Happy New Year to everyone associated with the Upper Gully Football Club as we head back into second division for 2017. The players have been back at training since the 23rd January and the coaching staff have been busy with a couple of new recruits with more to be signed soon; see below for a Leader Newspaper interview with Chad Rogers outlining the season ahead. The season kicks off on the 8th April when we will unfurl the flag before taking on Mitcham, this day will also incorporate Past Players Day; more details to be announced soon. The club extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Life Member and Past President Ted Connop who passed away recently, especially his wife Betty who is also an Upper Gully Life Member. The club is also saddened to hear of the passing this week of 1958 Premiership player Ian Hibbins and last week of past player Murray Skelton. The club is looking at the possibility of entering a women’s team in the newly formed Eastern Region competition this season and will be holding an information night at Kings Park on the 20th February at 7.30pm for those interested; see attached flyer for further information. Tim Smith has been hard at it training with Melbourne hoping to get an opportunity this season; click on the following link for an article from the Melbourne Website. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-01-29/hard-work-pays-off-for-smith The Vets, after playing in the finals last season, have started training and will continue on Tuesday nights at Tommy’s and Thursday nights at the Netball Courts; contact Jason Zinnow for more info on 0411 079 829. The Netball girls are also back this season, they are holding another registration day this Saturday from 1pm until 2pm at Kings Park Clubrooms, for more information please email uftg-netball@hotmail.comAll players are again available to be sponsored next season, get in touch with your favourite player and help them out or contact the club if you require further information. Don’t forget that Club Memberships are always available; be a member not just a supporter. Don’t forget to support our sponsors and especially our major sponsor Ferntree Gully Toyota; contact club vice-president Dean Wilson on 0412 312 672 to help get you a great deal on your next Toyota purchase. Get down to the Royal Hotel between 5:30pm and 6:00pm on Thursday’s for the Meat Tray Raffle; special thanks to James Hume (Upper Gully Life Member) for running this raffle, with help from another Life member in Neil Roberts as well as Boococks Meats and the Royal for their support. Remember also that the Royal Hotel has a new Club Rewards System; so please sign up and get your card to be rewarded with a discount for yourself and help the club financially. The club has many social media avenues to keep in touch with as well as the website;http://www.uftgfc.sportingpulse.net for all the latest news and photos from around the club. Thank you to all our sponsors for 2017 and especially our Major Sponsor Ferntree Gully Toyota and our Gold level sponsors LPS Waste Services, FTG Motor Group, Frawley Signs, Action Events and Mystique Printing. Anyone wanting to contribute to this newsletter please email uppergullynews@hotmail.com
Premiers and Champions in 2016 Upper.....Go the Red and Blue!
RIP – Ted Connop - b. 6-10-1925 - d. 12-1-2017
Condolences to the family and friends of Life Member Ted Connop who recently passed away. Ted first started playing football in 1945 with Ferntree Gully before moving to Upwey where he played 20 senior games as well as being Secretary in 1949 and 1950. Interestingly his twin brother Charlie was also secretary of Ferntree Gully at the time. In 1952 Ted arrived at Upper Gully as a player going on to play 39 games until the end of 1954 in which season he wore number 25 and received the Best Playing Clubman award. In 1955 Ted joined the committee and was Vice President between 1956 and 1958. Ted took over as President in 1959 serving in this role until 1964. During his time as President the club won 3 senior premierships and an U16 and reserves premiership in the most productive era for the club. Ted received his Life membership at the 1962 AGM and also presided over the opening of the Pavilion in 1962 and went on to receive the Outstanding Services Trophy in 1963. After standing down as president he was again Vice President in 1965. Ted’s wife Betty was also heavily involved with the club over this period serving on the Social Committee between 1955 and 1966 which resulted in her being awarded Life Membership at the 1964 Presentation Ball. In later years Ted attended the 50th anniversary of 1958 premiership side catching up with many old faces from the Clubs first Premiership.
Upper Ferntree Gully confident of success in Division 2 after undefeated 2016 season
UPPER Ferntree Gully coach Chad Rogers believes the Kings’ best football will be able to match it with the best sides in Division 2 in 2017. Upper Gully progressed through last year undefeated to claim the Division 3 premiership, but will be without premiership players Adrian Tapscott and Tate Hickleton this season. Tapscott (knee) and Les Leete medallist Hickleton (shoulder), who was best-on-ground in the grand final for his six-goal haul, have both undergone reconstructions during the off-season, while fellow premiership player Jake Calvert is moving to Queensland.
However, Rogers said the club was hoping to announce some new recruits next week. “We do have some handy replacements coming in,” Rogers said. “I’m confident we’ll be strong but understanding second division is a very even competition and understanding the recruiting of other sides it has got a bit stronger.” Two of the past five Division 3 premiers (Doncaster and North Ringwood) are now competing in the Eastern Football League’s top grade, while 2014 premiers Wantirna South played in the Division 2 grand final last year. Rogers said he was hoping for similar success, adding the Kings’ best would be good enough to be “really successful”.
“The hardest thing is when you win the flag and everyone thinks they’ve done what they need to do but it is now about resetting because we have another challenge in second division,” he said. “Our best is good enough to be competitive, it is as simple as that. “It is about getting everyone on board and striving to do the right things and doing all the hard work so the success will happen during the year.” Rogers nominated half-back distributor Luke Meagher, older brother Tom, Jarrod Whiteman, whose 2016 was plagued by injury, and Corey Wakefield as young players to relish the step up in standard. “With the young side we have, we have a lot of improvement in a lot of them as well so I am looking forward to seeing that,” he said. “There is plenty of talent coming through so it is about harnessing that and getting everyone’s motivation up heading towards second division.”
Last Modified on 13/04/2017 19:04