From The President

With the 2006 season well underway I would like to make welcome all club members. This year I hope to utilize the club website more often, as it will be a good way to keep club members informed as to what is happening within the club at the committee level. In turn I hope to gain valuable feedback from those that matter most, the club members. I will also endeavor to cover a range of topics ranging from club results, events, plans and even share my own thoughts with you on occasions (some may say they would be few and far between).

All jokes aside I have been following (loosely) SCU’s exclusion from this season’s competition with interest. An article in today’s Northern Star provided a strong warning to all clubs in relation to fees being paid by club members. Personally for me the article reinforced the fact that the stance the Ballina Soccer Club takes on prompt payment of fees is not a heavy handed tactic or way to force authority, but instead a means to ensure the clubs very survival.

I don’t know about you but I was horrified to read that an SCU’s club committee member dipped into his own pocket to cover debt’s in relation to unpaid fees. There are certain things as an individual I am reluctant to do, the main one is to ask people for money, I know that in this day and age the cost of living for most is tremendous and every cent is needed to survive. My plea here is if you plan to play a sport plan ahead for the costs involved. Far be it from me to give financial advice but I will be brutally honest with you, it may only be early April but our first installment to FFNC is due and the magic number is around the 20 g mark.

….mmm did I hear a lot of people just say “S—T that’s a lot of money”?

Indeed it is and hey that’s only the first installment. So if fees are not being paid where does the money come from? The debt will snowball and in no time become unmanageable for an amateur club to handle, the result, that club goes under.

I feel sorry for SCU and any other club for that matter that has to fold, I sincerely hope in the not to distant future that SCU can get back on their feet and take to the park once again. So come on pay those fees, good luck on the weekend.

Go You Blue.