We must get on board: Trimboli - February 20 2008
We must get on board: Trimboli
February 20 2008
Shepparton News
Goulburn Valley's soccer opportunity of a lifetime is the game's last chance to see equality with metropolitan Melbourne, North Eastern Soccer League president Frank Trimboli said yesterday.
After campaigning for a better pathway to the top level for Goulburn Valley players, Trimboli believes plans for a summer soccer league incorporating non-metro zones is the best option country Victoria will ever see.
Football Federation Victoria's plans to introduce a summer league at the end of this year will give the Goulburn North-East zone the opportunity to bid for a five-year license.
If the Goulburn North-East zone can find the financial backing and show the infrastructure required to attain a license, teams for men, women and juniors will compete against metro and other country zones in the summer league.
Goulburn North-East zone incorporates and would be able to draw players from the North Eastern league as well as the Albury-Wodonga league.
But rather than celebrate, Trimboli was immediately on the front foot, saying if the Goulburn Valley soccer community failed to embrace this opportunity then it had only itself to blame.
``We've been saying for years that we don't get what the metropolitan areas get and now we've got an opportunity,'' Trimboli said.
``We have to do everything we can to make attaining the five-year license achievable.''
Trimboli said the necessity of corporate and community support was one of the reasons for asking Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Eric Bott to assist the North Eastern league through the process.
A definitive criteria of what clubs must show to attain a summer-league license is yet to be released by Football Federation Victoria.
The News understands it will be a requirement that each stadium in the summer league have a grandstand with a minimum of 500 seats, making Deakin Reserve the only current suitable venue in Shepparton.
``Once we see the prerequisites we'll be able to act on putting together a bid,'' Trimboli said.
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