Growing Number Of Lachlan Utd Girls Playing For Canberra Croatia: Congratulations to Makalya Sloane who has been selected for Canberra Croatia U/17s to help bolster their squad. Lachlan Utd girls Josie Mckenzie and Ruby Schofield continued on there ways with the U/14s winning 8-0 v Tuggeranong Utd and then Josie subbing up into the U/15s winning 3-0. Gunghalin Utd this weekend.

School Holiday Camp: Coming up Monday 3rd July. Registrations are due by Saturday 24th June and payment of $10 can be made at the canteen. Assistant coaches include Country NSW TSP Program Goalkeeper Nick Zannes who will run special 1 hour goalkeeper sessions for our juniors, Canberra Croatia and NSW Country representative Josie Mckenzie and Lachlan Utd senior girls players – Katie Schulz and Lily Browne.

Congratulations: To the following Best and Fairest players as voted by referees for Round 6. Make sure you visit Pulse Coffee van this Saturday and we thank them for their sponsorship and support.

• U12s: Ryker Moore (Victory) Patere Mcintyre (Power) Lochie Jones (Olympic)

• Open Juniors: Nicole Ellis (Thunder) Riley McMaster (Rovers) Lachlan Kupkee (Spartans)

If anyone can help in canteen this weekend, please, as our Canteen Manager is unavailable.

Forbes DSC player, Josie Mckenzie has been invited to the Football Australia 2010 Elite Invitation Game as part of FNSW and FFA girls talent identification pathways. 

Elite Matches allow those players considered the most talented players in that state to play against each other in a ‘best v best’ environment, stretching players capabilities and highlighting their areas of strength and opportunities for improvement in a high intensity match. Football Australia want to extend the frequency of Elite Matches across the country as an additional Talent Identification method to help unearth players who show a high potential. 

Applications for The NSW Football Legacy Fund are now open. The Fund aims to improve football facilities and support infrastructure, increase participation opportunities, and improve female player pathways. 

These improvements will create a tournament legacy ensuring all of NSW is positively impacted from hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. More info can be found at www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/nsw-football-legacy-fund

Another important reminder from the NSW Office of sport is if you’re heading out to junior sport this weekend, don’t forget to be mindful of how your behaviour on the sidelines can impact kids and volunteers.

Remember to think before you speak, remain supportive and help create a fun and positive environment!

The Orange/Forbes under 14’s and 17’s both claimed strong wins over Bathurst Bushrangers on another cold day in Orange on Sunday.

The last Sunday of autumn produced an opening quarter full of goals on a tough day as the players struggled to come to terms with the cold conditions.

It took a moment of class from Orange/Forbes to get the ball rolling early in the first quarter. The Swamp Tigers bagged three early goals to put Orange/Forbes in control of the scoreboard in the first quarter. Bathurst replied with one behind to bring the score to eighteen one at quarter time.

The Swamp Tigers kicked an early two goals in the second quarter, but Bathurst narrowed the lead getting their first goal through an excellent piece of play. Orange/Forbes put paid to any comeback from Bathurst however kicking another three goals to have a comfortable lead at half time. The final two quarters were controlled by the Swamp Tigers kicking another six goals to one to take the game 14.9 (93) to 2.2 (14). 

Best on ground for Orange/Forbes was Forbes own Jackson Beaudin with Max Ridge a close second.

The under 17’s match was all Orange/Forbes in the cold. The Orange/Forbes defence was troubled at times during the early stages of the match but were always in control, holding the Bushrangers to just two points. There were solid performances all over the ground from the 17’s but it was Harrison Coleman who was named best on ground for his haul of three goals. The under 17’s took the win in convincing fashion winning 10.21 (81) to 0.2 (2).

This week the Swamp Tigers travel to Dubbo to tackle the Dee’s. 

The advanced, Lachlan Utd and Club training schedule for April is as follows:

Advanced program: All Tuesdays (except Anzac Day) 4th, 11th, 18th andThursdays this week 4th and 27th Aprilmornings 7am – 8am.

Lachlan Utd, U/12 & 14 Youth League:This Wednesday 4th and 26th April (nothing in school holidays). Under 17s to benotified by Team Coach John Zannes.

Community Training: This Tuesdayand Thursday (nothing in school holidays or Anzac Day), then on Thursday27 April.3.45 – 4.30pm: Age 4-6 years4.30 – 5.30pm: Age 7-9 years5.30 – 6.30pm: Age 10-13 years

The Western NSW Girls Mini Gala Day was hosted by Parkes DSC on Sunday, 2nd April. The Under 10, 12s, 14s and 16 Lachlan United girls will play Orange, Bathurst, Mudgee and Dubbo in an exciting pre-season girls soccer promotion day. It was great to see all the players family and friends supporting our girls and contributing to the day.

With the help of Club Referee Coach – Ian Bishop and Football NSW Referee Branch in eliminating the $44 joining fee this year, we are keen to grow our team of Game Leaders (games 9-12yrs) and Referees and Assist Referees (12yrs to adult games). Girls, ladies, boys and men are all encouraged and welcome to join our growing pool of game day officials. We also provide you with your referee shirt, hat and other necessary equipment. Any kids, players, parents that are interested please inbox message the club. Thanks to Ian Bishop, club referee coach who has been training and developing adult and teenagers to be referees. 

Parkes soccer players have been training as part of the Lachlan team to comete in a pre-season competition against larger centers like Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Cowra, Mudgee/Lithgow in an upcoming Gala at Goulburn.

The Lachlan team consists of players from Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin, Cowra and Yeoval. The formation of the Lachlan team was important to give the youth in these smaller towns the opportunity to play.

The Forbes District Soccer Club (Forbes DSC) has been awarded two grants for Infrastructure and Participation by The Hon. Alisten Henskens SC MP. 

The first grant of $13,050 for Young Matildas Girls All Inclusive Programs of Excellence will develop female committee leadership, female referee training and certifications, female coaching courses, training programs, school holiday camp with W League players, and participation in pathways programs and events.

The second grant of $103,506 will facilitate Forbes DSC canteen facilities & storage infrastructure revitalisation. The grant will be supplement by an additional $100,000 from Forbes Shire Council and $3,500 from Forbes DSC. The total of $207,000 will be used for the commercial upgrade of the canteen, outfitting of the office, conversion of old changeroom into female compliant referee/changeroom, a five bay storage facility including $20,000 towards a new strength and conditioning gym.

This funding underpins our new advanced training program to be delivered on Tuesday and Thursday morning before school along with our nutrition breakfast menu for players identified to play Country NSW, NPL, Lachlan Utd & Western NSW FC in the future.

Many thanks to Phyllis Miller and Forbes Shire Council, Andrew Fearnley Football NSW, Daniel Ristic Football NSW, local school Principals and local MP Phil Donato for supporting our vision and applications for funding.

Lachlan United has been busy behind the scenes preparing for the 2023 soccer season.

Lachlan United Soccer Club was formed to encourage development pathways for rural kids to achieve placement in representative teams and increase the overall talent in the area. Players come from Forbes, Parkes, Cowra, Grenfell and surrounding areas. By bringing them all under the one banner, players will be able to make the most of courses and coaching opportunities not available in their hometowns.

The Forbes off season Goalkeeper development course held in November, saw promising soccer stars Nick Zannes, Indiana Kennedy and Josie McKenzie being selected in the U/14 Boys and U/13 girls NSW Country Futsal teams to play at the National Championships to be held in Melbourne in 2023.

Players who have been selected to play with the Lachlan United Soccer Club have a lot to look forward to in 2023. Several carnivals and gala days are already locked into the calendar, bringing teams from across the state to compete in our local area.

Teams will also travel to Goulburn to start the season at the Merino Cup, followed by a Mini Girls Gala Day hosted by Parkes, involving all western associated teams.

The opportunity to again start hosting these events, will see more than just the local soccer community benefit. The hosting towns can expect more than 5,000 visitors to visit the region, a boost that can’t come soon enough.

With the prospect of hosting larger tournaments in the future, the club is hopeful funding will come through for improvements to facilities such as training gyms, enhancing grounds and upgrading change rooms.

Forbes Soccer Club will be starting development programs for girls thanks to a $9,000 grant.

“With this funding, our club can fund new training sessions with female coaches which will provide the opportunity for girls to learn and play a sport in a fun and engaging environment,” said Club President of Forbes & District Soccer Club Paula Browne.

She welcomed the announcement and thanked the NSW Government, saying that the investment would ensure young girls in the area could participate in the sport.

“I am grateful to the NSW Government as it supports our children and young people, through initiatives like the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative.”

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the funding would support the club in hiring female coaches and referees, deliver more player advancement sessions and increase the number of females in the executive leadership.

“Programs such as Forbes Soccer Club’s is a great example of how we can improve the inclusiveness of sports for women.

“The club will recruit more female staff, deliver ‘come and try’ sessions for juniors and tailor advancement programs to push young girls to dream big.”

The Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative is funded through the NSW COVID-19 Economic Recovery Initiative and the co-funded NSW and Australian Governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for funding for wellbeing programs, events and resources as part of the initiative.

Applications for both large and smaller grants are open now and close on 31 December 2022, or when fully allocated.

For program and eligibility guidelines, visit nsw.gov.au/YouthWellbeing.