SOCCER BAXTER announced on Monday (27 June) that Stephen Fisher would take over from George Hughes as senior coach for the 2023 season. Fisher will be in charge of a senior squad on a full-time basis for the first time but has an extensive playing and coaching background. The 55-year-old played with Chelsea, Frankston Pines, Frankston City and Botany Park and his coaching career kicked off at Lawton Park when he coached his son Dylan in Langwarrin’s juniors. “Gus Macleod was instrumental in getting me to do coaching courses and he recommended me to Football Victoria to get involved in…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
LANGWARRIN soccer club is still celebrating the Socceroos’ qualification for November’s World Cup finals. Bailey Wright is one of Langwarrin’s favourite sons and played a pivotal defensive role in the eventual win over Peru on penalties last week in Qatar. The Socceroos’ defender was making his 25th national team appearance and is now vying for a spot in the 23-man squad for the finals. Langwarrin technical director Gus Macleod gave Wright his senior debut in 2009 when the teenager was 16 years old and has followed his career closely. “He’s come a long, long way from the wee five-year-old who…
SOCCER HOLDER Somerville retained the Eagles Cup after a 2-2 draw with Baxter at Baxter Park on Saturday. The charity day has become an integral part of derby clashes between these local rivals and last weekend’s contest didn’t disappoint. Baxter was forced to dig deep when staring at a 2-0 deficit after 15 minutes. The home side struggled to defend set pieces and the left boot of Somerville’s Adrian Pace, a former Baxter player, was a constant threat whenever his corners were swung into the back post. The visitors took three minutes to hit the front when Connor Carson was…
SOCCER BAXTER will have a new senior coach next season after George Hughes decided to step down at season’s end. The club made the announcement last week and acknowledged the outstanding contribution 63-year-old Hughes has made since his appointment in October 2018. “He stepped into our club at a dark time and has led this club with sophistication, experience and honour,” the club statement said. “We would simply not have survived our darkest time if it wasn’t for George. “He instilled culture and pride back into the blue and white jersey over his four seasons and without him, we wouldn’t…
SOCCER MORNINGTON has signed Shaun Kenny from Eastern Lions and Fijian international Sava Baledrokadroka has returned to Frankston Pines. Both are midfielders and 27-year-old Kenny has extensive NPL experience while Baledrokadroka is a full Fijian international and has captained his country’s under-23 side. Kenny was a contracted player at Eastern Lions and has had to stand out of football for 30 days as he reverts to amateur status with the Seagulls. He last played for Eastern Lions in late May. “At the moment we don’t have enough competition in the squad (due to injuries) and we’ve had to pick some…