THE 2011 season presents a great challenge for everyone connected with the Williamstown Football Club. The $8.3 million redevelopment of Burbank Oval has been a long time dream for all involved with the Seagulls. We look forward to watching the building works take shape through the season with all works to be completed by February 2012.
In 2011, the Williamstown side will not train or play at Burbank Oval for the entire season. For the first time our home games will be played at Torquay (on Easter Sunday, 24 April), Keilor (Queens Birthday, Saturday 11 June) and Wangaratta (Sunday 17 July).
Williamstown will also play five home games at Avalon Airport Oval (Werribee) and I would like to thank Mark Penaluna from the Werribee Football Club for his understanding and support. The Club will still host a President’s Luncheon which are always tremendous value and great entertainment. Guest speakers are always interesting and entertaining. The first two lunches are Sunday 17 April against Box Hill at Werribee, and on Sunday 24 April against Geelong at Torquay, where Barry Round will be the guest.
I would like to welcome new additions to our coaching staff – Justin Plapp (reserves / development coach), Jeremy Barnard (midfield coach) and Mitch Hahn (forwards coach).
Williamstown will take part in the Foxtel Cup where the best 16 state based clubs will play in a knockout format for bragging rights as the best club in Australia. Williamstown begins its campaign this Saturday when we travel to Western Australia to play the WAFL Premiers Swan Districts at Subiaco Oval in a curtain raiser game to the West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans. Our game against Swan Districts will be telecast on Foxtel this Saturday at 5pm.
The Williamstown and Western Bulldogs Football Clubs have recently signed a three-year extension (2011–2013) of our alignment and we look forward to continuing the excellent relationship we have established with the Western Bulldogs.
I would also like to thank Joanne Royston from Hocking Stuart Real Estate Williamstown for continuing her support as our Major Sponsor. Also the Westpac Bank continue as our Major Community Partner and the Werribee Automotive Group as our Development Program Partner. Other key sponsors are KFC, Buffalo Sports, Zaparas Lawyers, Star News Group and the Burbank Group.
In closing I encourage all sections of the Williamstown Football Club to continue their great support of the Club in a challenging year when we are “gypsies”.
Williamstown FC CEO Brendan Curry
