Melbourne Heart FC Media Alert - Player Signing Announcement TOMORROW‏

Melbourne Heart FC Media Alert



Monday 28 February



Player Signing Announcement TOMORROW



Media are invited to attend the announcement of Melbourne Heart FC’s newest signing at the AAMI Park Theatrette TOMORROW at 11:10am.



Head Coach John van ‘t Schip will also be in attendance.



Please note, photo and vision opportunities will be available on AAMI Park after the announcement.



Details

What: Player Signing Announcement

When: Tuesday 1 March

BREAKWATER EAGLES SAY HI

The Breakwater Eagles squad has said hi prior to Sundays return leg in Geelong. The Round Ball was too strong at home a fortnight ago and the Eagles are keen to take a scalp this weekend.

TOM LLOYD SET FOR NEW CHALLENGE

Round Ball Star Tom Lloyd will be under the microscope this weekend when he lines up The Round Ball against North Geelong. Lloyd is set to play for Surf Coast under18s against North and this game will provide Lloyd with an opportunity to see the competition first hand.

BREAKWATER EAGLES SQUAD SET

With only a few days to go before the visit to Geelong the under 16 squad to take on Breakwater Eagles will be announced tomorrow with Alex Sims set to captain the squad and Josh Kourmouzis named as vice captain.

Melbourne Heart Soccer & Futsal Clinic

Futsal Geelong in partnership with Melbourne Heart will be hosting a free soccer and futsal clinic on March 12 at the Leisuretime Centre from 12pm.

The clinic is open to all budding young football stars aged between 5 and 10 years. The clinic will be run by the best coaches that Futsal Geelong has to offer as well as at least one Melbourne Heart player!

The clinic is a great opportunity for kids to learn some fresh new skills and learn how to get involved in the upcoming Futsal Stars development program. No registration will be required before the event, just come along and enjoy the fun!

Anybody looking for more information can email ngeary@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

SQUAD NAMED FOR CENTRALS FIXTURE

FULLER/BRUEKER

PILVEN - KOURMOUZIS - CIRCELLI

CHAPMAN - JUDD - MURRAY - BISSELL - SAINT

LLOYD - WEISTRA

*CHAPMAN, PHAM, HARRIS, DONALDSON, MICHEAL, PITSON, WEEDON

All players are reminded we will wear the red kit and meet at 6pm for a 6.30pm kick off

FERGUSON DOING WELL

North’s strong start in COG Cup
Courtesy: Geelong Advertiser

THE City of Greater Geelong Cup reached the half-way stage at Stead Park this week and the pattern of the competition is becoming clearer.

Tournament favourite North Geelong leads the table with nine points from three games, with Geelong Rangers in second place and Geelong third after two games apiece.

On Wednesday night North Geelong ran off to a quick two-nil lead against Bell Park but a long-range goal by Justin Cortorillo brought the Batesford boys back into the game.

In the second match, Geelong and Corio were locked at two-all at half time, but the host club powered away with three unanswered goals in the second period.

Callum Ferguson’s cross cleared the defence and Daniel Roksa headed in at the far post in the second minute for North Geelong.

Fourteen minutes later Aaron D’Antino lofted a high ball into the penalty area and Kristian Edwards got a neat headed deflection to beat Angelo Di Mauro in the Bell Park goal.

It seemed that North would run away with the game, but Justin Cortorillo found space and time about 35 metres out and fired the ball over Daniel Zilic, who had replaced Tom Dunn in the North goal at half-time.

Di Mauro made a brilliant flying save to deny Edwards and North skipper Mijo Trupkovic got his marching orders for something he said to the referee. North held on to win with 10 men.

James Agius scored a hat-trick for Geelong against Corio starting with a cross-shot from wide on the right which deceived everyone and finished in the far corner of the net.

Garrison Grigg must have been watching the earlier game because he brought Corio level with a goal from distance which flew over the stranded keeper.

Agius did another run down the right and this time dinked the ball over the keeper into and then through the net.

Corio came back again as Daniel Wilson ran straight at the defence and released a low shot which beat the unsighted keeper.

The second half belonged to Geelong as Agius completed his hat-trick, then Michael Trigger rounded substitute keeper Simon Smyth and scored neatly.

The final goal came with only a couple of minutes left as Matthew Nikolic took a pass from Agius and knocked the ball home.

Tonight’s games: Rangers v Geelong (7pm), Bell Park v Surf Coast (8.20pm).

BLUE LAKE ON THE HUNT

The Blue Lake Soccer Club would like to announce that the club will be participating in the under 17’s competition this year.

The club has appointed Andrew Armandi as head coach with Joe Dunning as his assistant. All players who are currently looking for a club in this age bracket are urged to come and see what Blue lake is all about.

Training will be held every Wednesday night at 5:30pm at Malseed Park. There is a voluntary training session that the players are invited to attend that is run in conjunction with the senior sides on Thursday nights 6 PM SHARP.

Registration forms will be provided on the night. If you have anymore questions please don’t hesitate to call Andrew on 0405 127 049 or Joe on 0411 798 221.

Look forward to seeing you all there.

TRB SUNDAY SQUAD

The Round Ball has named its squad for the Sunday fixture against the Breakwater Eagles with youth high on the agenda.

BREUKER

FERGUSON- KOURMOUZIS - CIRCELLI

PITSON - SIMS - MARCH - DONALDSON - HARRIS

WEEDON - PHAM

*KOURMOUZIS - SPEHR - ADAMS - OBERER

SAQ SESSION

Round Ball coaches put members of the Breakwater Eagles Under 17 squad through a specialist SAQ Training Session this morning at Grant High School. Scott Dickson, holder of an SAQ P Award was impressed with the juniors and commented on their willingness to work and their rigiour.

ROUND BALL JUNIORS PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES

16 under 14 players from The Round Ball attended the training session this morning with coaches from the Breakwater Eagles. 4 coaches worked with the squad including a specialist keeper coach who worked with Round Ball keeper Matt Sykes.

EXCLUSIVE COACHING SESSIONS

Coaches from the Breakwater Eagles and The Round Ball will be on hand this morning to put juniors through their paces at Grant High School. The sessions begin at 10am.

Girls FC #15 - Brisbane Roar takes out the 2011 Championship title!‏

Dear Scott,

The Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final took place last Saturday with Brisbane taking out the 2011 title in a hard-fought match against reigning champs Sydney FC. We'd like to thank all the fans who travelled far and wide to support the players in style! A big congrats goes to all the Clubs and players for their passion and dedication through the season and to all of the fans who attended games Australia-wide over the past 14 weeks.

In only a few months, the Westfield Matildas will be departing for Germany to participate in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Until then we'll be sharing with you their World Cup journey including training plans, nutrition tips, behind the scenes at camp and player profiles. There'll also be the chance to enter awesome prizes we're creating just for you!

We'll be bringing you the best news from Aussies abroad by keeping an eye on Westfield W-League players who will be strutting their stuff on the global scale.

With the grassroots season just kicking off... we'd love to hear about your team, training tips, the friends you've made along the way, and your journey too! If you have pictures or stories you would like to share, just email us. You never know, your team could be featured in Girls FC next!

Yours in Football,
The Girls FC

LFC Mobilezone comes to AUSTRALIA‏

Dear Scott

LFC MOBILEZONE NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA

You can now show your allegiance to 'The Reds' by downloading LFC animations, wallpapers and ringtones wherever you are in the world!

For just £3, have the Kop singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' or commentary from the Champions League 2005 final as your ringtone, download Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher as 3D animations or choose the new Dalglish and Carroll wallpapers.

Check what's compatible with your phone now, simply Click here to see what you could download today.


Got an iPhone? Then visit the LFC App Store and download LFC Match and News Centre. So whether it's breaking news, exclusive interviews or in-game scores you won't miss a thing. You can also re-live the Champions League final with the Istanbul iPhone app, or become one of our Kop heroes with Keepy up King and upload your scores and compare them against Kopites across the globe.

Don't miss out, get your downloads today!

BISSELL SET TO LEAD THE SQUAD

Alex Bissell will captain The Round Ball 17 and under squad against the Breakwater Eagles tomorrow. The Round Ball will field a strong side however they will be without Mark Judd and Cody Chapman due to injury.

BREUKER/PHAM

KOURMOUZIS - O'CONNOR - PITSON

PILVEN - MURRAY - BISSELL - MORONY - MARCH

SIMS - LLOYD

* HARRIS - MICHEAL - WEEDON - CIRCELLI - DONALDSON *

BREAKWATER EAGLES SET TO TEST LOCALS

We are delighted to announce that coaches from the Breakwater Eagles will provide specialist coaching for Round Ball juniors while in Mount Gambier this weekend.

Stay tuned for more details.

MARK VIDUKA ON THE WORLD GAME TONIGHT

MARK VIDUKA ON THE WORLD GAME TONIGHT
Don't miss The World Game tonight when former Socceroos captain and all-round football legend, Mark Viduka, speaks to Craig Foster LIVE ahead of the Alex Tobin OAM Medal presentation in Melbourne. Plus David Basheer and Ned Zelic preview the UEFA Champions League knockout round, look ahead to the A-League Finals and recap the W-League final.

Tune in tonight 9.30pm on SBS TWO.

Harmony Day - Everyone Belongs

Harmony Day is celebrated around Australia on 21 March each year. It's a day where all Australians celebrate our cultural diversity. The day is also the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As part of Harmony Day this year, we're hoping you'll choose a game of football to bring you together at schools and parks across the nation. Here's SBS Chief Football Analyst Craig Foster to explain how you can take part, and we'll have more details on The World Game website very soon.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/399097/Harmony-Day/?cid=23220
http://www.harmony.gov.au/harmony-day/?cid=23220

Hyundai A-League 2011 Finals Series Ticketing Information‏

** This offer is for members of the Football Family, if you are not a member follow the links**

Sunday, 13 February, 2011

Dear finn

Congratulations to Brisbane Roar for taking out the Hyundai A-League 2011 Premiership Plate and securing a place in the 2012 Asian Football Confederation Champions League.

With the 6 finals teams now complete and the matches locked in we want to bring you the ticketing information to make sure you can get in line prior to the general public and secure your seats to the Hyundai A-League 2011 Finals Series.

If you would like to take advantage of this special offer, please note the following dates and ticketing arrangements. To purchase tickets as part of this offer, you will need either to enter your MFN into the password field of the relevant ticketing website, once logged in, or to quote your MFN to the phone operator or ticket agency staff.

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ADELAIDE UNITED v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Friday 18 February, 2011
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Kick off 7.30pm (SA time)
Gates Open 6.00pm

When do tickets go on sale?

Football Family on sale - Tuesday, February 15 - 9am to 9pm SA time
Phone Ticketek on 132 849
Or Click here to book via the Ticketek website - http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=UFCFINAL11
Ticket Limit is 8 per Membership

For more information click here http://www.myfootball.com.au/ticketing.html

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CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v BRISBANE ROAR
Saturday 19 February 2011
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford NSW
Kick Off 7.00pm (NSW time)
Gates Open 5.30pm

When do tickets go on sale?

Football Family on sale - Tuesday, February 15 - 9am to 9pm NSW time
Phone Ticketek on 132 849
Or Click here to book via the Ticketek website - http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MARINERF11
Ticket Limit is 8 per Membership

For more information click here http://www.myfootball.com.au/ticketing.html
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GOLD COAST UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Sunday 20 February 2011
Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick Off 4.30pm (QLD time)
Gates Open 3.00pm

When do tickets go on sale?

Football Family on sale - Tuesday, February 15 - 9am to 9pm (QLD time)
Phone Ticketek on 132 849
Or Click here to book via the Ticketek website - http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=GCUTDFIN11
Ticket limit is 8 per membership.

For more information click here http://www.myfootball.com.au/ticketing.html

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BRISBANE ROAR v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Saturday 26 February 2011
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick Off 7.00pm (QLD time)
Gates Open 5.30pm

When do tickets go on sale?

Football Family on sale - Tuesday, February 15 - 9am to 9pm (QLD time)
Phone Ticketek on 132 849
Or Click here to book via the Ticketek website -

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=GRRFINAL11
Ticket limit is 8 per membership.

For more information click here http://www.myfootball.com.au/ticketing.html

Regards,
Football Federation Australia

TELSTRA T[tots] ENROLLMENTS OPEN NOW

We are delighted to announce that the second season of our Telstra T[tots] program will commence on Saturday March 12, 2011 at Grant High School. Stay tuned for more details.

EXCLUSIVE SKOKO MEDIA SNAPS

Check out these exclusive pics from inside Josip's final Media Conference.

http://yfrog.com/h7sp0fdj

Melbourne Heart FC Media Release - Socceroo Legends Denied Fairytale Farewell‏

Socceroo legends Josip Skoko and John Aloisi were denied a fairytale farewell as Melbourne Heart FC was held to a 2-2 draw by Sydney FC in the Blue Ribbon Cup at AAMI Park.

After falling behind to a penalty from Nick Carle just after the half hour mark, Heart once again demonstrated its trademark spirit to claw its way back into the game as Dutchman Rutger Worm claimed an equaliser before half time.

And 15 minutes into the second stanza, it appeared the dream result would materialise as Aloisi slammed home from inside the penalty area to emphatically send the home side in front.

But Heart’s hopes of sending off Aloisi and Skoko in style were dashed as Carle popped up to score his second goal of the match in the dying stages.

While Skoko admitted he hoped to bow out with a win, the former Premier League star was philosophical about the result.

“We would have liked to go out on a good note but it doesn't always have to end perfect - it ends how it ends,” Skoko said.

Aloisi meanwhile said the day was one of mixed emotions, revealing his delight at calling time on his professional career in front of family and friends.

“I'd had a tear in the eye all day. I'd never felt like this before. I can't thank the Melbourne Heart people enough. It was a good way to go out. To end it like that with family and friends here, it was good,” Aloisi said.

Despite a place in the finals being out of reach, Heart was on the attack early as the side sought to provide Skoko and Aloisi, in addition to the departing Gerald Sibon, with a farewell befitting of their contribution to the game.

Skoko’s midfield partnership with Wayne Srhoj once again laid the foundation for Heart’s early dominance as the duo dictated terms in the centre of the park.

And it was Aloisi who was nearly the beneficiary of the early dominance, twice coming close to setting the contest alight with an early goal.

But it was Sydney that ultimately took the lead as Carle converted from the spot after Hirofumi Moriyasu was brought down in the area.

Heart bounced back nearly immediately though as Worm latched onto a clever ball from Sibon before blasting past Liam Reddy from the angle.

However, the home side’s joy was short-lived as Sibon was harshly handed his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card, marking an end to the former Ajax and PSV star’s stint down under.

Sydney looked to grab the momentum after the break but it was Heart that surged ahead as Aloisi capped off a marvellous career with a deserved strike, pouncing on a loose ball in the area before applying the finish with trademark panache.

Aloisi’s effort appeared to be enough to secure Heart all three points, but Carle intervened with two minutes of normal time remaining to ensure honours and the inaugural Blue Ribbon Cup were shared.

…..ENDS.....

SKOKO SET TO START!

*Collosus Carragher*‏

Dear all,

Following a turbulent time recently for the club and an active transfer window, we are once again talking about football!

Jamie was immense on Sunday and I am pleased to be able to offer you this limited edition signed digital picture (image attached). Jamie is signing 50 of these with all proceeds as always going to charity. They will be available in 2 sizes with frame, mounted or without. (The exact image is attached as an attachment and is a close up of the picture below).

Please visit our official web-site - to order simply go in "GALLERY" and it is picture number 19. http://www.jamiecarragher.org/cw/JC23/pages/

YNWA

Best Regards
Mike Lepic - 23 Foundation Committee

www.jamiecarragher.org

t:01274 531541
m:07796 997907

BREAKWATER EAGLES ARE COMING!

We are delighted to announce that the under 16 2010 Champions the Breakwater Eagles will be visiting Mount Gmabier next weekend as guests of The Round Ball and will play two matches at The Den, the home of Gambier Centrals. We thank them for their support.

Farewell Skoko, an Aussie football legend

Farewell Skoko, an Aussie football legend
One of the greats of Australian football, Josip Skoko, will be farwelled from professional football this weekend. The 35-year-old is battling a knee injury and will hopefully appear for the Melbourne Heart against Sydney FC at AAMI Park this Saturday in his final game.

Skoko has been one of the best but most unheralded Australian players of his generation. Immensely talented, the midfielder has found success throughout his career.

He had four years at Croatian club Hadjuk Spilt from 1995-99, making 97 appearances and scoring 20 goals, before a move to Belgium with Genk. It was there, in 2002, that he captained Genk to the Belgian championship before making the switch to Turkey for two seasons at Genclerbirligi, where he was part of a successful UEFA Cup run.

It was in 2005 that he joined Wigan Athletic in England, spending 2006 on loan at Stoke. Despite having trouble breaking into the starting line-up at Wigan in the beginning, he would eventually play 45 matches for the club.

In 2008 he returned to his former club Hadjuk Spilt, where he spent two more years, before returning to Australia in 2010 to play in the Heart’s debut season.

Skoko has largely flown under the radar during his career, never seeking attention and quietly going about his business.

Perhaps, partly because most of his time was spent in European leagues that don’t get much coverage in Australia – Croatia, Belgium, Turkey – he never got the column inches some of his golden generation Socceroo teammates like Harry Kewell, John Aloisi and his good friend Mark Viduka did.

But Skoko was just as successful and just as talented as they were, and was always highly regarded by his teammates. A creative player with great technique and a good football brain, Skoko was an asset in any team he played in.

He was graduate of Ron Smith at the AIS in 1993, was a Young Socceroo and played for the Olyroos at the Sydney Olympics. All up he played 51 matches for the Socceroos and scored nine goals, which is no mean feat.

That puts him among the top 20 players who have played the most games for Australia. He was a key part of Guus Hiddink’s famous World Cup qualifying team, appearing in the history-making win against Uruguay, and scored some great goals during his career as well.

The cracker against Greece at the MCG in 2006 immediately comes to mind.

Apparently he is only a 50-50 chance of being fit for the game this Saturday.

Let’s hope he gets to play and gets a resounding send off. He has been a class act in the A-League this season, a very canny acquisition by the Heart.

Always a faithful servant of Australian football, someone who has experienced both the bad and good times in the sport, Skoko deserves our respect and our thanks.

By John Davidson - Roar Guru
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/02/10/farewell-to-an-aussie-football-legend/

SKOKO IN DOUBT FOR FINAL GAME

We have just found out that Josip Skoko is only a 50/50 chance to play in his final A League for Melbourne Heart after picking up an injury last week. We will keep you posted with the news as it breaks.

Melbourne Heart FC Media Release - Aloisi Eagerly Anticipating Final Match‏

Aloisi Eagerly Anticipating Final Match

Retiring Melbourne Heart FC star John Aloisi says he is looking forward to stepping onto the pitch one last time during Saturday night’s Hyundai A-League match against Sydney FC at AAMI Park.

The Australian football legend will call time on his playing days following the

encounter, bringing an end to a 20-year professional career which has yielded over 27 goals in 55 international appearances, making Aloisi the second highest goal scorer in Socceroo history.

Having joined Heart on a one-year deal with a view to making the transition into coaching next season, when Aloisi will take charge of the Club’s inaugural National Youth League side, the 35-year-old striker said he always intended for the 2010/11 campaign to be his last as a professional.

“When I initially discussed signing with Melbourne Heart FC, I wasn’t 100 per cent sure I wanted to play on. But John van ‘t Schip guaranteed me he would do everything possible to make it an enjoyable year and felt I still had what it takes to play one more season,” he said.

“I decided on playing on but I knew it was going to be my last year. I did everything possible to ensure my body would be right when I had to play, but it’s a lot of hard work that happens off the pitch that people can’t see, and I couldn’t handle doing another year of that, so I thought this will be it.”

Aloisi has proven to be a shining light through his final season, leading Heart’s scoring charts with seven goals in only 16 starting appearances to reinforce his reputation, while ensuring his legacy at the Club by scoring three times against Victory, including the inaugural Derby showdown.

Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said Aloisi was an outstanding performer throughout his final campaign as a player.

“John has a very positive energy around him, and this season, he produced more than what we believed his body would allow him to achieve,” he said.

“He worked incredibly hard to ensure he was fit for this season and was very influential throughout the year, scoring some unbelievably important goals, such as the last minute winner against Adelaide United in December.

“We are delighted to have him on our coaching staff for next year as he’s an exceptional player and person, but we are certainly going to miss his presence on the field and in the dressing room.”

BREAKING NEWS!

Gambier City Sharks today confirmed their application to take part in the 2011 Federation Cup.

SHARKS SET TO KICK OFF

PRE-SEASON MATCH
N.A.B Soccer Club v SHARKS
When: Sunday Feb 13 2011
Where: Athelston Park -Adelaide

Girls FC #14 - Be a Girls FC VIP at the Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final!‏

Dear Scott,

After 13 fantastic weeks of competition here we are, just days away from the Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final! Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar will go head-to-head in a rematch of last season's Grand Final to see who will take out the 2011 title! Can Sydney hold-on for the second year in row or will Brisbane regain the Champions trophy they took home in Season 1?

The match is sure to be fantastic with all players putting their best foot forward on the field. Girls FC has lined up some great activities for you to get involved in leading up to and during Saturday's big match at Campbelltown Stadium!

Last week we heard your cheers, now this week we'd like to see them! We're giving fans between the ages of 8 and 18 the chance to win our best prize yet!

Be a GIRLS FC VIP at the Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final. Plus you could toss the coin before the match to decide who kicks-off!

To enter all you have to do is make a poster to support either Sydney FC Women or Brisbane Roar Women and send us a photo of it. 10 winners will receive the following Girls FC VIP prize for them and a friend and one winner will get to toss the coin before kick-off!

• Tickets to the Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final
• Girls FC t-shirt and sticker
• Food and drink during the match
• Meet and greet the players

Entries close Thursday 10th of February so get your photos in quick!

On match day, we'll be choosing 4 lucky fans from the crowd to go head-to-head in a football skills challenge at half time. The winner of the challenge will receive a Sony Mini Hi-Fi Stereo system and a Sydney FC jersey. Each of the runner's up will take home a Girls FC prize pack!

Tickets are available at the gate or through www.proticket.com.au. Adults: $10, Children: $5 and Families (2 adults + 2 children): $20. The Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final will also be broadcast live and exclusive on ABC1.

We'd love to see you at the match on Saturday to help your team win the 2011 Champions title!

Yours in Football,
The Girls FC team

Light makes fast. Win adidas adizero football boots‏

If you want to hear a true story, when FourFourTwo were posted the first pair of adizero™ F50 boots, we thought the package that had arrived was a t-shirt – so light was the parcel we had in our hands!

It is not a surprising mistake to make though when you realise the adizero™ F50’s weigh in at just 165g per boot, which is very light indeed. That’s Kate Moss eating a rice cake on a cloud-type light.

The boots are designed for speed and the pro players we’ve spoken to already say it is like wearing nothing at all. So if you are a lightening-quick player looking to become even faster, or a slightly sluggish character looking for a boost, then these boots are just the ticket.

Our friends at adidas have been kind enough to give us three pairs of adizero™ F50 boots to give away to you lucky readers! Pictured is the orange colour way, but we also have a pair in black and another in chrome for you.



http://au.fourfourtwo.com/competition.aspx?CIaCID=522

SHARKS ON THE HUNT

Gambier City Sharks are in need of players for their under 12,14 and 17 squads for the up and coming season.

U12/U14 Coach
Brenton Frahn
0418 184 585 Training Nights
Mon & Wed
4:30-6pm

U17 Coach
Chris Harris
0488 038 208
Training Nights
Tue & Thur
5:30-7pm

PLAY FIFA SUPERSTARS FOR FREE

Liverpool FC and EA SPORTS are proud to present a very special edition of FIFA Superstars, available to play here.

FIFA Superstars is a free-to-play football management game where you can sign real players from the world of football and take on your friends' teams every day. Play the season mode, pit your world-beaters against real clubs from across Europe and predict real football scores to test your football knowledge. No downloads are required, all you need is a Facebook account to login and start managing your own team straight away.

Start your management career from here and your team will be rewarded with the Liverpool FC crest, Anfield and two Liverpool FC players straight away for FREE!

Play FIFA Superstars, be the next Kenny Dalglish and become a managerial legend!

CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED TUESDAY

The Round Ball will name representative captains on Tuesday after training for both TRB u18 White and TRB u17 Red Squads.

Footballtricks.com -Throw ins waste time‏

Hello Everyone,

I love the game but one of the things that always raises my blood pressure watching young players play is throw ins. Read the attached article to hear my views. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts as often I find that coaches and parents have not thought about why but just follow the rules of the game. I say don't worry about the rules so much.


Look forward to hearing from you.

Sean

Footballtricks.com, Glencraig Crescent, Kinross, WA

Let’s Just Relax about Throw Ins

Hypothetically speaking what if I was to offer you a challenge I would give you free tickets, travel and accommodation to this year‟s Champions League Final if you could teach, in 10 minutes, a 15 year old who has never played the game before to
A) Take 5 correct throw ins in a row
Or
B) Hit 5 corner kicks near the penalty spot in a row
Which one would you choose Option A or Option B?
I think most people would choose Option A for the simple reason that you would almost certainly win if you did as it is quite easy for a 15 year old to learn the „Throw In‟ technique and the rules within a short time.
Obviously it is a lot harder for younger players to co-ordinate their hands and feet plus throw the ball accurately because I have attended many youth games (12 and under) were the action has been held up because of foul throw ins. Sometimes play has been held up for a couple of minutes while the players continually take foul throw ins and the referee has following the letter of the law has called them repeatedly.
This issue really annoys me but for me to fully explain why it does I think I need to explain myself. Have you ever asked yourself why we throw the ball back in not kick it? At no other time in a game can an outfield player touch the ball with their hands so why can they do it for a throw in.
A throw in happens when the ball goes out of play on the sides of the pitch. No one has committed a foul in fact the majority of the time the ball goes out of play by accident. If you could kick the ball in then you could kick the ball a long distance from where it went out of play. The original law makers of the game thought that it was unfair that one team should be able to get such a territorial advantage when the other team had not done anything wrong. To limit the distance the ball could travel from where the ball went out they made a rule that the ball had to be thrown in.
If you look at all the rules of a throw in they are all basically put in place to limit the distance an adult can throw the ball from where it went out so that one team does not get an unfair territorial advantage over the other.
Now I can explain why foul throw ins annoy me so much in the youth game. The vast majority of foul throw ins we see are because of a technical breech of these limiting rules than for someone actually trying to gain an unfair advantage.
The young players simply have not got the physical strength to gain an unfair territorial advantage no matter how they throw the ball so why not just let the game continue as long as the player attempted to do it correctly. We never stop the game if a player does any other technique poorly. I have never seen a referee blow the whistle because a player did a poorly executed pass and ask for it to be retaken.
It drives me mad when I see coaches wasting precious time at training sessions on throw ins and hear people say “They have to learn to do it properly some time” when like I wrote at the top of the article most of you probably feel confident you could teach a 15 year old who has never played before in 10 minutes how to take a throw in. Coaches feel they have to do this because during games the players are constantly pulled up on it. I feel we shouldn‟t be too worried about foul throw ins until the players are old enough to actually throw the ball a distance were an advantage can be gained.
I am not saying that we need to change the rules but think we need to understand the spirit of those rules and if no advantage was gained then what does it matter. Don‟t worry about a young player having a toe on the sideline or little Jennifer lifting her foot an inch off the ground. Just get the ball back into play and let the players play.
I refereed a school tournament last year which had lots of players new to the game playing and before every game I said to the two coaches I am not going to give any foul throw ins no matter how poor the technique if they tried to do it correctly and the ball went less than 10m. There was a huge number of foul throw ins and it made absolutely no difference to the score of any of the games.
Please email me at info@footballtricks.com if you think this article make sense or is the biggest load of rubbish you have ever read.

UP AND COMING TRB CLUB FIXTURES

The Round Ball will be competing in several friendly fixtures against high quality oppostion over the next few weeks. North Geelong Warriors, Breakwater Eagles, Gambier Centrals and the Warrnambool Wolves will take on our sides. We will form several u17 squads and one u14 squad to take the field.

u18 trb white vs north geelong warriors

u17 trb red vs breakwater eagles

u18 trb red vs gambier centrals

u16 trb white vs warrnambool wolves mash-up

u14 trb red vs warrnambool wolves mash-up

Stay tuned for more details

Girls FC

Dear Scott,

Girls FC just can't wait for the Westfield W-League Semi-Finals this weekend!

We have 2 knock-out matches ahead, with Brisbane Roar v Canberra on Saturday, then Sydney v Melbourne on Sunday!

Brisbane will be aiming to secure their spot in the 2011 Grand Final and go for their 2nd Champions title since they first took out the trophy in Season 1. Sydney FC will be focused on hosting not only back-to-back Westfield W-League Grand Finals, but the chance to make history with the Premiers and Championship double following their double success in season 2.

In such important matches, the home ground advantage can be just as important as perfectly executing that winning play you have practiced all season.

We know how fantastic your support has been throughout the season so we'd like to give you a chance to share your supporter chants with us and go in the draw to win a match ball signed by the team captains and 4 tickets to either the Sydney FC or Brisbane Roar home Semi-Final!

To enter just email your Sydney FC or Brisbane Roar cheer in 30 words or less to girlsfc@footballaustralia.com.au along with your name and contact phone number.

Entries close this Friday 4th of February at 10am so get your cheer in quick!

Tickets for both Semi-Finals are available at the gate. Get your friends together, your cheers and supporter banners and help your team win their place in the Westfield W-League 2011 Grand Final!

Have a great week and we hope to see you at one of the games soon!

Yours in Football,

The Girls FC team
For full promotional terms and conditions click here

Support your team in the semi finals!

It’s semi finals time! Four teams will battle it out for the chance to participate in the Westfield League Grand Final!

If your team happens to still be in the race and fighting it out this Saturday at Ballymore or Sunday at Campbelltown, it’s now your turn to do your part for them!

From a player’s perspective, having the support of your fans in the stands can have a huge effect on the game.

For instance, when your team is struggling to maintain possession, sometimes a lift in the crowd can translate into a lift in the team, resulting in a possession turnover.

The matches coming up are expected to be very competitive given what’s at stake for the win, so any little advantage a team can get over another will be greatly welcomed.

This will be especially important for Canberra and Victory this week, since they have to travel and play in front of an away crowd!

So fans, your team need your voice this weekend. Try and make an extra effort to get to a game and help them over the line!

By Sarah Walsh, Westfield Matildas..

Melbourne Heart FC Media Release - Heart Held By Mariners At AAMI Park‏

Melbourne Heart FC Media Release
Friday 4 February

Heart Held By Mariners At AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart FC’s Hyundai A-League finals hopes remain in the balance after the side was held to a 1-1 draw by the Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.



After braving an hour long delay due to torrential rain, Heart’s hopes of climbing back into the top six temporarily were dashed as the Mariners Daniel McBreen swept home from close range only a minute after Matt Thompson opened the scoring in bizarre fashion via free kick from inside his own half.



While Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said Heart would now be forced to rely on external results to reach the finals, the former Dutch international refused to relinquish hope.



“After opening the scoring, to then concede a goal soon after meant we had to start all over again which wasn’t good for the confidence,” he said.



“It’s happened often this season and it’s something we will have to look at and analyse, but mathematically we are still alive. We just have to hope that all the results go our way and we also defeat Sydney next week.”



Undeterred by the late kick-off, Heart immediately made its intentions known in the opening stages of the match, moving the ball fluently through the midfield.



With securing a win important to applying pressure on the Club’s rivals for a finals berth, Heart appeared to be on the charge, as the retiring Josip Skoko once again emerged as a key barometer, dictating terms with his trademark poise.



And it was a corner from Skoko which produced the opening chance of the contest, combining with fellow former Socceroo John Aloisi, who flashed a header wide.



Aloisi was denied again minutes later as Mariners’ stopper Matt Ryan produced a stellar save to parry his header after a cross from Aziz Behich.



Named as the January nominee for the Young Footballer of the Year award, Behich was in ominous form on the left flank, attacking with intent as Heart sought to exploit the Central Coast down the flanks.



The best chance of the opening half fell to Alex Terra, with the Brazilian attacker unable to direct his effort on target after latching onto a delightfully lofted Gerald Sibon ball before prodding wide.



But after the break, Heart secured a deserved opener, albeit in rather bizarre circumstances as Thompson launched a free-kick from inside his own which caught the Central Coast’s ‘keeper out of position, bouncing over his head before it was bundled over the line.



However, the lead was extraordinarily short lived as McBreen equalised just over 60 seconds later after Joshua Rose did remarkably well to force his way to the byline and play a dangerous ball into the box.



The goal prompted a period of dominance for the Mariners, who ventured forward in search of the breakthrough which would keep them in the race for the Premiers Plate.



McBreen had a chance to double his tally for the match just before the hour mark, but Heart’s Clint Bolton was up to the task, producing the save.



Entering its final stanza, the contest developed into an end-to-end affair, but it was Heart who produced the best opportunity to claim all three points, Wayne Srhoj side-footing his effort high after combining splendidly with Aloisi.

TELSTRA T[tots] DATES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEKEND

MOUNT GAMBIER LEGEND RETIRES

Melbourne Heart FC Media Release


Socceroo Legend Skoko Announces Retirement



Melbourne Heart FC midfielder Josip Skoko has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the current Hyundai A-League season.



A Socceroo legend, Skoko was one of the outstanding members of Australian football’s famed Golden Generation, scoring nine goals in 51 senior appearances across a decade-long Socceroo career.



Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said: “While I only coached Josip for a year, in that time, I have understood why he has had such a great career. He’s a real professional, he loves football, and he’s a purist.



“He still enjoys playing and I think that’s the main reason why he still at this age is performing at a high level. Josip is a player who has grown as a person in the game; he experienced a number of different types of cultures, playing in Belgium, Croatia, Turkey and England.



“And you can see he brought this experience with him to our club, and especially for the young boys, he was a very good example to show what it means to be a professional football player.”



After a successful farewell season in Australia, Skoko feels the time is right to call time on his 16-year professional career.



Skoko said: “I’ve decided to call it a day at the end of the season due to a combination of factors from old age to family reasons. Putting it all together, I feel like it is the right time to end my professional career and move on.



“I’ve always said that I don’t want to find myself in a position where I can’t be giving it my best every week, and I feel that while I’m still contributing and playing some good football, it’s time to hang up the boots.”



Earning selection for five major international tournaments, including the 2000 Olympics and 2006 World Cup, Skoko’s undoubted leadership qualities saw him named Socceroo Captain on four occasions, making him one of only 40 players to receive the honour more than once.



However, the 35-year-old ensured his name will be firmly enshrined into the annals of Australian football folklore with one of the most stunning strikes in Socceroo history, launching a long-range half-volley against Greece in front of 95,000 fans at the MCG in 2006 to send Australia off to the World Cup in style.



Skoko also carved a remarkable career at club level, plying his trade in Belgium, Croatia, Turkey and most memorably England’s Premier League with Wigan Athletic, making 53 first team appearances across three seasons in the world’s leading domestic competition.



Among the highlights of Skoko’s domestic career included captaining Genk during the side’s 1999/00 UEFA Champions League campaign, which included a match-up at the Santiago Bernabeu against the biggest club in world football, Real Madrid.



….ENDS…..