This week at Coopers Stadium will be a huge game for the Norwood Football Club when it takes on Sturt. A clash between second and fourth is something that we havent seen from these two sides for some time. The forecast is for a cool but clear night with no rain to interupt what will be a great game of footy. So be sure to get there to support the Redlegs. It is Rivalry Round in the SANFL and the history between these two sides is well documented. To celebrate this history the SANFL have co-ordinated a Legends Game to be held between the two main matches with the likes of Aish, Colosante, Oatey and others taking on the former Sturt greats.
Oh yeah, did I mention that Macca was also playing!
A win in the league match will be vital to ensure that the season stays on track and the reserves will be desperate to retain top spot. It will be cold but it will be worth the effort to see this match. We look forward to seing as many as possible there.
It has been a few weeks since I have posted here due to three home games and the auction in the space of a month. As by way of an update, off the field there is certainly plenty going on. In particular the final touches are now going on our gaming venue. Known as The Nor East Gilles Plains this venue is something that all Norwood supporters can be proud of. Although not covered in red and blue or housing the clubs history we know that you will appreciate the quality of the venue and the subtle touches that have been included. The completion of this building and the sale of our property on The Parade have been substantial activity for the club in recent times and when all completed, will see the club in a much stronger position.
With the auction now successfully completed the club will turn its attention to continuing to raise much needed funds. Gaming will not see us "out of the woods" and we must continue to work hard as a club. After the success of last year the club will again be hosting Barossa Wine Making Legend Grant Burge at the Robin Hood Hotel on Wednesday July 11 at 6.30pm. Tickets are limited and only $60 for a typically generous Robin Hood Hotel 3 course meal and a selection of premium wines by Grant Burge Wines.
Paradise Motors have supplied a Mazda 2 for this years Major Raffle and we ask that you keep an eye for a ticket or a book in the near future. In the second half of the year the club will also be looking to conduct events under the successful Norwood Business Series banner with a breakfast and dinner in the planning.
The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Saturday August 25th at the Hyatt - North Terrace. This year five people will be inducted and this event will be combined with a celebration of the 1907 Premiership, the 1977 Ardath Cup win and the 1997 Premiership. It will again be a great night for all Norwood supporters and details of this function will be included in the soon to be released Redlegs Review.
Thanks to the contribution of many we feel the Redlegs Review has improved again this year and with our website being upgraded by Anthony Harvey we hope that all Norwood supporters can get their hands on all the red and blue news that they need. Also just last week we had our new Fortis database management sysytem installed at the club to allow us to email, SMS and mail out to our members and supporters more effeciently. This inititaive was introducted to the SANFL and all of the clubs by the Norwood Football Club and the name Fortis maybe a slight giveaway that Feedback Friend developed the programe. Feedback Friend is run by former players Anthony Harvey, Stephen Patterson and Justin Staritski.
Unfortunately memebrship is still slightly behind where we would like to be. After a number of initiatives on The Parade earlier in the year and improving our value we would still encourage anyone who has taken the opportunity to now renew and be apart of everything that is happening at the club.
The new administrative structure at the club continues to take shape and we welcome the appointment of Gemma Snewin. Gemma will be directly responsible for driving income into the club through new sponsors, members, functions and other initiatives. Gemma has already signed a number of new sponsors, been a part of the successful auction, reintroduced the match day raffle, "sold out" this weeks pre match function and is working on many other ways to increase the clubs revenue.
The club is now working on building its Strategic Plan for the next three to five years. With so much having taken place recently it is now important that we harness the opportunities in front of us. When gaming finally comes online, football will once again be the number one priority at the club and we will work at making this continually successful. Commercial opportunities will be further developed to ensure the clubs viability as a football club. We hope to release details of this towards the end of the season.
Of course the most pleasing part of all of this has been the form of all our sides and this naturally provides the off field with a huge boost. With the half way point of the season upon us we look forward to finishing the year on a high note in all areas of the club.
But first, Sturt on Friday night! I hope to see you there.
