SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ jack-of-all-trades CJ Hodgson has declared his allegiance to the Monterey Reserve club. “I’ll be there as long as my parents are involved so I think I’ll be playing at Pines for the rest of my career,” the 24-year-old said. He’s had more seasons at Pines than any other senior player and he’s also the club’s most versatile performer having played at right back, wide midfield, centre midfield, striker and he’s even worn the goalkeeper’s gloves. His career kicked off at under-6 level at Langwarrin and he made his reserves debut under then-coach Jamie Skelly as a 15-year-old…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER LOCAL soccer will never quite be the same after Peninsula Strikers announced last week that it had appointed a human tsunami called Andy O’Dell as senior coach. There has been much speculation as to the fall-out from Strikers’ relegation from State 2 South-East this year but re-elected president Trevor Johnston and his committee, which includes former coach Craig Lewis, have made a clear and unambiguous statement of intent. Ex-English pro O’Dell is renowned for his forthright views and scant regard of political correctness and he didn’t waste time in offering a blunt assessment of what needs to be done…
SOCCER THE greatest goalscorer in Victorian senior ranks and a founder member of Rosebud Heart may be on the move. English ace David Greening won his eighth straight Golden Boot award this year, a record that may never be matched, but the goals king may have worn Heart’s colours for the last time. “It’s all up in the air really,” said Greening. Heart has to find a replacement for senior coach Scott Morrison who stood down at season’s end and it also has to find a new home ground. “I don’t think they quite realise just how big a loss…
SOCCER SOUTHERN United’s all-conquering under-13s capped a stellar season with a 2-0 Grand Final victory over Calder United at ABD Stadium in Meadow Heights on Sunday. Southern had clinched the NPLW championship some weeks earlier but had lost the qualifying final 1-0 to Calder. “We told the girls if we didn’t match them physically especially in the first five minutes that they would own us so we told them to go shoulder to shoulder and be very physical but don’t foul,” said Southern head coach Emma Bracken. “We wanted to show them that we weren’t going to get pushed off…
SOCCER SOUTHERN United’s championship-winning under-13s have won their way into the NPLW Grand Final after defeating Bayside United 2-0 at Comets Stadium last weekend. The Grand Final takes place at 10am this Sunday at ABD Stadium in Meadow Heights and Southern will come face to face with its 2017 nemesis, Calder United, which finished runner-up in the title race. Calder won the qualifying final 1-0 two weeks ago forcing Southern into last Saturday’s sudden-death preliminary final. But the local club will go into the clash primed by a meticulous preparation arranged by senior coach Emma Bracken and assistant Aaron Myatt.…