Gippsland Soccer League club Churchill United has promoted Stephen Riess to the senior coaching role for season 2013. 

Riess replaces highly successful coach Luke Cheney who has accepted a coaching position with Morwell Pegasus in the state league competition after seven years at the Rams, including the last four as senior coach.

Riess has served a long coaching apprenticeship at the club having first coached the second division in 2007.  

In recent years Riess has shown his ability having guided Churchill’s Reserves (2011) and Youth teams (2012) to treble winning clean sweeps of their respective competitions. 

Riess was also joint senior coach with Cheney during 2011 and club President Ben Kimpton is excited about the appointment.

 “Stephen has shown to the club that he is ready for the main job, his list of achievements to date has been very impressive including his role as joint senior coach last year”. Kimpton said.

Churchill dominated the senior competition in 2012 completing a rare treble of League Championship, Cup and Premierships titles but Riess is not phased by the inevitable pressure to replicate such a stellar season.

“This year was one out of the box and we expect the other clubs to be geared up to tackle us, but we’ll go into the season with confidence”. Riess said. 

One of Riess’ biggest challenges will be to replace the goal scoring contribution of Cheney, who regularly topped the GSL charts in his time at the club.

“Luke is a great player but we have some guys returning from injury and some talented emerging youngsters who I am confident can fill the void”. Riess added. 

The new Youth team coach is Riess’ brother Paul who has an impressive playing record having lined up for South Melbourne as a youngster also winning selection for the Australian school boys under 17 side.

“Paul’s been there and done that as a player so we think this experience at a higher level will be great for our emerging kids.” Riess said.  

The brothers follow in the foot steps of their father Gerry who coached Churchill for five years (1987-88 and 1997-99). Rounding out the Riess influence at the club oldest of the three brothers Trevor continues in his role as under 16’s coach.

Riess will also be aided by first time senior assistant coach Tim Dawson who will act as a vital on field link between the coaches and players. 

“Tim was runner up in our best and fairest this year and we feel he can move to the next level as he learns the craft of coaching”. Riess said.

The Rams coaching panel is completed by Reserves team coach Vaughan Reimers who has had a long association with the club as a player and coach. 

Churchill will begin pre-season training in mid January and for more information please conatct Stephen Riess on 0437453868.