4 June 2008

Dear Members,

 I’m writing on behalf of the Alphington Junior Football Club (AJFC) Committee to update you on the current status of the club, our challenges and our plan for the future.

Season 2008 has already produced some extremely positive outcomes building upon a successful 2007. These include:

• Nelson Alexander (Northcote) Real Estate has puts it support and belief into the Club by coming on board as a new sponsor,
• Northcote AusKick now call McDonell Park home with approximately 180 young footballers having a kick every Saturday morning,
• Northern Football League (NFL) has recognised us as the only Club in the competition to be AFL Victoria Quality rated,
• Our 2008-11 Strategic Plan,
• All teams have been graded with a spread across all divisions, plus
• A new coffee machine and television within our facility.

Season 2008 has also produced a range of challenges. The most significant challenge is a decline in the number of players resulting in us unable to field Under 9 and Under 14 teams.   This is not an uncommon scenario across Melbourne with recent media (press and radio) highlighting the plight of some clubs.

This current scenario has occurred for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:-

• a general lack of visibility of our facilities and our club to our surrounding community,
• an increasing disconnect and lack of  association  between our club name and the community we play in, and
• increasing competition for players from other clubs and codes.

As we look to the future this scenario is unlikely to change of its own accord. Therefore, to ensure that our club remains sustainable for the long term, with a vision to become the club of choice, we must look at new ways of attracting juniors to the club and gaining wide community support.

                                                 For a long time, the AJFC and the Northcote Park Football Club (NPFC) have had a very close affiliation. 

                                                 This  connection  between the two clubs comes from players beginning their careers with the AJFC and finishing with NPFC,

                                                 AJFC Committee members becoming NPFC Board members and of course we both share the fantastic brand of

                                                 the Mighty   Cougar.

With this in mind both clubs have begun to collectively examine how we can bring together the positive attributes of both clubs to enable us to form a united Northcote Football Community.

Both clubs have recently formed sub committees to work together to formulate a plan to create this united Northcote Football Community.  Without pre-empting the outcome of this work, the united Northcote Football Community concept is one that could have a range of features that will place it front and centre within our community to increase its presence and visibility and to naturally draw players, supporters, sponsors and government support.

The sub committee work is soon to begin with the scope of the work yet to be fully determined other than a joint determination to make substantial progress before the 2009 season.  The AJFC Committee will keep all informed of developments as soon as they become available.

Regardless of the outcome of the work between the AJFC and NPFC, the AJFC must now take its first step in shaping our own destiny. The AJFC Committee is preparing to propose a motion to members to address the lack of recognition through a name change that will reflect the Northcote community that we play.  The proposal is to re-name our club the Northcote Football Club or the Northcote Junior Football Club. In the first half of July an official motion will be proposed and a special general meeting held.  In the mean time, I encourage you to discuss this with your fellow members’; coaches etc and provide any feedback you may have directly to any Committee member.

Committee Members Positions

A very positive future is where the mighty Cougars are heading.  To achieve this goal requires a fully functional and effective Committee.  At this point two key vacancies exist – Junior Vice President and Secretary.  If you are interested in driving the future of this football club whilst ensuring that we put well equipped teams on the field each Sunday, then please ring me to discuss your interest on 0423 575157.  

Go Cougars!

Yours sincerely

Simon Bailey

President

Season 2008 has also produced a range of challenges. The most significant challenge is a decline in the number of players resulting in us unable to field Under 9 and Under 14 teams.   This is not an uncommon scenario across Melbourne with recent media (press and radio) highlighting the plight of some clubs.

This current scenario has occurred for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:-

• a general lack of visibility of our facilities and our club to our surrounding community,
• an increasing disconnect and lack of  association  between our club name and the community we play in, and
• increasing competition for players from other clubs and codes.

As we look to the future this scenario is unlikely to change of its own accord. Therefore, to ensure that our club remains sustainable for the long term, with a vision to become the club of choice, we must look at new ways of attracting juniors to the club and gaining wide community support.

For a long time, the AJFC and the Northcote Park Football Club (NPFC) have had a very close affiliation. This connection between the two clubs comes from players beginning their careers with the AJFC and finishing with NPFC, AJFC Committee members becoming NPFC Board members and of course we both share the fantastic brand of the Mighty Cougar.

With this in mind both clubs have begun to collectively examine how we can bring together the positive attributes of both clubs to enable us to form a united Northcote Football Community.

Both clubs have recently formed sub committees to work together to formulate a plan to create this united Northcote Football Community.  Without pre-empting the outcome of this work, the united Northcote Football Community concept is one that could have a range of features that will place it front and centre within our community to increase its presence and visibility and to naturally draw players, supporters, sponsors and government support.

The sub committee work is soon to begin with the scope of the work yet to be fully determined other than a joint determination to make substantial progress before the 2009 season.  The AJFC Committee will keep all informed of developments as soon as they become available.

Regardless of the outcome of the work between the AJFC and NPFC, the AJFC must now take its first step in shaping our own destiny. The AJFC Committee is preparing to propose a motion to members to address the lack of recognition through a name change that will reflect the Northcote community that we play.  The proposal is to re-name our club the Northcote Football Club or the Northcote Junior Football Club. In the first half of July an official motion will be proposed and a special general meeting held.  In the mean time, I encourage you to discuss this with your fellow members’; coaches etc and provide any feedback you may have directly to any Committee member.

Committee Members Positions

A very positive future is where the mighty Cougars are heading.  To achieve this goal requires a fully functional and effective Committee.  At this point two key vacancies exist – Junior Vice President and Secretary.  If you are interested in driving the future of this football club whilst ensuring that we put well equipped teams on the field each Sunday, then please ring me to discuss your interest on 0423 575157.  

Go Cougars!

Yours sincerely

Simon Bailey

President