Young committee steps up to drive Narrabri Eleven FC forward in 2022

Local soccer club Narrabri Eleven FC is busily preparing for the 2022 Namoi Soccer League season and beyond after its young committee recently began working together to ensure the club is in the best possible position for when round one finally arrives.

The club hosted its annual general meeting in January, at which Chloe Myers was elected to replace Chris Simmons as president in 2022. She was joined on the executive by Ronnie Bower (vice-president), Phoebe Schwager (secretary) and Bailey Campbell (treasurer), while Brad Cornall, Riley Longworth, Josh Boyd and Jakeb Nipperess all took on committee member positions.

The new-look committee is a very enthusiastic one, full of young people who are determined to help the club put its best foot forward.

“It’s really good. We weren’t really expecting so many young people to get involved,” Myers told The Courier.

“There’s a lot of new ideas, which is what we wanted.

“We are hoping we can stick with this committee next year too. That way we’re not changing things too much like we have done every year.

“It’s been busy so far but we know it will get easier.”

Josh Boyd and Tyler Allen, who have played for the club in recent years, will share the role of co-coaches of both of the Elevens’ two teams in the Namoi Soccer League competition in 2022.

The Elevens have been training for several weeks at Gately Field, and on Tuesday relocated to their home ground at Hogan Oval. They will train there every Tuesday and Thursday night until the season concludes.

“We’ve been getting more people show up each week, which is good,” Boyd said.

“There’s lots of enthusiasm which is always good to see,” Myers added.

“Everyone is welcome and you don’t have to play to train with us.

“It’s really good fitness.

“We are a great club to be a part of. It’s really just a big family and we love soccer.”

The Elevens finished second on the Namoi Soccer League ladder in 2020 and qualified for their first grand final since the club was formed in 2017.

They finished in fourth place on the four-team first grade last year and now enter the 2022 season with a young group of players who are determined to get their team back into the finals.

“We are rebuilding this year,” Boyd said.

“There’ll be a lot of young people in our first grade team.”

“We are really trying to give the older players looking to step down that option, and bring our juniors up into first grade,” Myers added.

“The young ones are very keen, so we are hoping to push them forward and challenge them.”

Six teams will line up in the first and second grade competitions this year after Gunnedah FC and Inverell FC joined in the off-season.

The 2022 campaign will kick off on Saturday, April 30.