We made it! Round 1 is about to start!
Message from the Head of Football
A new season, and a new start for all our teams. This year we have welcomed many new members to the Hampton Rovers, and we wish them all the best as they put on the Green and Gold for the first time.
For everyone else returning to the Rovers, it is great to have you back ready to play for Round 1.
It has already been a busy start to season 2023, and for many this is the last chance to draw breath before we get stuck into the first rounds. It also provides an opportunity to look back on the pre-season and see what we have all achieved as a Club.
Pre-season athletics program
This year we continued our pre-season partnership with the Sandringham Little Athletics Club (SLAC). It was a successful program delivered over six weeks, building on the success of the 2022 program. For many of our players the programming provided a solid fitness base that they can build on during the season.
Providing pre-season training opportunities can be limited as our Club takes tenancy of the Rovers grounds from 1 April. However, thanks to the support of the Bayside City Council and the SLAC, we received a grant that helped the Club cover the costs of the Sandy Little Aths coaches.
The program gave our players important and early exposure to the benefits of a structured running program as part of their football pre-season. It also provided training on correct warm up methods, different running techniques and learning how to build on essential running elements over time. It also provided our Club with an opportunity to access a training facility in Bayside when we need it most.
Thanks to the Sandringham Little Athletics Club, especially Nicole George, Mike Cahill and Todd Hartley, as well as the wonderful coaches that worked with our players.
We look forward to continuing this partnership with SLAC in 2024.
Updated East Sandringham merge partnership agreement
East Sandringham JFC and Hampton Rovers JFC have in place a Merge Agreement that brings together boy teams from the older age groups to ensure that both clubs retain players and members, and provides good depth in our playing squads.
Following discussions with the East Sandringham and Hampton Rovers junior committees, we have reached an agreement to add U15s to the merge group – creating the U15 East Sandringham Rovers.
All other aspects of the Merge Agreement will remain in place. The U17.5 and U15 sides are managed by East Sandringham, with U16 managed by Hampton Rovers. For this year, the U14 team has been merged early by exception, and will also be managed by the Hampton Rovers.
Having the Merge Agreement ensures that more players are able to play in their best silo of development as they grow during their teenage years.
We look forward to many more successful years with our partner club as part of the East Sandringham Rovers.
Under 8s – looking great in 2023
The future stars of our Club are about to embark on their first club footy experience. To ensure a great introduction to the Club, there the SMJFL have a great Footy for Fun program for their first round of footy. All U8 teams will play two games in the one day in a format that is similar to a Lightning Carnival.
We have welcomed 48 players into the Hampton Rovers U8 squad this year, and we are fortunate to have some passionate football coaches that will help guide these children in the early years of their football journey. It is a fun time and for many players they have fond memories of their early years at the Hampton Rovers. Good luck to all our U8s. We hope that you all enjoy the fun of playing football!
Steve Nelson
Head of Football
