition.

The 2009 season will kick off in a big way with the rolling out of the new GBFC uniform, thanks to the generous sponsorship of SKG Cleaning Services. Check back here in February for 2009 registration details.

GBSC Receives Telstra Grant
_{20 December 2007}

In what has become the year of the grant, Gwawley Bay Soccer Club has been notified of another successful grant application - this time courtesy of Telstra and the Football Federation of Australia.

The grant of $1,000 will provide miscellaneous equipment used during the games, including items such as goal nets, corner flags, and other bits and pieces.

GBSC Receives $23100 Water Grant
_{01 December 2007}

Notice has been received advising that our clubs' application for an Australian Government Community Water Grant has been successful. Community Water Grants encourage people to save, reuse, and improve the health of their local water resources with practical, on the ground projects. To date over $174 million has been used to fund 4661 projects throughout Australia since the program began.

The application was for rain water tanks, pumps, plumbing, and infrastructure to enable our club to become less reliant upon mains water. The application was submitted with the full support and assistance of the Sutherland Council. The timing couldn't have been better with the new grass being laid in September.

Gwawley Bay Gets Grant
_{02 July 2007}

In a move that has surprised everyone, the Club applied for, and has received, a grant to the value of nearly $3000 from the Federal Government. The application was submitted to the Department of Families, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs last year for some new outside chairs, a multipurpose printer/photocopier, a barbeque, and a blower-vac. Confirmation the Club had received the grant was received earlier this year.

The grant was provided through a "Application for Volunteer Small Equipment Grant", setup for clubs and organisations like ours run primarily by volunteers. The goods selected were chosen from a limited list of acceptable items the grants could be used to pay for.

The last item to be bought was the chairs, and these arrived during the week. So next time you're sitting on one of the new chairs, reading a club newsletter, eating a sausage sandwich which was cooked on the new barbeque, which itself was sitting on clean concrete, thank the Federal Government.

Lighting Works Complete
_{12 April 2007}

At the time of going to press, the lighting upgrade was complete. The lighting upgrade was funded partly by Summer Soccer, and partly by the Sutherland Council. The works include:

Installation of a new pole to replace the one on the South side in the mid field.
Installation of an additional lighting fixture to each pole.
Upgrading of the wiring to all poles.

The works will improve lighting for training, improve lighting for the Summer Soccer competition, and potentially allow for twighlight winter season games, should the Association request it.

Thanks to Summer Soccer and the Council for the funds.