Southern NSW Regional Road Show Tour Diary
It was an amazing four-day experience endured by Football NSW Community Officer Robert Fitzgerald and Matthew Sheppard of Southern NSW after the two concluded their mission in promoting the round ball game via a football road show in Bowral, Goulburn, Bradford, Batemans Bay, Merimbula and Mallacoota in mid-March.
The aim of the regional road show was to promote the world game in far Southern NSW through visiting schools, providing coaching courses and coaching updates as well as engaging with the community.
Below is a detailed diary entry of what occurred during the past week.
Monday 16th March
· Bowral Public School Football Trials
· Bowral Public School Football Clinics (520 kids combined)
The southern NSW Regional Community Road Show kicked off in the Southern Highlands with a lengthy visit to Bowral Public School.
Football NSW assisted the coach of the school’s football program in selecting students to represent the school in their senior football team.
Sheppard was impressed with the commitment the players showed during their trial.
“The commitment of all the players’ trialling was fantastic.
“Bowral Public School is set to have a very strong Football side this year.”
Tuesday 17th March
· Goulburn Public School
· Bradford Public School
Day 2 of the Road Show visited the historic township of Goulburn, in the shadow of the famous Goulburn War Memorial.
Over three hundred (300) students of Goulburn Public school were put through their paces participating in skills clinics and small sided games.
Fun and smiles were the order of the day for the students.
Later that day, the road show visited Bradford Public School, were around 120 students were treated to an afternoon of football fun, while learning a few new skills along the way.
Wednesday 18th March
· Bodalla
· Batemans Bay Football Club Clinic
Day 3 saw the road show visit the small township of Bodalla, famous for its cheese produce.
However dairy products were put on hold as the road show visited the local Bodalla public school. Throughout the course of the day, the entire school participated in skills and small sided games, even the teachers participated in what was a fun filled day.
The teachers of Bodalla Public School were appreciative of the Football NSW Regional Community Road Show’s visit.
The road show concluded at Batemans Bay with an open coaching clinic for all clubs in the local area. Players of all ages got involved and a few of the parents and coaches picked up a tip or two for the season.
Thursday 19th March
· Merimbula Public School
· Grass Roots Certificate
Day 4 commenced at the beautiful sea side town of Merimbula, with a visit to the local Merimbula Public School where over 400 students were put through their paces in a fantastic day of football.
The day concluded with a Grassroots Coaching Expo for 10 existing and new coaches from the local Merimbula clubs and also from Mallacoota, further assisting the development of the next generation of the football family.
Friday 20th March
· Mallacoota
The last day of the road show reached its furthest destination Mallacoota P – 12 College which was 625km from the head office of Football NSW.
On a wet and overcast Friday morning football migrated indoors.
However the weather did not dampen the atmosphere of the visit, with 140 student P – 7 enjoying the Football NSW Road Sow experience.
The visit was celebrated by the school’s academic staff with one teacher stating, “it’s fantastic for the children to have Football NSW come to their school and bring such fun through sport."
Overall, it was a successful road show as Fitzgerald emphasized the important role promoting football in regional areas played in the continual development of the sport.
“It is essential to have a strong unified approach to football, especially in the regional areas of NSW, such as Southern NSW.
“We had achieved some fantastic feedback following this trip and we look forward to doing more events in the not too distant future.”
