Wanderers on the move

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 36

Wanderers on the move

“The Canterrbury Wanderers Soccer Club is on the move,” says Mr Colin Rhodes, the club’s full-time promotions manager. “We are determined to provide soccer for people who want to play socially or competitively at the

highest level. We also recently became an all-year sports club when we introduced cricket for the summer. This has given us a broader membership base. “At present the club has 290 junior members in 25 soccer teams; 90 senior

men in five teams; 15 senior women in one team and 50 cricket players making up three senior teams.” One of the important functions for a sports club is fund raising. Funds are required for more than club facilities, however.

According to Mr Rhodes, when a club becomes involved in national competitions additional funds are' required for travelling and other expenses. He says that some successful clubs have folded because of the lack of funds.

To help Cashmere Wanderers Mr Rhodes has been appointed as a fulltime promotions manager responsible for fund raising, publicity and negotiating sponsorship. Mr Rhodes says he has a personal interest in the club. He has been a Canterbury Wanderers member for 25 years as a player and is now a junior team coach. “I am determined that the club will always have a sound financial base. This is essential if we are to have long-term involvement in top-level soccer.

“We believe that if the club is to have a future, the financial situation has to be secure before

players compete at the national level.”

At the end of the recent season, Canterbury Wanderers senior teams all finished in the middle of their respective tables. The first team, playing in the Southern League qualifying competition, suffered several injuries and were especially handicapped with the loss of Josh Te Kaat through a serious injury early in the season.

The recent season was a good one for Canterbury Wanderers junior soccer players with seven being selected as Canterbury representatives. Four players in the under-11 team were selected for the 1990 tour of Tasmania.

“The club is providing special coaching courses for the team coaches to ensure members have every opportunity to improve their soccer,” Mr Rhodes says.