Players from Burnside Heights have enjoyed a fantastic first season in the Essendon District Football League. 80502_02 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LIAM TWOMEY
IF winning is a habit then the Burnside Heights Football Club is in for a long and successful future.
The Bears are coming off their first season of competitive football after forming 12 months ago and joining the Essendon District Football League.
To the delight of players, coaches and fans, the club’s under-10 side played off in a grand final on Sunday.
Burnside president Justin Peagram said it has been a great first year for the club.
“The club has settled in well which is really good. We have had the (under) 10s and 12s run around this year,” he said.
“Our 12s have struggled a little bit because we had a lot of kids brand new to football and they were coming up against kids who have played for the last three or four years.
“The 10s have been a bit of a surprise packet. The coaches for both teams have done a fantastic job and everyone is really rapt for the kids and really proud of their efforts.”
There appears to be no slowing down for the Bears with Burnside likely to have teams playing in all junior age groups next season.
The club is also aiming to field a senior side in the next five to eight years.
“Next year it will be all systems firing,” Peagram said.
“Having said that, we are more than happy to stick to the junior level and earn our stripes. We are certainly not in a rush.
“In order to make sure we are competitive we need to make sure we get our junior set up right. Who knows, the juniors may come through quicker than what we thought and what the original plan was,” he said.
“I still think five to eight (years) is the realistic time frame but it could be the lower of those two numbers.”
Any players wanting to join the Bears for next season can contact the club via its website www.bhfcbears.com.au
