Bridgewater Callington, Ironbank Cherry Gardens Hills Football League merger now set for 2024

A merger between two SA country football clubs is set to take longer than originally expected as both sides work through an ‘unusual model’ of amalgamation.

A local footy merger is set to take at least the next season as both sides work through what has been dubbed as an unusual model of amalgamation.

Hills Football League clubs Bridgewater Callington and Ironbank Cherry Gardens – both already amalgamated clubs – voted in favour of a merger in late November in response to dwindling player and volunteer numbers.

The clubs were originally expected to join forces in a full merger for season 2023, but will now play in division one under a ‘memorandum of understanding’ as they transition to an official and final amalgamation.

Bridgewater Callington president John Zantvoort said the situation between the two clubs was a unique and unusual one.

“It’s an unusual model at the moment because we have a really strong junior committee as opposed to seniors and Ironbank Cherry Gardens is very strong at the senior level, so we don’t really have many people who can nut out the senior side of things with them and they’re the same with juniors,” Zantvoort said.

The Bridgewater Callington Raiders will head into the 2023 season as a separate entity to Ironbank Cherry Gardens as both clubs nut out a model to merge for season 2024. Picture: Bridgewater Callington Football Club

“There are three committees involved – we’ve got one, Ironbank Cherry Gardens has one, and there is a combined general merger committee as well.

“There’s a transitional arrangement between both clubs for this coming year because we basically don’t have time to become a full merger in this model due to it being so unusual.”

Zantvoort said there had been multiple discussions between clubs up until the Christmas break and that discussions would resume as soon as tonight.

The Hills Football League had also been supportive throughout the process.

“We’ve had numerous meetings up til Christmas trying to organise a structure which works going forward but I think everyone needed a bit of a break,” Zantvoort said.

“It’s progressing but it is very much a work in progress and there are a few things we need to make sure we get right.

Ironbank Cherry Gardens celebrates its 2022 HFL country division B Grade flag. The club has voted in favour of merging with Bridgewater Callington. Picture: Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club

“Obviously the HFL is aware and fully supportive of the decision to merge as well which is great. We haven’t made many demands of them and they’ve left us to get things rolling.”

“They’re also happy to have the club in division one.”

Despite both clubs heading into the 2023 season as separate entities, Zantvoort was confident a strong merger would result for season 2024.

“We both have a view of being fully amalgamated for the 2024 season and we should have many problems ironed out by then.

“We’ll be a fully fledged outfit. It looks really good on paper, it’s just a matter of arranging the right model and making sure everyone has the right intentions.”

The two clubs will reconvene throughout the coming weeks.