Female football will be a big focus for Lalor Football Club, with the Bloods looking to introduce both women’s and girl’s sides next year.
With a growing interest in females playing football in Melbourne’s north, the Bloods know that introducing female teams will help further develop the club.
Lalor president Benjamin Charles said it was the club’s role to open up opportunities for females to play football in the local area.
He said they would look at having both senior and junior sides, to ensure that there is a pathway at the club.
“We are starting to get a lot of interest in the area,” he said.
“We’ve also got connections through the local primary school who want to get girls playing football in the immediate area.
“If we’re going to have a women’s side, we should be trying to have a youth girls side as well.
“It’s our responsibility to look at it.”
He said they currently had about 15 verbal commitments and would have information sessions before and after Christmas for interested players.
The club is also working with the Northern Football League to get the sides up and running. Charles said they were looking to strengthen community relationships as they try and develop the women’s program.
David Angwin has been appointed senior coach and brings plenty of knowledge to the role.
This year he coached South Morang’s youth girls side, before the club decided to head in a different direction.
It will be a homecoming for Angwin at the Bloods, having been involved with the club for more than 40 years.
Men’s senior coach Dean Grainger is another who is returning to the club.
The announcement of women’s football is some good news for the club, which has had a tough off season. Several senior players have left and there’s been a lot of talk about the state of the club.
Charles said while recent times haven’t been the easiest, the club is focusing on rebuilding so it’s around for a number of years.
“Whether it’s male or female we want to be an inclusive club,” he said.
“Clubs get lost in the search for scoreboard success and sometimes forget about the culture,” he said.
“There’s challenges in front of us and we think these challenges are going to be positives in the long run.”
For more information on the female program at Lalor, head to its Facebook page or on the website, or contact Charles on 0408 403 938
