Post by paoktzi on Jan 17, 2011 16:20:51 GMT 10
The Real Game caught up exclusively with Football Manager and Director of the historic Bonnyrigg White Eagles, here it is:
First of all Happy New Year George, can we start by telling all your position at Bonnyrigg White Eagles, when you started working with the club?
I have been involved in the club in board level since 2003. Prior to that I have been supporting the club all my life and can admit being one of the young hooligan brigade many many year’s ago.
What did the appointment and capture of Brian Brown as first grade coach mean to the club?
Brian Brown was appointed to the club at about round six in our first season back in NSWPL 2009, Brian Brown together with his assistant coach Cliff Pointer were given the job to put stability back in the team and work out what the club needed to be successful in the following season 2010.
George, much discussion about the size of the Bonnyrigg White Eagles annual budget, can you advise who or what is the main source of income for this?
I am sure when your winning and have a successful team the people around say they have a huge budget to work with. But at BWE it is completely not the case the club is very serious in having a successful first grade team and realizes that to have that you need have strong core of sponsors.
Our club is grateful to our major sponsor NSW Compensation Lawyers and other sponsors Dalma Windows and also the licensed club but also to the corporate sponsors and many season sponsors.
But going back to our budget the club board is very cautious on the amount we can spend and together with the coaching team of Brian and Cliff we were given an amount to work with and with players signed under that budget we are very pleased again to have a very competitive squad for season 2011.
George, what is your role in the day to day running of Bonnyrigg White Eagles?
I am the Club Secretary/Football Manager of the club and also the 1st Grade Manager.
Where do you see the club in 5 years? And what affects do you think the March AGM of FNSW will have on clubs like Bonnyrigg?
Our club has a goal to be most successful club in the NSWPL in the next five years. Putting that aside our club is also building a new stadium which will hold just over 2160 seats with the stadium already built it will have a total seating capacity of about 3000 seats. Also we will be adding another twenty corporate boxes to the already twelve we have.
Re: The March AGM at FNSW I don’t think that will have anything to do with our club, there have been similar changes and re-structures at FNSW in the past 5-7 years but BWE has always been strong and the football powers know where BWE belong.
What is the club’s expected season pass sales for 2011?
Last year we had a cap of about 250 passes this decision was made together with BWE board and FNSW, We are currently having a meetings with FNSW and will look at increasing that number. We also have 80 corporate members which will stay the same.
Which players, have re-singed from the 2010 squad?
We have been lucky we have managed to hold most of the boys, some have moved on some have gone overseas.
Milan Zoric is now playing in the 2nd Div in Serbia and Vuko Tomasevic has moved to the UK to further his employment opportunities. Milorad Simonovic has moved on and signed recently with Blacktown.
Which new signings will the club be unveiling to the public for 2011?
Ben Spruce [Sutherland]
Michael Robinson [Sutherland]
Alex Canak [Marconi]
Tynan Diaz [Wollongong]
And also hoping to announce another two signings in the coming weeks which will complete our squad for 2011.
Also, the club will be looking at youth we have some very good talent to expose next year. One is young David Vrankovic who has been at the NSWIS and currently HAKOA youth team David will be getting a taste of first team football this year. Also, we have Wely Al Rikaby who was had an outstanding talent last yr in the under 18 team and together with another young talent of David Gullo who came through the ranks last yr. These two boys are currently at HAKOA but will be part of our 1st Grade squad throughout the year.
What is the club’s goal for first grade in 2011?
To win the treble League/Grand Final/Cup, the last time the club did this was in 1992 and to do that again will be something special.
What was the feeling around the club after the minor premiership trophy was lifted last year?
It was a great feeling winning the minor premiership but would’ve been a little sweeter if we won the grand final also. But putting that aside to be back in the league in the second year and winning some titles is great for the club and its supporters especially what we have gone through the past 5 or so years and to be back on top where we belong so quickly is unbelievable.
Do Bonnyrigg fans double up as HAKOA Fans?
I am not sure, speaking for myself it’s a bit hard to get the games due to the distance it would be good if the team played somewhere like Parramatta Stadium. I think other BWE supporters are in the same boat.
With synthetic pitches seeming to be the fad at the moment, are the any plans for Bonnyrigg Sports Centre to become a synthetic pitch?
The synthetic pitch is a great idea. I myself am a big fan. But the board has decided to build a new stadium and improve amenities first before thinking of synthetic pitches.
Some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction that Bonnyrigg juniors such as Luka Dukic & Nenad Vekic not being in the squad for 2011, what do you say to this?
Speaking personally it would be of more dissatisfaction if the club would lose young players of Wely Al Rikaby and David Gullo who have been at the club as juniors. Players of Luka Dukic were welcomed at the club for season 2011 but the club encountered some road blocks which made it hard to get over the line maybe one day when the road block is removed the player will be playing at BWE. Also about Nenad Vekic he was at our club for a few yrs but was finding it tough to get a regular start in the starting eleven due to the club having experienced goalkeepers above him as the likes of Phillip Zabaks and Ali Akbal. But you need to understand that both Nenad and Luka were never BWE juniors but to have them one day playing in the Red Blue and White of BWE would be good to see.
George, are crowds for Bonnyrigg up since the club has joined the NSW Premier League if so why, if not how come?
Hard to answer that question, myself personally I have been disappointed with some teams when playing at home thinking the away crowd would be a lot better. But maybe with some teams building stronger teams in season 2011 theses games will improve. And regarding our home games this last year the crowds have been very positive.
Are you happy with the way the FFA, has treated the historic clubs of Australian Football?
BWE hasn’t been affected like the clubs such as Marconi, Syd Utd, Syd Oly and Wollongong all ex-nsl clubs. BWE I believe has benefitted from this with having a stronger competition. But I do believe the FFA should work closer with state league clubs with a number of issues.
Do you think, Ben Buckley is the man to lead the FFA?
Don’t know the man personally but if the FFA appointed him and believe he is the right person so be it and then we should all stand by him.
Finally, when did you start supporting Bonnyrigg and tell us what the club means to you?:
Been a BWE supporter all my life and as a child when it was called Avala. But the sweetest thing will be when watching my two boys one day playing for the mighty White Eagles.
www.therealgame.com.au/news/state-league/141/bonnyrigg-white-eagles-to-build-new-grand-stand
First of all Happy New Year George, can we start by telling all your position at Bonnyrigg White Eagles, when you started working with the club?
I have been involved in the club in board level since 2003. Prior to that I have been supporting the club all my life and can admit being one of the young hooligan brigade many many year’s ago.
What did the appointment and capture of Brian Brown as first grade coach mean to the club?
Brian Brown was appointed to the club at about round six in our first season back in NSWPL 2009, Brian Brown together with his assistant coach Cliff Pointer were given the job to put stability back in the team and work out what the club needed to be successful in the following season 2010.
George, much discussion about the size of the Bonnyrigg White Eagles annual budget, can you advise who or what is the main source of income for this?
I am sure when your winning and have a successful team the people around say they have a huge budget to work with. But at BWE it is completely not the case the club is very serious in having a successful first grade team and realizes that to have that you need have strong core of sponsors.
Our club is grateful to our major sponsor NSW Compensation Lawyers and other sponsors Dalma Windows and also the licensed club but also to the corporate sponsors and many season sponsors.
But going back to our budget the club board is very cautious on the amount we can spend and together with the coaching team of Brian and Cliff we were given an amount to work with and with players signed under that budget we are very pleased again to have a very competitive squad for season 2011.
George, what is your role in the day to day running of Bonnyrigg White Eagles?
I am the Club Secretary/Football Manager of the club and also the 1st Grade Manager.
Where do you see the club in 5 years? And what affects do you think the March AGM of FNSW will have on clubs like Bonnyrigg?
Our club has a goal to be most successful club in the NSWPL in the next five years. Putting that aside our club is also building a new stadium which will hold just over 2160 seats with the stadium already built it will have a total seating capacity of about 3000 seats. Also we will be adding another twenty corporate boxes to the already twelve we have.
Re: The March AGM at FNSW I don’t think that will have anything to do with our club, there have been similar changes and re-structures at FNSW in the past 5-7 years but BWE has always been strong and the football powers know where BWE belong.
What is the club’s expected season pass sales for 2011?
Last year we had a cap of about 250 passes this decision was made together with BWE board and FNSW, We are currently having a meetings with FNSW and will look at increasing that number. We also have 80 corporate members which will stay the same.
Which players, have re-singed from the 2010 squad?
We have been lucky we have managed to hold most of the boys, some have moved on some have gone overseas.
Milan Zoric is now playing in the 2nd Div in Serbia and Vuko Tomasevic has moved to the UK to further his employment opportunities. Milorad Simonovic has moved on and signed recently with Blacktown.
Which new signings will the club be unveiling to the public for 2011?
Ben Spruce [Sutherland]
Michael Robinson [Sutherland]
Alex Canak [Marconi]
Tynan Diaz [Wollongong]
And also hoping to announce another two signings in the coming weeks which will complete our squad for 2011.
Also, the club will be looking at youth we have some very good talent to expose next year. One is young David Vrankovic who has been at the NSWIS and currently HAKOA youth team David will be getting a taste of first team football this year. Also, we have Wely Al Rikaby who was had an outstanding talent last yr in the under 18 team and together with another young talent of David Gullo who came through the ranks last yr. These two boys are currently at HAKOA but will be part of our 1st Grade squad throughout the year.
What is the club’s goal for first grade in 2011?
To win the treble League/Grand Final/Cup, the last time the club did this was in 1992 and to do that again will be something special.
What was the feeling around the club after the minor premiership trophy was lifted last year?
It was a great feeling winning the minor premiership but would’ve been a little sweeter if we won the grand final also. But putting that aside to be back in the league in the second year and winning some titles is great for the club and its supporters especially what we have gone through the past 5 or so years and to be back on top where we belong so quickly is unbelievable.
Do Bonnyrigg fans double up as HAKOA Fans?
I am not sure, speaking for myself it’s a bit hard to get the games due to the distance it would be good if the team played somewhere like Parramatta Stadium. I think other BWE supporters are in the same boat.
With synthetic pitches seeming to be the fad at the moment, are the any plans for Bonnyrigg Sports Centre to become a synthetic pitch?
The synthetic pitch is a great idea. I myself am a big fan. But the board has decided to build a new stadium and improve amenities first before thinking of synthetic pitches.
Some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction that Bonnyrigg juniors such as Luka Dukic & Nenad Vekic not being in the squad for 2011, what do you say to this?
Speaking personally it would be of more dissatisfaction if the club would lose young players of Wely Al Rikaby and David Gullo who have been at the club as juniors. Players of Luka Dukic were welcomed at the club for season 2011 but the club encountered some road blocks which made it hard to get over the line maybe one day when the road block is removed the player will be playing at BWE. Also about Nenad Vekic he was at our club for a few yrs but was finding it tough to get a regular start in the starting eleven due to the club having experienced goalkeepers above him as the likes of Phillip Zabaks and Ali Akbal. But you need to understand that both Nenad and Luka were never BWE juniors but to have them one day playing in the Red Blue and White of BWE would be good to see.
George, are crowds for Bonnyrigg up since the club has joined the NSW Premier League if so why, if not how come?
Hard to answer that question, myself personally I have been disappointed with some teams when playing at home thinking the away crowd would be a lot better. But maybe with some teams building stronger teams in season 2011 theses games will improve. And regarding our home games this last year the crowds have been very positive.
Are you happy with the way the FFA, has treated the historic clubs of Australian Football?
BWE hasn’t been affected like the clubs such as Marconi, Syd Utd, Syd Oly and Wollongong all ex-nsl clubs. BWE I believe has benefitted from this with having a stronger competition. But I do believe the FFA should work closer with state league clubs with a number of issues.
Do you think, Ben Buckley is the man to lead the FFA?
Don’t know the man personally but if the FFA appointed him and believe he is the right person so be it and then we should all stand by him.
Finally, when did you start supporting Bonnyrigg and tell us what the club means to you?:
Been a BWE supporter all my life and as a child when it was called Avala. But the sweetest thing will be when watching my two boys one day playing for the mighty White Eagles.
www.therealgame.com.au/news/state-league/141/bonnyrigg-white-eagles-to-build-new-grand-stand
