It was handshakes all round between EDFL representative Stephanie Zerowsky and Burnside Heights Football Club president Justin Peagram, who celebrated the Club’s decision to join the league last week. 73590 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Liam Twomey
THEY have a nickname, they have club colours and now the newly formed Burnside Heights Football Club has a home.
Last week the Bears made the biggest decision in their short history when they joined the Essendon District Football League for their inaugural season.
The club’s committee had met with representatives from the EDFL and the Western Region Football League over the past two weeks and president Justin Peagram said he was confident the right decision had been made.
“Both leagues were really good and they both presented really well. It was just minor details, which got the EDFL over the line,” Peagram said.
“Where we are, we are sandwiched by three WRFL clubs in Deer Park, St Albans and Caroline Springs. We thought it would be good to be a point of difference.
“Having another EDFL club will provide parents and kids with that second option.”
Peagram also highlighted the EDFL structure of two-year age group jumps in their junior divisions and the league’s grading system based on the overall results of the club as factors in the decision.
With a league selected, the club can now focus on promotion in the lead up to the coming season.
“The decision has been made, it makes our job a lot easier. We can go out and order jumpers, set up websites and it’s full steam ahead.
“Now the exciting part comes with selling it to mums, dads and the kids that this is the league, these are the rules and these are the team structures.
“EDFL general manager Marc Turri said the league would be providing the Bears with continual off-season support to help prepare them for their first season.
“Burnside Heights being a new club, it’s incumbent on us to get them ready for the 2012 season. We will help them in different ways both on field and off field. It’s going to be a busy part of the season for us but it will be an exciting time as well,” Turri said.
“We believe the Burnside Heights Football Club will quickly become a very attractive club in the region for kids that want to play football. “
For now Burnside Heights will be a junior club and Turri said it was important not to rush them as they grow to a senior one.
“That would be an expectation that in time they become a senior club. I think it would be silly to rush them into making such a decision,” he said.
“With the growth in that area there is no doubt at least one more senior club will be able to arise out of that. That is based on the numbers of some of the EDFL clubs in the region.
“The most important thing is that the club grows at a rate, which it is comfortable with. If the club is rushed into something the club may not be prepared for then that’s the last thing we would want to see.”
