Author: Craig MacKenzie

SOCCER BAXTER and Frankston Pines have hit the ground running with preparations for next season. Last week Baxter announced that Robert Mathieson was the new assistant to head coach George Hughes while the makeover of the Pines squad by gaffer Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor got underway in earnest. Mathieson played with Mulgrave, Croydon, Springvale City and Dandenong City before joining Langwarrin 27 years ago eventually becoming a long-serving assistant to legendary senior coach Gus Macleod. He spoke to other local clubs before accepting an offer from Baxter gaffer George Hughes. “I get on well with George and we share the same…

Read More

SOCCER ASPENDALE Stingrays have millions of reasons to hope that the Andrews government is re-elected at the upcoming state poll. A proposed four-pitch multipurpose complex with new pavilion and car parking at Kerr Crescent Reserve in Aspendale Gardens would secure the club’s future and provide the springboard for growth envisaged by the current administration. There has been no shortage of good news for the Stingrays recently as Football Victoria named Aspendale the 2018 Club of the Year at a gala luncheon on Friday. Just five clubs from throughout the state made the shortlist for the prestigious award which recognises the…

Read More

SOCCER A DAMAGING presidency battle was averted last week after Steve Spencer was elected at an extraordinary general meeting at Frankston Pines. It had been widely expected that former vice-president Daniel Plaiche and recent interim president Hamdija “Boz” Osmancevic would run against each other but neither party turned up to the meeting. Osmancevic had been the only candidate for president a fortnight earlier at the club’s AGM but stood down after a dispute erupted about his managerial style forcing last week’s meeting to settle the impasse and elect an executive. Rumours flew about Osmancevic’s intentions and involved speculation about a…

Read More

SOCCER SKYE United, Baxter, Peninsula Strikers and Southern United have announced their senior coaches for the 2019 season. Skye appointed former Langwarrin midfielder Phil McGuinness last weekend. Peninsula Strikers announced last Wednesday that former Frankston Pines and recent Knox City coach Danny Verdun was taking over and the following day Baxter announced that George Hughes had been appointed as head coach. Southern United announced the appointment of Washington Castillo as senior coach last Friday. McGuinness is a former Skye player and assistant coach who joined the club after playing with Langwarrin and coaching the reserves at Lawton Park to the…

Read More

SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ future hangs in the balance after last week’s AGM left the club without a president. “Boz” Osmancevic, interim president since August, was the only candidate for the position and after accepting the nomination he outlined how he wanted to run the club which sparked argument and the ensuing turmoil left Pines in limbo. As reported last week the only member of the “old guard” that Osmancevic wanted on his committee was Tommy Mitchell. However, long-serving administrator Steve Spencer was the only nomination for vice-president and his acceptance presented Osmancevic with a problem. It was resolved in farcical…

Read More