The winter season's over - but the footy isn't! This occasional newsletter aims to keep you in touch with Balmain Rovers activities over the summer, of which there seems to be plenty. This will be the first some of you have heard of this (and if you'd prefer not to get it for any reason, just email mail@balmainrovers.com with an unsubscribe request), but hopefully some of you will get involved while others might just like to stay informed.
The SAFL squad has finished its end-of-season celebrations with various honours awarded. At the B&DSC prizegiving, the squad was presented with rather spiffy reversible jackets emblazoned with "Balmain & District Soccer Club, SAFL Division 1 (Reserve Grade), Premiers 2005". Individual honours were awarded to Jeff See as Best & Fairest Player in First Grade and Drew Schaper in Reserve Grade. These awards required players to have avoided yellow or red cards during the season, a feat especially notable in Jeff's case, as he played in 30 matches for first and reserve grade. The club also recognised manager/striker Rob Liney as the Top Goalscorer in both grades: 13 for Firsts and 26 for Reserves.
At the squad dinner on 17 September, the Pele Medal for best player based on points from weekly match reports was presented in absentia to Andy McLeod, who also picked up the Players' Player award voted on by players at season's end. Mark Wootton was a popular Best Newcomer award winner and Rob Liney won his fourth consecutive Balmain Rovers Golden Boot. Since his Rovers debut Rob has had hauls of 32, 24, 25 and 39 goals - 120 goals in four seasons. This season he averaged a goal every 56 minutes of game time! Rob, Stewart Shaw and Ricky Onsman were also acknowledged for their behind-the-scenes work.
On 24 September, the Sydney Amateur Football League had its Trophy Night and the Balmain Rovers squad took possession of a plaque with a newly added crest naming them as Division 1 Reserve Grade Champions. Rob Liney was recognised as the top goalscorer in that division with yet another Golden Boot trophy, but was then surprised to find he was also the winner of the Best & Fairest award for the division, decided on points allocated by referees match-by-match. This was a fitting tribute for a bloke who has been the mainstay of Balmain Rovers' SAFL squad this season: manager for Firsts and Reserves, registrar, treasurer, SAFL rep and - on top of all that - the finest goalscorer our level of the game has seen for some time.
We'll soon bring you the award-winners from the upcoming trophy nights being held by the CDSFA Division 7 and 8 teams and in the coming months keep you updated on the progress of the two Balmain Rovers teams in the Balmain SC Six-a-Side summer competition and track Balmain Rovers' team in the Indoor 5s comp - two losses followed by a win, so far. Finally, Saturday afternoon pick up games are back - 3pm kick off at King George Park in Rozelle, so far (see map under Venues). This is a good way for new players to get involved and existing players not otherwise committed to keep their feet moving over summer.
