By Tara Murray
Broadmeadows Stars will move into the FV state league system in a bid to keep junior players at the club.
The Stars, who fielded two men’s teams in the Sunday metropolitan competition last season, successfully applied to move to the higher competition.
They will play in the state league 5 north competition.
Which division is still to be decided. Stars men’s senior president Eren Samat said they needed to keep building their men’s program if they were to keep their juniors at the club.
“We’ve had junior boys teams and they’ve had nowhere to go … we couldn’t keep them at the club,” he said.
“We’ve got a decent junior set-up with 10s, 12s, 13s and 16 boys following the under-18s. It was time to set up a men’s program and now enter a state team.”
Müjdat Bozkurt was appointed coach two weeks ago. Mehmet Öztürk will coach the reserves side.
Samat said they would look to have three open age sides.
The top side will play in state league 5 and the second side in state 5 reserves.
The reserves team will be a youth team, with all players under the age of 20.
They will have a men’s side in the metropolitan competition, which will be for those who can’t train and want to have a bit more fun.
They will again have an over-35 team.
Samat said since the announcement that they would field state league sides, there had been a lot of interest from players wanting to join the club.
He said the Coolaroo location of the club was attractive to those in Roxburgh Park, Dallas and Meadow Heights area, with no club in those towns.
The club is one of only a couple in Hume to have good lightning.
Samat said the focus for their men’s side next season was to ensure they are competitive and not get relegated.
He said the overall focus was on the whole club.
“We are a new club, a young club. Our focus will always be on junior development for boys and girls.
“Next year we’re looking to have 15 junior sides.”
