A new football team will take to the field in the Essendon District Football League this year.
The Hume Bombers, which were formed late last year, are looking to field at least two junior sides this season.
The formation of the club comes on the back of the successful Bombers Gurdawara Craigieburn Auskick Centre, which was set up in 2014 to give Indian children the chance to learn football.
Bombers president Avtar Singh said it was an exciting time for the football community in the area.
Singh helped set up the Auskick centre and last year received AFL Victoria’s Multicultural play with passion award.
“We started the Auskick Centre four years ago,” he said.
“We worked with AFL Victoria and Essendon to establish a multicultural Auskick Centre in Craigieburn and it has slowly grown to field our own club.
“A lot of kids and families didn’t know what football was so this is a great achievement. We’re getting people into football and introducing it to the community.”
The club will play its home matches at John Laffan Reserve in Donnybrook, and will do some training at Craigieburn. Eventually a new facility is expected to be built as part of the Cloverton estate.
Singh said the club was looking to field under-9 and under-13 sides this season and to expand from there. It is looking for coaches, volunteers and players for the upcoming season.
“It will be a challenge and a different experience for us,” he said. “Auskick is different.
“We’re looking for people who are interested in getting involved.”
Singh was full of praise for the support AFL Victoria, Essendon and now the EDFL had given to get firstly the Auskick centre and now football sides up and running.
Essendon club representatives are expected to visit the club in March as part of the AFL Community Camp.
Long term, Singh said the club would look to field senior teams.
EDFL chairman Brett Scott said the league was proud to accept the application from the club.
The application was approved on the basis that the EDFL board was satisfied the club has a real likelihood that it will be able to field two teams in an open age division and a team or teams in each of the underage competitions conducted by the league within eight years.
“We look forward to working with the Hume Bombers to provide exciting opportunities for the Cloverton and Donnybrook community,” Scott said.
“Rarely do we get the chance to work with a community to establish a club from the beginning.
“With the substantial growth in population and the support of the Hume council and AFL Victoria, the EDFL and the Hume Bombers look forward to the challenge.”
For more details go to www.facebook.com/Hume-Bombers-479209362287981/
