Zoe Grew to represent Thunderbirds and FSC in All Stars game

Congratulations to Zoe Grew on her selection in the Football South Coast Women's All Stars team to play Sutherland Shire Football Association All Stars at Macedonia Park on Sunday, March 12.

Zoe, who plays for the Thunderbirds Division 1 team and was also a member of last year's Under 21s Champion of Champions team, will represent the region against a hand-selected All Stars team from each of the clubs in the Sutherland competition.

The All Stars match, which kicks off at 3.30pm, will be the culmination of a day of Female Football Week celebrations, including a FSC U12/13 Girls pre-season tournament, featuring Thirroul JFC's Under 13s team.

The inaugural clash between FSC and SSFA will be a highly anticipated game with both associations having club teams who have enjoyed recent State Cup and CoC success.

Thirroul JFC celebrate Female Football Week

Thirroul JFC will celebrate Female Football Week by hosting the annual Thunderbirds Cup at Gibson Park on Sunday, March 12.

The tournament, for Under 16-18s girls, will again feature some of the best female talent among those age groups in the South Coast region, including the Albion Park team which won last year's FNSW Under 18s Champion of Champions final.

In total, eight teams from Albion Park, Bulli, Shellharbour, Thirroul and Warilla will contest the Thunderbirds Cup, now in its third season.

The previous winners were Woonona in 2015 and Albion Park in 2016.

Kicking off at 9am, the tournament will be played in a round-robin format, with each team guaranteed a minimum of two games.

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Football NSW ready for Female Football Week

As part of the Female Football Week festivities there are a number of activations taking shape across Sydney focusing on the development of the female game from a player, official and referee perspective.

Football NSW Game Development Officer for Women and Girls Servet Uzunlar was eagerly anticipating the week and encouraged everyone to get behind what will be a fantastic week for the female game.

“It’s great to see such an initiative dedicated to the Female game.

“We have several key activations across various areas from around Sydney that will help support and show awareness of the female game.

“I want to thank everyone for their support and wish everyone the best of luck with the running of their special events.” 

Below is a list of detailed activations taking place at various locations across Sydney:

Sunday 12th March

Thirroul Junior Football Club – Gibson Park 9am - U16-U18 Girls Tournament

Bankstown Association – Coaching Course

Sutherland Association - All Stars Match - SSFA v FSC Women’s All Stars match (U10 FSC and SSFA U10 GSAP teams playing beforehand)

Bankstown Association – Girls Gala Day

Monday 13 March

Northern Suburbs FA School - Charles Bean - Free Girls Skills Night

Tuesday 14th March

Bankstown Association - Professional Development Session – “coaching female players”

Sutherland Association (TBC) - SSFA & FSC GSAP Games

·         U10s 6pm

·         U12 7pm Women’s Football Development Guide

Wednesday 15th March

Northern Suburbs FA - Grassroots Coaching Course 6pm - 9:30pm         

Friday 17th March

Northern Suburbs FA School - Free Girls Skills Night      

Venue 1- Willis Centre

Venue 2- Mills Park                                     

Sunday 19th March

Bankstown Association – Level 4 Referees Course

Manly Association – BTH Raiders v Mosman FFW

Roselea FC – Womens 4 a side competition

Gordon Soccer Club (TBC) – Girls Only Gala Day

Football South Coast – The Fraternity Club Futsal Courts 9-11am - Grassroots/Skill Training workshop 

Member Federation Supporting Activations

9th March

Football NSW & Football United Gala Day,

Valentine Sports Park. 

9am -1:30pm  

18th/19th March

GSAP Gala Day – Valentine Sports Park

16th March

NPL and NPL2 Coaching Female Workshop – Valentine Sports Park (TBC)

Gibson Park drainage: Before and after photos

For those who have endured years of frustration and anxiety whenever it rained about cancelled games and training at Gibson Park these photos may seem hard to believe.

The top photo and several others were taken today, Saturday March 4, after more than 120mm of rain. The other photos are from last year, after similar heavy rain.

The difference is stunning and will be a game changer for Thirroul JFC this seasons and in the years ahead.

The ground is closed for the weekend, along with all Wollongong City Council grounds, but during the season Thirroul teams will be able to play when they previously couldn't and training wouldn't be constantly disrupted every time it rains.

We also expect the playing surface to be better for longer as it won't be effected by grass die off from flooding or teams being forced to train on degraded areas.

To help preserve the surface, teams will be discouraged from training on ground 1 as much as possible as other areas should be in good condition. 

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this possible by supporting the club's fundraising  through the annual Race Nights or by buying Junior Team Photos and playing senior Summer 7s on Sunday afternoons while the grounds were out of action due to the drainage works.

Thirroul JFC would particularly like to thank the Member for Keira, Ryan Park MP, for $35,000 funding from the State Government 2015 Community Building Program and Wollongong City Council for a $30,000 grant to enable the club to do both grounds.

It is estimated that the drainage improvements also cost Thirroul JFC a similar amount through the club's contribution to the costs and lost revenue from Summer 7s this year so please continue to support our fundraising events and through the sponsorship packages on the thirroulfootball.com.au website.

Finally, Thirroul JFC would like to thank Turspec for doing such a fantastic job.

After 120mm of rain, Saturday, March 4, 2017

2016 after similar heavy rainfall

Eastern side of Ground 1, near where the dug outs are usually situated.

The same area last season.

Northern end of Ground 1

2016 photo..

Honours Even Between Thirroul and Wests

Wests Illawarra and Thirroul Thunder shared the spoils in a competitive cup tie that could have gone either way at Memorial Park on Sunday.

Chris Twigg scored one in each half for Wests, while two goals either side of the half time break from Jesse Bragg and Adam Ward saw the Thunder come from behind and take the lead, if only briefly.

Chris Twigg scored one in each half for Wests, while two goals either side of the half time break from Jesse Bragg and Adam Ward saw the Thunder come from behind and take the lead, if only briefly.

The result leaves Thirroul in pole position to advance to the next stages of the Fraternity Cup, but leaves the door open for Wests if they can overcome Balgownie in the last pool fixture next Thursday.

Wests dominated the opening exchanges, forcing two early corners, but Thirroul’s organised defence packed the area and allowed no way through.

It didn’t take long for Wests to realise that their most effective weapon could be the long ball for their pacey wingers and forwards to run onto. In the 5th minute, Daniel Boyd sent a ball through to Twigg, who reached the byline before cutting it back for Jordan Hughes, who forced a good save out of Chris Wearing in the Thirroul goal.

That was just a dress rehearsal for Wests’ next move, though, and in the 8th minute, they got it just right. Again it was Boyd who launched a long ball from his own half for Twigg who out-paced his marker and fired home for the opener.

It was totally against the run of play when Thirroul equalised just before the break. But it was poor marking at the back that let the Thunder in. Nathan Mucci was allowed far too much space, giving him time to pick out Bragg in the box, and the Thirroul forward made no mistake with virtually their first chance of the game in the 33rd minute.

The second half had barely begun when the Thunder found themselves in front.

This time the Wests back line froze as they looked for an offside flag that never appeared. Bragg was provider for Thirroul’s second, his back header landing at the feet of Ward, who fired a left foot shot past a helpless Kyle Booth.

To read Simon Duffin's full match report on the FSC website, click here.

Thirroul FC – 2 (Bragg 33’, Ward 37’)

Wests Illawarra FC – 2 (Twigg 8’, 48’)

Assists:  Thunder: Mucci, Bragg; Wests: Boyd, Puljic

Thirroul FC: Chis Wearing, Daniel Bond, Corey Haines-Grose, Tyler Snelgrove, Shayne Mulholland, Daniel Arthur, Adam Ward, James Townson, Jesse Bragg, Nathan Mucci, Jonathan de Lyall (subs: Joshua Bond, Todd Davidson, Scott Woods, Nelson Reid, James Hutton)

Wests Illawarra: Kyle Booth, Luke Melkerts, Jordan Hughes, Ben Sallabank, David Cuda, Godfrey Franco, Diego Andrade, Nick Kougious, Jake Bailey, Daniel Boyd, Chris Twigg (subs: Nathan Puljic, Nick Tortorella, Joe Youssif, Pal Burleigh, Jordan Timpano)

Sunday 26 February 2017

Memorial Park, Corrimal

Referee: Aden Crawley

Assistant Referees: Steve Bozic, Emajen Crawley

Thirroul U18s photo gallery

Thirroul Under 18s did the club proud with a spirited 1-1 draw against Wollongong United last Saturday in only their third game together.

The boys, who went down to 3-1 to Cringilla in another gutsy performance last Wednesday, overcame the first half loss of Eric Nelson to injury to secure a draw through a late Callum Oliver goal.

The Thunder's last pool match in the Under 18s tournament against Bulli has been rescheduled from 5.45pm on Wednesday, March 1 to Saturday as Macedonia Park was closed due to wet weather.

Below are photos from last Saturday's match, which were taken by the Wollongong United club photographer. 

MINIROOS - Meet Your Teams 2017

Don't forget to come along to Meet Your Teams for the Miniroos. Dates and times below:

Socks, shorts and other merchandise will be available for purchase on the night.  Socks are $10, Shorts - size 4-14 $35, Small-XL $40.

The Boatshed Bistro is offering kids meals for $10.00 on any of these nights:

Steak, Chips & Salad
Fish, Chips & Salad
Classic Pizza or Pasta
Schnitzel (Veal/Chicken), Chips & Salad or upgrade to a Parmy for an additional $3.

Thunder off to winning start in Fraternity Cup

By David Atherton

Round 1 of the Fraternity Cup saw District League ever-presents Thirroul and Balgownie face off at Crehan Park. Who would've guessed it - Matthew Kellond lead the line for Thirroul and lead them to victory once more.

It may be the way teams predict Thirroul to play, but it is continuing to work this season with a straight-forward win over Balgownie.

Proceedings were very in favour of Thirroul from the outset, seeing a cross from Marcus Rusbourne find the head of Kellond on 6 yards to grab the opener after only 5 minutes.

Minutes later, Rusbourne took his chance at glory with an acrobatic volley from the left of the box directing a deep cross onto the crossbar, only to fly out for a goal kick.

Balgownie could have easily shot back into the game as Matthew Bubb read a backpass and nabbed possession, but Joshua Williams rushed out of his box to effect a crunching tackle and win back possession.

Thirroul were not letting off, and the quarter-hour mark had them up 2-0. A free kick from the Rangers was defended easily, Kellond picking up the ball on halfway and mazing past two defenders. The Thunder talisman cut back past a third in the box and fired a wonderful curling shot into the left side-netting from the edge of the area to double the lead.

To read the full match report by David Atherton for Football South Coast, click here.

Thirroul Thunder 2 - Kellond 5', 15'

Balgownie Rangers 1 - Vandareff 66'

Friday 17th February - Crehan Park

Thirroul Thunder - J. Williams, D. Bond, C. Haines-Grose, J. Hutton, S. Mulholland, D. Arthur, A. Ward, T. Davidson, M. Kellond, N. Mucci, M. Rusbourne

Subs - J. Bond, T. Snelgrove, J. Townson, D. De Lyall

Balgownie Rangers - A. Tambakis, M. McCoy, A. Caruso, L. Verey, A. Stefanelli, N. Morgan, M. Bubb, K. Dorahy, K. Duggan, J. Dummett, A. Vardareff

Subs - S. Dallas, K. Ingram, A. Stratilas, J. McCreay

Referee - J. Ruscica

Assistants - D. Jordan, D. Dennelly

Female Football Week events for junior girls teams

Thirroul JFC will again host an official Female Football Week event, with an U16s-U18s girls tournament at Gibson Park on Sunday, March 12, while tournaments have also been announced for U12s, U13s and U14s girls teams.

An U12-13s tournament will also be played on Sunday, March 12, while Shellharbour JFC will host a tournament for Under 13s and 14s girls, as well as U12s boys, on Sunday, March 19.

Under 12s boys and girls teams are also invited to enter the Cono Cup at Coniston on Saturday, March 26. 

Football South Coast has also approved a series of gala days for Mini Roos teams, to be played throughout the season.

For further details see the table below:

Thunder pre-season matches

The Thunder's pre-season preparations step up a gear this weekend, with Youth Grade playing Woonona in the first round of the Fernhill Cup and First Grade taking on Kirrawee Kangaroos in a trial at Kareela Oval on Sunday.

The following weekend will see the Thunder again travel to the Sutherland Shire, with First Grade playing State Cup winners Lilli Pilli and Youth Grade meeting U21s champions Menai Hawks in a double-header at Kareela Oval on Sunday, February 12.

First Grade are then scheduled to play Balgownie in the opening round of the Fraternity Pre-Season Cup on Friday, February 17, followed by matches against Wests and Fernhill.

Youth Grade's tough pre-season preparations continue when they play Port Kembla in round two of the Fernhill Cup on Monday, February 20 ahead of their final pool match against Wests on Saturday, February 25.

The full schedule of pre-season matches so far is below:

Saturday, February 4
FERNHILL CUP - Youth Grade v Woonona at 1.30pm at Ray Robinson Field, Fernhill

Sunday, February 5
TRIAL - First Grade v Kirrawee Kangaroos at 5pm at Kareela Oval

Sunday, February 12
TRIAL - Youth Grade v Menai Hawks at 3.30pm at Kareela Oval
TRIAL - First Grade v Lilli Pilli at 5.30pm at Kareela Oval

Friday, February 17
FRATERNITY CUP - First Grade v Balgownie at 6.30pm at Crehan Park, Cringilla

Monday, February 20
FERNHILL CUP - Youth Grade v Port Kembla at 5.40pm at Ray Robinson Field, Fernhill

Saturday, February 25
FERNHILL CUP - Youth Grade v Wests at 11am at Ray Robinson Field, Fernhill

Sunday, February 26
FRATERNITY CUP - First Grade v Wests at 1.30pm at Memorial Park, Corrimal

Sunday, March 5
FRATERNITY CUP - First Grade v Fernhill at 1.30pm at Wetherall Park, Primbee

Get your registration refunded and help our club

Any player who introduces a sponsor to the club to the value of $500, plus $50 GST ($550 total), will be reimbursed their 2017 registration fee of $160.

In return, the Sponsor receives membership to Thirroul JFC’s financial supporters group, The Thunder Clap, for the 2017 season, which includes:

• the Sponsor’s logo, with a link to their website or Facebook page, on the home page of the thirroulfootball.com.au website listing them as a 2017 member of The Thunder Clap;

• a banner with the Sponsor's name and/or logo to be displayed at Gibson Park during Thunder home games during the 2017 season;

• recognition as a 2017 Sponsor of Thirroul JFC on the club's Facebook pages, You Tube videos, and at official club functions and end of season presentations;

• a certificate acknowledging the Sponsor’s support of the club and the player for the 2017 season;
   
• recognition of the player they had sponsored on the thirroulfootball.com.au website and during announcements over the PA at home matches during the 2017 season;
   
• tickets for two people to an end-of-season presentation of the Sponsor's choice - graded juniors or seniors; and,
   
• an invitation to be a guest of the club, along with other Thunder Clap members, at a nominated Thirroul Thunder home match during the 2017 season.

This offer is available to all junior and senior players registered to Thirroul JFC in 2017.

Besides the spectators at games, Sponsors will receive exposure to Thirroul JFC's growing online community via the club's website, Facebook pages and You Tube videos.

During the 12 months since Thirroul JFC's website was re-launched in February, 2017, thirroulfootball.com.au has attracted:

• 47,374 page views (4,984 per month during the season);
   
• 24,218 visits (2405 per month during the season); and,
   
• 17,608 audience size (1,783 per month during the season) 

Thirroul JFC's Facebook pages have a combined 1,410 members, of whom 816 receive automatic notifications of any posts, while the club's You Tube videos attracted more than 60,000 views in 2016.

For further details, please email brad.f.walter@gmail.com

Thirroul JFC club house break in

Thirroul JFC's club house at Gibson Park has been broken into on the eve of the Junior Registration Day on Saturday. 

Officials discovered the break while collecting stock for the registration day during Friday night's training session for the Thunderbirds women's teams.

The incident follows a break in at Thirroul Surf Club in the early hours of Wednesday morning, during which a defibrillator and $900 in cash were stolen and the patrol room ransacked.

In comparison, Thirroul JFC's club house suffered minor damage and it does not appear at this stage that anything of significance has been stolen, besides some new match balls.

This includes shorts and socks, which will be available at the registration day at Thirroul Bowling, Recreation and Leagues Club between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

Anyone with information about the break ins is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to assist with the police investigation.

IRT and 2006 All Stars win Summer 7s finals

Mixed competition winners 2006 All Stars with runners up, ACAittleSilhoutteOfMilan

Thanks to everyone who played in the senior Summer 7s competition for your support with the move to Sundays due to the drainage work at Gibson Park.

The competition will be back bigger and better after the upcoming winter season - and will return to Wednesday nights.

Thanks also to the referees and congratulations to the winners - IRT in the men's competition and 2006 All Stars in the Mixed competition.

Men's competition winners IRT and runners up, Boys on Tour.

How to register for 2017

Online registration for players wanting to play in the 2017 season will be available from Tuesday, January 3 on the myfootballclub.com.au website.

Registration for Juniors and Amateurs' players will open first, followed by Thunder and Thunderbirds' players at a date to be advised.

All players – juniors, senior women and men, including amateurs – are to register under Thirroul Junior Football Club and choose the appropriate package, as described below:

JUNIORS – All Ages 2017
Select this option, for male and female juniors who are playing in the Junior Competition from U6 Mini Roos to U18 Graded Competition – including those players selected in the Thunder Under 18s Division 1 team.

JUNIORS – Coach/Manager 2017
Select this option, for anyone volunteering to be a coach or manager for the 2017 season.

WOMENS 2017
Select this option for players wanting to play for the Thunderbirds– including U21s - in the WOMENS competition for 2017.

THUNDER 2017
Select this option if you have been selected to play for the Thunder senior Men’s teams in the District League Competition.

Amateurs

Those players wanting to play in one of the club’s Community League teams should select the relevant package, as described below.

AMATEURS 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Thirroul Amateur teams in the Community League.
(This is for player's who played in Thunder Div 2 and Thunder Div 3 in 2016)
ANYONE WANTING TO PLAY AMATEURS WHO DIDN’T PLAY IN THIS COMPETITION LAST SEASON SHOULD SELECT THIS OPTION AS WELL

GPR Amateurs 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Gibson Park Rangers Amateurs team in the Community League.
(This is for Players who played in Div 3 GPR and Thunder Div 4 in 2016)

GPR Masters 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Gibson Park Rangers Masters (Over 35) Community League.
(This is for Players from the Thunder Amateur teams who turn 36 in 2017 or older) 

Other

WOMENS – Coach/Manager 2017
Appointed Thunderbirds Coaches and Managers for the 2017 season ONLY.

MEN – Club Official 2017
Thirroul JFC Committee ONLY

MEN – Coach/Manager 2017
Appointed Thunder Men’s Coaches and Managers for the 2017 season ONLY

Click on the link below for myfootballclub.com.au instructions:

2017 Registration Instructions

Click here to go to the myfootballclub.com.au website and register.

2017 registration open from January 3

Online registration for players wanting to play for Thirroul JFC in the 2017 season will be available from Tuesday, January 3.

The registration fee for all Thirroul junior, men's, women's and amateur players in 2017 will be $160. This represents a $15 increase from last season.

Where a family has more than one player registering with Thirroul JFC the following scale will apply - $160 for the first two players and $130 for all other immediate family members. The $30 discount applies across the club for players in junior, men's, women's and amateur teams.

Thirroul JFC has taken the decision to increase the registration fee in 2017 to help offset the cost of drainage works undertaken on the two main fields at Gibson Park during the off-season.

The club contributed about $15,000 for the installation of slit drainage at Gibson Park, while the unavailability of the grounds for Summer 7s is estimated to have cost Thirroul JFC more than $20,000 in revenue.

It is a policy of Thirroul JFC that all players pay the same registration fee, whether they play Under 6s or First Grade for the Thunder or Thunderbirds.

However, the families of Mini Roos players (Under 6s to Under 11s) are not required to perform canteen duty during the season.

The cost for each Thirroul JFC player in the 2015 season was estimated to be approximately $288, comprising of:

* Football South Coast Capitation fee, which includes fees imposed by FFA, FNSW and FSC
* Wollongong City Council Ground fees for playing and training at Gibson Park
* Referee's fees
* Uniforms
* Maintenance costs, including electricity, equipment and field maintenance.

The difference between the cost of playing and the registration fee charged by Thirroul JFC is funded through canteen takings, sponsorship and fund raising activities.

Further details about how to register online will be posted here before January 3.

Registration Days will also be held at Thirroul Bowling, Recreation and Leagues Club on Saturday, January 28 and February 4, between 10am and 2pm. 

Thunder and Thunderbirds pre-season training

Thirroul JFC's senior teams will resume training early in the new year, with the Thunder players returning on Tuesday, January 10 and pre-season for the Thunderbirds re-commencing on January 11.

The Thunder first grade squad will again be coached in 2017 by Garth Bowley, who has steered the team to the District League semi-finals for the past two seasons. Garth will be assisted by Steve Dobbs.

Kevin Lewis also returns as Reserve grade coach after last season's success, with the team winning the league and grand final double.

John Cropper, Thirroul JFC's Mentor: Coaching and Development, will take charge of the pre-season training for the Youth Grade and Under 18s squads, with John Dark again assisting him.

After a kick around under the watchful eye of Thunderbirds co-coaches Tina Siskoska and Corey Haines-Grose last Wednesday, the Thunderbirds will step up their preparations for the 2017 season on January 11. 

Thirroul JFC is again looking to field women's teams in Division 1, Under 21s, Division 2 and Division 3 in 2017 and welcomes any new players to attend, particularly those wanting to trial for Division 1 and Under 21s.

For further information please contact Brad Walter on 0417 227218.

Thunderbirds Co-Coaches appointed for 2017 season

Thirroul JFC is delighted to welcome Tina Siskoska to the club as Co-Coach of the Thunderbirds Division One team for the 2017 season.

Tina, who has had a long association with Illawarra Stingrays, will work alongside 2016 Thunderbirds coach Corey Haines-Grose with the aim of developing Thirroul into one of the leading Football South Coast women's teams in coming seasons.

The club believes Tina's playing and coaching background with the Stingrays will compliment the experience and knowledge of the playing group that Corey has gained from his involvement with the team during the past two seasons.

Both Co-Coaches will continue to play in 2017, with Corey remaining a key member of the Thunder First Grade team which has made the District League finals for the past two seasons and Tina again lining up for the Stingrays after returning home from Perth earlier this year.

A foundation player with the Stingrays in 2006, Tina coached the club's Under 16s teams for two seasons and this year worked with their reserve grade side.

She was also involved with the Thunderbirds Youth Grade team in the recent FNSW U21s Champion of Champions.

Corey Haines-Grose

Tina Siskoska

Following the success of the "Youthies" in that tournament, Thirroul JFC intends to enter a team in the FSC Under 21s women's competition next season.

The club will also field Division Two and Division Three teams if there are sufficient playing numbers.   

Coaching positions for those teams will be finalised once playing numbers become clearer.

All players interested in playing for the Thunderbirds in 2017 are invited to a pre-season kick around at 6pm on Wednesday, 14th December at Gibson Park.      

Thirroul junior Maniso Micheal represents Egypt

Photo: Adam McLean, Illawarra Mercury 

Congratulations to Thirroul junior Maniso Micheal on her selection for the Egypt women's team to contest the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations, beginning this weekend.

Maniso, who lives at Austinmer, played Mini Roos and Graded Juniors for Thirroul JFC before going on to play at representative level. She currently plays for Bankstown City FC in the NSW WNPL 2 competition.

The 25-year-old qualifies to play for Egypt through her father Kamel and was chosen in the squad for the Cup of Nations after attending trials in August. 

“It's great to represent the country on his behalf and that side of the family,” she told Mitch Cohen in the Illawarra Mercury. "It's always been a dream of mine so I'm really grateful to get the opportunity.”

Egypt's first match is against host nation Cameroon on Saturday, November 19 and they have also drawn to play Zimbabwe on November 22 and South Africa on November 25.

To read the full story about Maniso's achievement in the Illawarra Mercury click here.

More kick arounds for U18s, Youth Grade and senior teams

All players interested in playing for the Thunder's U18s Division 1, Youth Grade and senior teams in 2017 are invited to a series of kick arounds at Gibson Park each Tuesday until December 6.

The next kick around will be on Tuesday, November 22. Players are asked to assemble near the canteen at 5.45pm.

Thirroul JFC thanks those players who attended the first kick around this Tuesday night and while a number of players were selected across all teams for next season, the coaching staff want to further to assess others as well as any new players who attend the upcoming sessions.

It is intended to finalise most positions in the U18s Division 1, Youth Grade and senior teams by the final kick around on December 6.

For further information, please contact Thirroul JFC coaching coordinator Brad Walter on 0417 227218.

Kick around for Thunder U18s, Youth Grade and senior teams

A kick around for players interested in playing for Thirroul's Under 18s Division 1, Youth Grade and other senior men's teams in 2017 will be held on Tuesday, 15th November at 5.45pm.

The kick around will take place at McCauley Park and/or the mini-field near the cricket nets as the main fields are currently unavailable due to drainage works undertaken by Thirroul JFC to improve the club's grounds for next season.

Players are requested to meet at Gibson Park, near the canteen, at 5.45pm.

The club's senior coaches will be in attendance and all players wanting to play for the Thunder or Thirroul's Under 18s Division 1 team next season are requested to attend, if possible.

In particular, the coaching staff are keen to assess those players wanting to be considered for the U18s Division 1 and Youth Grade teams, or both.

With the U17.1 and U16.1 teams being league and grand champions this season and the U16.2 team making the grand final, Thirroul JFC expects to have a strong U18s Division 1 team in 2017 and welcomes any player wanting to play in the U18s Division 1 competition to attend the kick around.

Those players will also be considered for Youth Grade selection.

Thirroul JFC made the finals in all three grades of the Football South Coast District League for the second consecutive year this season and aims to again be among the leading clubs in 2017, while continuing to focus on the development of young players.

John Cropper, the club's Mentor: Coaching and Development, will again coach Youth Grade and he will also work closely with the coach of the Under 18s Division 1 team.

John has coached First Grade (Wollongong Olympic, Woonona), Youth Grade (Bulli, Wollongong Olympic) and representative (Wollongong Wolves, South Coast Regional Schools) teams and a number of players under his charge have gone on to play for Australia or in the A-League.

Details of further kick arounds to be held on regular basis will be announced after Tuesday's session.

For further information, please contact Thirroul JFC coaching coordinator Brad Walter on 0417 227218.

Thirroul JFC Senior Awards