President's Report Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me a great deal of pleasure together with a degree of sadness that I present the fourth Annual Report of the Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club for the financial year ended 30th June 2001.

2001 was seen as the International Year of the Volunteer and regretably for the Club it has turned out to be probably one of our poorest in this respect. Following last year's AGM, I was very optimistic with the Committee appointed, that the year was to be very productive, however, within a short time Tony New, Brad Hughes and Paul Jones had resigned for various reasons thus creating a huge problem that was not to be fully rectified throughout the remainder of the year. Considerable delay was experienced in finding a Treasurer and ultimately we accepted Eleanor Harper's offer to act as book-keeper. Consequently advancements made in the preceeding year with computerisation of the accounts suffered a severe setback.

The financial position of the Club remains sound, however, the disturbing aspect is the ongoing problem of outstanding registrations particularly with senior players despite requiring all registration fees to be paid in full upon signing with the Club a significant amount remains outstanding. I predict a much tougher line will have to be enforced next season to ensure sound financial mannagement is achieved.

Some bright notes together with some disappointing aspects :

• most social functions were well supported and credit must go to the hard working social committee who together with the sponsorship arrangements certainly assisted the cause.
• after considerable delay in setting up the Soccer Management Committee, we finally got a committee together, namely Roy Barker, Christopher Barrell and Brian Dale. Following the resignations of both Chris and Roy the SMC went into abeyance. This body is badly needed and with the right personnel will be a key factor in a managing the playing arm of the Club.
• a new tracksuit and clothing lines were launched and certainly were a vast improvement on the past Olympic look-alike tracksuit that was reluctantly accepted as our tracksuit.
• Helen McDonald took the initiative to produce a wonderful soccer venue directory, which Soccer Tasmania jointly funded and the books were distributed far and wide.
• Zoe Nolan did the Club proud by being selected in the Australian Matildas. Zoe started her career in the junior body and progressed through to Mens Premier League. Well done Zoe.
• again we have managed to field a second Womens team which together with the Under 12 and two Under 14 Girls teams must stand the Club in a healthy position for the future of our ladies teams. Here's hoping for a couple more like Zoe.
• mother nature certainly showed she was not a sleeping giant and caused considerable revamping of rosters.

Senior Mens Teams were under the guidance of Greg Calvert, Mick Trotter, Charles White, Vince Grimes, Gavin Plunkett, Ian Farnill and Scott Pepper with most teams experiencing a reasonably successful season. Tim Dale and Adam Coleman were in charge of our Ladies teams.

Season highlights :

• Premier League led the competition for a short time before settling for 4th position and a place in the Finals Series.
• Reserves were clearly the best team in the league and duly brought home the silver ware. Well done Mick and the boys.
• Under 23 had a mixed season with very good results mixed with some indifferent performances.
• Division 1 (at the time of writing) are still in with a chance of winning the Premiership which would be thoroughly deserved.
• Division 2 and 3 also had mixed seasons with very good results mixed with some indifferent performances.
• Both Ladies Teams experienced some success, however, due to injuries were stretched at times to field full squads.

Youth Season highlights included :

• Under 15 Black, under coach Brian Reynolds won the League by a significant margin.
• Damien Sanita led the Under 13 Blue to a premiership in their respective division which was remarkable considering the team was playing up an age group.

Steve Kerr together with all the coaches are to be congratulated on the way all teams performed throught out the season and the manner in which they represented the Club.

The Primary numbers were reduced this season with the Woodbridge players opting to form their own Club. Gary Reardon managed to keep the wheels turning, however, I firmly believe the time has arrived when we need an effective Junior Committee to ensure the workload is spread and that we continue to advance.

On behalf of all the players, may I sincerely thank all the coaching and support staff together with the "behind the scene workers" for your devotion and commitment, and to all the players a vote of thanks, as I believe you have acted at all times in the highest possible manner and have been a credit to the Club, both on and off the park.

The out-going Committee comprising Charles White, John McDonald, Bernie Siggins, Gary Reardon, Steve Kerr, Ruth Harper, Kylie Pepper, Rick Huizing, Adrian Pereira and Peter Bester are to be congratulated on the what has been achieved in a very trying season. Obviously there are many others who continue to work for the "cause" and deserve our vote of thanks, in particular Adam Coleman, Greg Ellis, Pattie Siggins, Margaret Collins, Betty Arnott, George Arnott, Sue Iles, Jill Dale, Bruce Harper, Joe Glasovac, Chris Kolabinski, Roy Barker and Tony Daley.

The Club again acknowledges the assistance and co-operation extended by the Kingston Crows and Blackmans Bay Cricket Clubs which ensured a harmonious working relationship at both Lightwood Park and Sherburd Park complexes. Coaches and players alike were very grateful of being able to undertake pre-season at Collegiate's Ham Common grounds which are kept in an immaculate condition throughout the year.

In closing, I would just like to sincerely thank my family for their endless support over many years and to personally thank George Arnott and Greg Ellis for their unwavering personal support to me throught out my terms as President.

Also I must acknowledge the magnificent contribution Rob and Sally New have made and are making to the welfare of our Club. Many thanks.

Good luck for the future and please ensure we fully realise our potential.

Brian Dale
Club President
September 2001

* at the time of printing Final Five Series and Knock-Out Cups were still to be decided and yours truly was somewhere in outback Australia.