The Cootamundra Strikers held their season launch recently at the Cootamundra Ex-Servicemen’s Club, bringing playing groups from all ages together for an afternoon of bowls, beers and barbecuing. Playing shirts were also presented to the playing groups with new sponsors printed on the kits.
The day came off the back of the Strikers announcing their new coaches and managers for the 2025 season. Fielding two 3rd grade sides this year, Coach Wally Parkinson has a point to prove. After finding success through most of the 2024 season, Wally is confident that 2025 will be the year of the Strikers.
Faithful and dedicated Tom De Lange takes on manager this year and will be a great support to Wally and the playing group.
As 2024 Madden Shield Premiers, new Coach Kirrilee Cameron will be looking to repeat the efforts of last year as the ladies’ team steps up into first grade. Being a part of the Grand Finalists last year, her talent and experience on the field will be valuable to the team in 2025. Supported by long-time Strikers member Rebecca Philpott’s experience of the game on and off the field and the competition, be sure to watch this space.
President of the Cootamunda Strikers James Philpott was pleased with the day and is enthused with the turnout he’s seen for his Strikers teams this season.
“The attendance was good, the younger players were really good, and the senior players were good too, but a lot of them are scattered all over the place, not all of them live in town. Whoever could be there was there,” James said.
“The coaches were happy with who attended.
“The difference between coaches and managers is the coaches generally do the team selections and do all the drills and everything like that and probably different to what you would see in English football where their managers are what we’d call a coach. We call the manager the person who runs around and makes sure everyone is ready for the game, has their right shirts on, that the team sheets are filled out correctly. It’s pretty much the paper-work and assistant for the coach.
“I think all the teams will go well this year.
“They won’t be passengers in their respective competitions, they will certainly be competitive.” The Strikers will this year compete in the Wagga competition rather than the Riverina League, something that has been met with a bit of disappointment. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm around the team remains high.
“The men’s team is a bit of a different structure this year for us, we haven’t been included in the Riverina League, which is unfortunate, but it’s where we sit,” James continued.
“We’ve got a lot of youth players in our squads as well as experienced players. It’s a really good balance.
“We’d really like to get into the Riverina League. The sticking point is that at the moment you need an Under 18’s team as well as the senior teams. We’ve always relied on our youth players playing up into our senior teams which we have been successful with. Getting enough Under 18’s players in Coota is problematic. Kids going away for work and Uni and all those kinds of things, at that age group you do lose a fair few of your kids, they are young adults at that stage, but you do lose them.”
-Tully Potts
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