MITCHELL Rangers Soccer Club held its inaugural Gala Day for its juniors against Doreen United Soccer Club, with club president Rebecca Rolfe hailing the day as a win for the wider community.
A big day of action on Sunday saw 23 games played with 27 teams, bringing together over 320 players from both Mitchell Rangers and Doreen United, and over 1000 people in attendance to catch a glimpse of the region’s promising future talent across boys and girls soccer.
The day saw both the main pitch and the Broadford high school pitches utilised, while Mitchell Majors Baseball Club also assisted in providing a pitch to warm up on before games.
The final game of the day saw a joint under 16s, seniors and thirds game, ending with a penalty shootout.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland was in attendance, as was Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor John Dougall.
Rolfe said she was hoping to make the day an annual event between the two northern corridor clubs.
“The spirit and camaraderie between the two clubs is great. We’re hoping to start a yearly event, and this is the inaugural one, so the work that goes behind this is immense,” she said.
“Volunteers, club committee members and the kids themselves have just been amazing. We always look forward to a competitive game all in good fun.”
Rolfe revealed that a female-focused gala day between Mitchell Rangers and Macedon Ranges is in the works for next week.
“Next week’s one will be focused on the girls, we do need a few more female players, juniors especially, up to the senior women,” she said.
“The Matildas has created the biggest and best advertisement. It’s a great sport to be involved in. The camaraderie, the teams, friendships and everything that’s made in this sport is just amazing.
“With the girls, the interest is there. We’ve been able to create so many girls’ teams, and it’s really good. We applaud the Matildas for that, the interest in getting the girls on board is amazing, so it’s not only a boy’s sport.”
An All-Abilities gala day is also on the table, with the team ready to make its return for the season ahead.
“The All-Abilities teams have had huge interest with returning coach Paul Sirianni. We’re hoping to have another gala day for those guys too in the future,” Rolfe said.
Meantime, Mitchell Rangers’ men’s teams returned to the pitch on Saturday, hosting Old Trinity Grammarians.
The seniors fell to a 1-2 loss, with William Mulvey scoring Rangers’ goal, but it was a competitive return to a season where a restructure has seen them placed in the state league men’s 7 competition.
The reserves fell to a 1-3 defeat, but it was a successful first outing back in the competition.
Rolfe said a mixture of returning players and new players have given the club plenty of hope.
“The spirit is there. We would love to have some extra senior players around the club, but this season, there are a lot of returning players and some new players in the seniors and reserves,” she said.
The club hosts a second straight home game this Saturday, against Greenvale United.