For Upfield, it isn’t all about the money or being the best team, it’s about giving an opportunity to those who wouldn’t otherwise get to play soccer.
The Hume-based club helps subsidise playing fees and equipment to many of its senior and junior players.
“We’re a very multicultural club and soccer unites us,” club secretary Wally Hanna said.
“We attract a lot of asylum-seekers and refugees and many of them don’t have money to pay for equipment or fees.
“We don’t have a lot of money to pay players to play and we’d rather help those who can’t otherwise play soccer.”
This approach has been working well for Upfield on the field, with the club shocking itself and its opponents this season in state league 3 north west.
One of the newcomers in the competition after winning promotion from state league 4 north, Upfield is on top of the ladder after seven rounds with a 5-1-1 record. It went down 2-1 to Altona City on Saturday for its first loss.
Anwar Odish, who has coached at Moreland United, came on board as coach late in the off-season, while a new technical director was also hired.
“As we were promoted we thought we needed to get more quality players,” Hanna said. “[But] they were asking for money we didn’t have, so we kept a lot of the same players.
“Lots of the other clubs in the competition were spending money on players, so we were the underdogs.
“Preparation for the season was poor and we didn’t get to play a lot of friendlies.”
The aim now for the club is staying among the top sides and looking at possible promotion.
“We have played a lot of the easier teams to start the season and still have to play teams like Altona City, Hoppers Crossing and Williamstown, who have the best lists,” Hanna said before last weekend’s match.
“It’s hard to compare ourselves until we have played every team.”
