Iluka FC have their fingers crossed for a bumper 2021 – as like most clubs, they look to bounce back from the COVID-disrupted season just gone.
Club secretary and registrar, Roxi Dean, is upbeat about player numbers.
“People are generally slow to register as we’re pretty laidback up here,” Roxi said.
“And the online process for some can be a little bit of a challenge if they’re not too tech savvy.
“But we’re hoping to have a big year like we did in 2019 when we had 100 players registered – mostly on the back of junior numbers.”
Roxi said Iluka was aiming high – with ambition to field teams in the 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, 11s and 12s age group, plus a senior men’s squad.
“Last year because of COVID we had to combine our 8s and 9s to form a team – but we’re hoping they will be stand-alone teams this year,” she said.
Iluka is quietly confident they will have enough hands in the air for coaches too.
“A few have already said they’ll be happy to coach again, while some who’ve been doing it for a long time have said they’d like to take a break – but we’ve got some new ones stepping in as well,” Roxi said.
“Once we work out what teams we have, then we can sort out the coaches.”