Alloway Football Club Inc.

Pictured: Alloway Football Club’s director of coaching Craig Brown (front), head development coach Lynn Hodgkinson and vice-president Chad Simpson.

Courtesy of Bundaberg News-Mail - Saturday 24th December 2011

INAUGURAL Bundaberg Spirit coach Lynn Hodgkinson will take the reins of the resurgent Alloway Football Club as coaching director in 2012.

The experienced local coach has cited a desire for a new challenge and the changing dynamics of the local Football Bundaberg association as reasons for his return to the coach's box.

Hodgkinson and former Bundaberg Spirit manager Wayne Cameron resigned at the beginning of the team's second Queensland State League season after relations with Football Bundaberg deteriorated.

He said players at the club could expect a major overhaul, with emphasis on a new playing style modelled on the Football Federation Australia national curriculum.

"The players will be working very hard and I'll be challenging them to adopt a different style of play than they are used to," he said.

"I'll be aiming to implement a four-three-three playing structure and will introduce a few new playing systems."

As Alloway's coaching director, he will be responsible for coaching the first division team as well as overseeing coaching of the second and third divisions.

Hodgkinson has previous coaching experience in Bundaberg's premier league competition, having coached Diggers from 2004-07.

The era yielded a premiership in 2006 and a championship in 2005, and has been identified as being a factor in the team's current success.

Hodgkinson said he would be focused squarely on the premier league silverware after watching Alloway go down valiantly in the 2011 semi-finals.

"If you're going to coach and put all your time into something, then you want to win trophies," he said.

"It's not the sole focus, but you do want your team to be the best in the competition."

He said his time with Bundaberg Spirit had been invaluable.

"As a coach, my time with the Spirit was priceless," he told the NewsMail.

"It consolidated my thinking on a number of tactical issues and in the way to train players."

Training for Division 1, 2 and 3 will begin on January 9 from 6pm at Alloway Football Club. Inquiries: Call Craig Brown on 0412 775 885.

Pictured: Graham Harvey (Coach of Whitsunday Miners)

Whitsunday Miners coach Graham Harvey will be back at the helm next year of the QSL semi finalist team. The Alloway FC would like to congratulate Graham on his achievements of 2011 and look forward to continuing our support throughout 2012.

The 2012 season is closely approaching and the Alloway FC have been busy organising a coaching roster ready to hit the ground running. More details will be unveilled over the coming days. The club will begin senior men's training starting on Monday the 9th January at 6pm and continue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night until closer into pre season. All new and old players welcome to join.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Alloway FC.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday period!!

"Gerrard P. Stevens"  feat.   "Muffman"

My darling I ....... can't get enough of your love baby, hmmm hmmm. Hi it's Gerrard here and I'm back to talk to you about the very touchy subject of loveeeee. That's right loveeeee.

Now as the man behind the scenes at Alloway FC I must admit I have been truely and outstandingly touched by the love that flows through the family club. So I'm here to answer the questions that has been posed to me by my many thousands of emails and letters from my adoring fans.

First things first I want to set the record straight about myself and Muffman. Yes we are good friends, yes we travel together to and from training in my sexy but stylish Suzuki Swift and yes, sometimes we do shower together after games, but that is where the rumor ends about us starting a fast food restaurant together. Come on guys enough is enough.

One question posed to me the other day was this. "I really like the star striker of your soccer team but I just don't know whether I can commit the time and energy into a relationship when Home and Away is on at Seven o'çlock at night." I contemplated this for awhile and thought hmmm. "Why don't you buy one of those glasses with the TV built into them then go down to McDonalds and buy your man to be a cheeseburger." Remember ladies guys love cheeseburgers and the old lamb sandwich depending on the time of night. Everyone's happy.

Another question posed to me was the about the love and comradery shown throughout the Third, Second and First Division sides. "Everyone gets on so well what is your secret ?" I pondered for awhile and thought hmmm, "it's like this, a team that plays cards together plays hard together. A team that stays together doesn't get lost in the bush and a team that has BBQ's together normally ends up at Browny's place for some odd reason, you know I have a big BBQ to. "

The third question I was asked Saturday night was from my best mate Muffy's father. "Gerrard where are you going?" for which I replied, "I'm going home to reply to all my adoring fans letters, "  It's so hard being in such high demand.

On a sad note the Italian Stallion's must return to their homeland after fears of another ride with the fun stoppers might render their chances of coming back to Australia impossible.

Salsa lessons will also be starting again in the coming weeks and will be instructed by the one and only "Midnight in Chelsea" la di da di da di da,  who's fast footwork helped AFC third division earn a valuable point against Bargara Urawa reds in last weeks match at Martin Oval.

We will also be taking names of players who are interested in participating in our self defence course and boxing lessons which will be instructed by Antonio Hux. This will only be available however if time is permitted due to his management commitments with Livio "dad" Marin.

Last but not least the pink shirt award this week goes to my friend and fellow footballarian Nathan "the man" Negalis who played extremely well in second division but was unable to return to the field in his third division match because of shin splints or something similar to that. 

Alloway Football Club is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Chad Simpson as director of coaching.

Pictured: Chad "the chemist" Simpson

Chad has a masters degree in agronomy and plies his trade in Isis for Simpson Farms. Chad has been an ever present figure at Alloway for over two years now and has done great things when it comes to the organization and coaching of our junior sides. Both Chad and wife Stacy have two children playing for Alloway.

It's also great to know someone with Chad's expertise when it comes to the maintenance of our field at Alloway and with his support and the help of Agrichem (Australia's leading liquid fertilizer company) the main field and surrounding fields are coming ahead very nicely.

If you have any queries regarding your son or daughter playing juniors for Alloway feel free to contact Chad in the contacts page off our home page or you can have a chat to him at training. Junior training will commence again every Thursday night from 5pm or as directed by the coaching staff and remember all junior players receive a trophy to keep at the end of the season, not a medal to hand back.

( Agrichem supports your club so why not support them at  www.agrichem.com.au )

"

Pictured: Kate Connor" alluding a Moore Park player last season

Connor is back and ready to lace her boots up for another season in 2011. Kate was an integral part of the ladies' teams drive for the premiership plate last season with her robusting defence and sublime runs from the centre of midfield. With a tough as nails attitude, a will to win and buoyed by their 2010 finals appearance and top two finish the Alloway Div 2 ladies are riding high and ready to do battle with last seasons heavy weights Diggers.

The side is delighted to have retained all of it's playing roster from last season and hopes to add to it in the coming weeks. "We have a few ladies that would like to come back and play for us in 2011, so we will see how it pans out in the coming month before the season proper."

One player in particular that the ladies team would love to have back is current BAV first division player and Alloway junior Heidi Walk(pictured below). Walk like Connor started with Alloway in juniors at the age of 9 and progressed through the ranks to be a part of the all conquering Under 17 and women's 1st and 2nd Division side which won both season, cup titles and grand finals over a ten year period at the club.

Former coach Adrian Studholme and Matt Brown who were a part of the coaching staff over the ten year period replied by saying "These groups of ladies were some of the most talented athletes that we have had the pleasure of coaching." Heidi Walk was named in the Queensland open ladies team in 2005 at the ripe old age of 19. The tournament was held in New Zealand against both Australian and Oceana teams in the region. A great effort for a player so young to play in a tournament like this, well done.