Soccer socked, foot's on the ball

Teo Pellizzeri

December 9 2008

Shepparton News

The F-word could be spoken far more frequently in the Goulburn Valley sporting community next year.

North Eastern Soccer League yesterday confirmed it would place a potential name change to North Eastern Football League on its annual meeting agenda.

It falls into line with a nationwide trend of soccer communities ditching ``soccer'' and adopting the game's more-recognised name worldwide.

Labelling a soccer competition with the word ``football'' would not be a first in country Victoria _ leagues such as the Albury Wodonga Football Association and Geelong Region Football Association removed ``soccer'' from their titles this decade.

Goulburn Valley Football League general manager Keith Wellman said his personal opinion was that soccer be referred to as soccer.

``I think it would cause confusion with the other (Australian) football leagues around,'' he said.

Soccer broadcasting doyen Les Murray yesterday loaned his support to the idea of adopting football in the league's title.

``I understand the dilemma if the majority of people in the area refer to Aussie Rules as football,'' Mr Murray said.

``Australia is calling it what the rest of the world calls it, the whole country is using the word football.''

Lurg resident Roman Kaminski put the league name change on the agenda with his suggestion for a new competition logo based on a Dethridge wheel.

``(The) Dethridge wheel (represents) water irrigation, growth, food from hard-working Australians that have come from all over the world,'' Mr Kaminski said.

``The football represents the people that have (come) from all over the world the NEFL is made up from.''

North Eastern league president Frank Trimboli yesterday said from Fiji that the league had talked to FFV about changing its name and the time might now be right to do so.

The North Eastern league's annual meeting will be held on a date to be set in January next year.