FOLLOWING THE ATTENDANCE OF OUR TWO YOUTH SQUAD MEMBERS DANIEL CRISANTE AND PATRICK SAVOR AT THE IPSWICH ACADEMY FOR A MONTH OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN FORMALISED AFTER GEORGE HURLEY MET WITH THE NEW IPSWICH FOOTBALL CLUB C.E.O. SIMON CLEGG IN LATE OCTOBER.

THIS WILL MEAN THAT AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS SIMILAR TO LAST YEARS WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE LODGED BY MEMBERS OF SOME RESTRICTED AGE GROUPS.

THE IPSWICH COACHING STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR TWO BOYS AND WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THEIR PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE IPSWICH TOWN FC ARRANGEMENTS GEORGE HURLEY HAD FURTHER TALKS WITH NORWICH FOOTBALL CLUB AND HAS OBTAINED AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL SEE A BOY OF SUITABLE SKILL AND POTENTIAL ATTEND THE NORWICH ACADEMY FOR A TWO WEEK TRIAL AROUND THE JULY PERIOD PRIOR TO THE UK SEASON STARTING. THEY HAVE REQUESTED THE BOY BE IN THE AGE GROUP BORN AFTER SEPT:1ST 1993 TO JULY 1994. (This detail to be confirmed).

SUTHERLANDSHARKS ARE OFFICIALLY THE BEST TEAM IN THE NSW PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER A RESOUNDING 4-1 WIN OVER MARCONI AT PENRITH STADIUM. FINISHING IN SECOND POSITION IN THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP ALSO SHOWS THE DEPTH THE CLUB HAVE THRIUGH THE JUNIOR RANKS.

ALSO PLAYING IN THE GRANDFINALS AT PENRITH IN THE LEAD UP GAMES WERE OUR U/11 AND U/12 SQUADS AND THE 14S HAD PLAYED AT ANOTHER VENUE.

AFTER LOSING OUR COACH AND AT LEAST FIVE FIRST GRADE PLAYERS FROM LAST YEARS BEATON GRANDFINAL SQUAD THE POWERS TO BE THROUGHOUT NSW FOOTBALL GAVE THE SHARKS LITTLE CHANCE OF REACHING ANOTHER GRANDFINAL AND NO CHANCE OF WINNING IT.  ADDING TO THIS THE PRE -SEASON CHARITY CUP WIN FOLLOWED BY THE HIGH PROFILE NSW TIGER TURF CUP WIN EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS AND THE 2009 SEASON WILL BE RECORDED AS THE BEST EVER SEASON IN THE 70 YEARS SINCE THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED AND SOMETHING THE SHIRE CAN ALLWAYS BE PROUD OF IN THE YEARS TO COME.