SOCCER A CRASH course in coping with senior football this year bodes well for Peninsula Strikers’ assault on the 2023 State 2 South-East championship. That’s the belief of Strikers’ defensive midfielder Calvin Delaney. The 20-year-old (he turns 21 on 30 November) was part of a major squad makeover overseen by his father and senior coach Donn during last pre-season and early signs drew derisive commentary from many onlookers. “Of course we heard the criticism but it was way too harsh,” Calvin Delaney said. “Anyway we were too excited about the season and we didn’t care about the negativity. “A lot…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER MOUNT Eliza and Seaford United will apply to Football Victoria for a place in next season’s State 5 South. Both clubs confirmed their intent last week after the state federation opened the application process outlining the wide-ranging criteria clubs must address in their application. Mount Eliza is the new kid on the block as far as State League status is concerned and club president Justin Sheppard is keen to halt the annual player exodus from its senior squad currently competing under the Bayside Football Association banner. “We keep losing players every year who want to play at a higher…
SOCCER A MULTI-MILLION dollar makeover, new coaches and new players on the way – there’s a quiet revolution underway at Mornington. The Seagulls are major beneficiaries of an $8.5 million redevelopment of Dallas Brooks Park involving four new pitches, new drainage, floodlighting to 200 lux on the main pitch and 100 lux on the other pitches with a new access driveway and car parking. “This redevelopment has been in the works for the last 12 months and we’re rapt that it’s going to go ahead,” Mornington president Matt Cameron said. “The footy oval redevelopment starts first and it’s planned to…
SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers announced on Friday that they had signed Steve Elliott and Campbell Steedman from Mornington. There’s a sense of unfinished business at Centenary Park after just missing out on promotion from State 2 this year and both new signings are expected to play pivotal roles in the club’s title tilt in 2023. Strikers now have joint senior coaches in Donn Delaney and Scott Morrison with the latter switching from Mornington so he’s well positioned to assess the newcomers. “There’d been initial contact with Campbell before I got involved (with Strikers) but obviously when I got involved it was…
SOCCER SAMMY Orritt has been released by Langwarrin to free up a visa spot for Scottish striker Archie McPhee. And the Lawton Park club has also agreed terms with goalkeeper James Burgess from Northcote City and defender Charlie Fry from Kingston City. While the decision to release Orritt may surprise some after his consistent displays last season it didn’t surprise the talented Englishman. “I don’t think it’s a secret they need to score more goals and they wanted to use the visa on a number nine which is fair enough. “There’s no hard feelings. You’re not going to keep a…