SOCCER
FRANKSTON Pines have targeted promotion after three successive seasons of relegation.
It’s an ambitious aim and one that some will see as fanciful, but try telling that to new senior coach Al Baldwin and assistants Chris Sanderson and Andy McCabe.
At the start of September, Baldwin expected to be named new senior coach of Mount Martha as Charlie Platt had told the committee he wouldn’t continue in that role. But when Mount Martha president Sanderson stepped down on 1 September, Baldwin’s situation changed dramatically.
Sanderson saw Pines advertising for a senior coach on 10 September and suggested to close friend Baldwin that they should apply for the position. Baldwin knew that his pal Andy McCabe, long associated with Mooroolbark as a player, administrator and coach, was moving to the peninsula in February, and McCabe soon formed the third part of the trio’s pitch to Pines.
Mount Martha’s senior men’s program is the big loser from these comings and goings, as the Civic Reserve club doesn’t have a senior coach and looks almost certain to face a mass player exodus. It is believed that infighting off the pitch has dogged Mount Martha for some time, but it is quickly receding in the distance of Baldwin’s rear-view mirror.
“I’m just excited to be given the opportunity to take on the Pines’ project,” Baldwin said.
It was clear from the outset of last week’s coaching interview that the applicants and the Pines’ committee were on the same page.
“What struck me immediately is that the committee is so fresh and enthusiastic. They want us to look after the football side of things and they’ll look after setting up the club to be financially stable again.
“We’ve been told to do what we have to do – to build a playing group with good characters and to try and move up the leagues. The facilities are just amazing.
“As soon as I went in there I noticed all this bread on the tables and I asked Liz (Diaz, club president) what it was all about. She told me they get it from Baker’s Delight and they give it away to the parents of underprivileged kids in the area.
“I thought straight away ‘you’ve got me then’. This is the sort of club I want to get involved with – a real community club.”
Baldwin, Sanderson and McCabe are fully aware that no money is available for the senior men’s program, but that hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm or ambition.
“During the interview we were told that there would be no pressure placed on us for results but I had to say: ‘Look, I’m going to have to stop you there – if we’re coming in to do this, we’re coming in to win.’
“All of this ‘well done, lads’ and everyone gets a pat on the back when they don’t win is finished. We’re here to win, and if we don’t win, we won’t be successful.”
Two days after interviewing, Baldwin was hired along with his assistants.
A Meet The Coaches day has been arranged for Saturday 15 November, and three days later pre-season training will begin. Most of the players who turn up are expected to be from Mount Martha, and next season’s leadership group will be striker Daniel Bancroft (captain), backed up by vice-captains in midfielder Howie Anderson and central defender Charley Hunt.
“I’ve made it clear to all the Mount Martha boys that I can’t promise them a game, but they know they are welcome to have a crack and try and make the squad.
“At the end of the day we need to put together a strong squad capable of challenging for promotion.
“A lot of the lads down on the peninsula have been through the NPL system and sure, they know how to play, but one bump and some of them are shot.
“Well, they need to be tougher to succeed in senior football, and that’s what we plan to build upon.
“Obviously we’ll bring in players from other clubs, and I’d also like to build a relationship between Pines and Mornington.
“I know ‘Jamo’ (Mornington head coach) pretty well and I’ll have a chat with him to see if there are a couple of blokes in the reserves that could come across and get senior football with us, then go back to Mornington.
“You’re allowed a couple of transfers in a season and I don’t think that this rule is used enough.
“No doubt Mornington will have a couple not ready for first team football at that level but could benefit from senior football with us.
“I’ll be really surprised if we don’t have a strong team next year.
“We can’t wait to get stuck into a project at grassroots level where we can build something.
“There are easier things we could have done, and although this is going to be hard work, it’s also going to be a fun ride.”
Fasten your seatbelts, Pines fans. The Baldwin era is about to kick into gear.
Meanwhile at Centenary Park, the hunt to replace Scott Morrison as head coach continues. Nine applications for the position were received, and Strikers are conducting interviews this week.
In State 4 South-East news, Baxter has reappointed Billy Armour as head coach. It’s his second season at Baxter Park, but his first full pre-season in charge.
“It’s a good club with a great opportunity to go higher next year,” Armour said.
“If we keep this squad together we won’t be far away, and I’ve got 95 percent commitment from the players who we had last season.”
A priority new signing is a first-choice goalkeeper, despite the success of central defender Aiden McKenna, who helped the club out by filling in between the sticks this year.
“Aiden was a blessing in disguise,” Armour added. “He was brilliant for us – in fact I think he only conceded one goal in eight or nine games.
“We changed the system a little bit in the second half of the season and it worked, so we know we are on the right track.
“We’re also looking at another striker and possibly a defender, and we’ll be better prepared this time round as we’ll have a good core group.”
Armour will again be assisted by George Hughes.
Baxter rival Rosebud announced last week that former player and coach Jason Symonds would return to the helm after head coach Stuart Johnson stepped down recently.
“We are going to try and retain most of our current squad and keep the momentum rolling that we’ve built during the last three seasons,” Symonds said.
“We are pleased with the talented young group already in place, with a few experienced lads leading the way.
“At our best this season we played some great football which produced very good results at times.
“We were happy with the way we finished the season (winning four of the last five games and scoring 20 goals in the process), particularly when there was pressure to ensure we finished in the top six.
“All credit to the lads who handled the pressure well and did it comfortably in the end.
“We do need to strengthen and add to the squad though, and believe we can then really surprise next season.
“We are also currently finalising our coaching team, which will assist the lads the best we can by getting them super fit and playing their best football.”
