THE time has come to become one.
Both football clubs in Moora, Warriors and Rovers, have reached a time in their long and successful histories that it is now no longer a viable option for this town to continue to struggle to field two representative teams in the Central Midlands and Coastal Association.
Past history of both clubs is not something that will be forgotten and neither should it but common sense needs to prevail.
Every year the clubs are struggling to find enough helpers and players, let alone interested spectators who are finding it hard not to be disillusioned with their teams.
Rovers have had difficulty being a representative side for quite some time and when a side is continually getting beaten, coaches and officials of the club have a hard job keeping up team moral and commitment.
Warriors are another story – they are basking in success with the reserves side, their only side, but what will happen next year when this side will have to go into the league arena?
Will they have enough players for a genuine reserve side as well and be competitive?
I don’t think so.
Does it not make sense to forget about the past?
The young people who are the future of any football club are mostly more than happy to have one Moora club.
The older people who have been good supporters of their clubs in the past need to take a forward step and forget about parochialism and what happened in the past.
Past is past, look to the future and let the young people make our football club; something the whole community can be proud of and develop a keen interest in their progress.
New club, new colours, new committee – start from the ground up and build a future for the interest of the sport and something for our young people to want to be a part of as one town.
Recently a meeting was held by concerned citizens who have the best interest of the game of football and its future in this town at heart.
They formed a steering committee represented by three members from both the Warriors and Rovers clubs where the merits of forming one football club in Moora were discussed at length.
Concerned for the game of football and its future in Moora, town resident and farmer Ron Manning, himself a keen Rovers supporter, took the lead to initiate this first meeting.
“One of the concerns raised by the representatives at the meeting was the numbers and competitiveness of both clubs in the existing competition,” Mr Manning said.
“The steering committee has formed the opinion that the time has come that the two clubs either amalgamate or disband, and from there form one football club.
“This, in the opinion of the steering committee, needs to happen sooner rather than later.”
The committee sees the benefits of having one club would be the improvement of numbers to field reserves and league teams; no more forfeiting matches because of the lack of numbers; increased membership and getting the community back supporting and attending football matches which in turn increases sponsorship from local businesses and community; a larger band of personnel to help on match days and training nights; and a strong social club.
Another thought was that of creating a colts competition with neighbouring leagues and to look at playing a nippers competition on Saturday mornings.
There are many things to discuss and the steering committee will take these thoughts back to their respective clubs with the view of having a public meeting at the Moora Bowling Club on Tuesday, August 7, at 7.30pm.
There is a great opportunity for parents of juniors to get involved with this sporting venture, so don’t be shy, come along, lend a hand and be involved in your community.
