CENTRE AN EXCELLENT PLAN FOR CLUB

BY GERRY O'DEA

WEST PERTH FOOTBALL CLUB CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JOONDALUP WEEKENDER - THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY 2013

THE Falcons are 128 years old this year. Formed in 1885, the oldest club in the WA Football League has come a long way from Leederville Oval to now be firmly based at Arena Joondalup in the ever-expanding northern suburbs.

With a healthy membership and sponsor base, we are widely acknowledged as having the best club/district relationship in the WAFL.

Our junior clubs do an amazing job with thousands of youngsters each weekend, not to mention the school children who benefit from our district programs and promotions.

Recently we have been lobbying the State and local governments hard to improve our facility at Arena Joondalup and so be able to offer better services and programs to the community.

It’s a proven fact that technology is playing a bigger part in our children’s lives, and as a society, we also have issues with obesity and poor health.

A new Centre of Excellence for the Falcons would allow us to do so much more for our school children and youth footballers who need greater resources and opportunities.

It’s time to get youngsters off the couch and on to the playing fields. We have the best weather in Australia, so there is no excuse.

Exercise and good habits need to be taught early on in life so that healthy lifestyles can be learnt and maintained.

The Falcons are committed to providing the local community with an all-encompassing facility.

There is a thought that football or sport can be a bit one dimensional, but today’s football club needs to diversify to survive, and must ensure it has strong links to the local community and needs to be making a difference to the youngsters and families.

Words and traits such as teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, fitness, friendship and loyalty are still as important today as they have ever been.

A new Falcons Centre of Excellence at Arena Joondalup will serve the local community’s needs for the next 30 years, and ensure our youngsters are being the best they can be.

http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/comment-and-opinion/Centre-an-excellent-plan-for-club/7640310/