Brighton Bombers to face off in amateur league grand final one year after leaving Southern Football League
THIS time last year Brighton Football Club faced one of the toughest and most important decisions in the club’s history - now they’re set to play off in a grand final.
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THIS time last year Brighton Football Club faced one of the toughest and most important decisions in the club’s history.
Leaving the Southern Football League to return to a competition it had left 20 years ago, the Adelaide Footy League, better known in footy circles as the amateur league, was a leap into the unknown for the club.
Fast-forward 12 months and things could not have gone much better for the Bombers.
All three senior sides made preliminary finals, with the A and B grades through to the grand finals this Saturday.
Both of those teams have already secured promotion to division two next year. Club president Kym Steer has no doubt they made the right choice.
“We’re really excited about moving to div two but even more excited about playing off in the grand final this weekend,” he says.
“Coming from the SFL to the Adelaide Footy League was a really big challenge, you’re going into the unexpected so you’ve got to cover all bases.
“We really upped every level of the club, from marketing to sponsorship to training to recruiting – we sort of went all out.”
The Bombers’ A grade has been a dominant force this season, losing just two games.
They will now face Golden Grove in the decider on Saturday.
Captain Will Rivers says the club is buzzing in the lead-up to the grand finals.
“It’s been a bit of a different build up for us, having a couple of breaks, but it is certainly one of the most exciting times I’ve seen at the club,” he says.
Along with the success of its senior sides, football manager John Schneebichler says Brighton’s biggest strength is its “one club” approach.
“We’ve got a really strong junior program and are also looking to increase our number of girls’ teams,” he says.
“Having everyone work together and feel like we are one club sets us apart, I think.”
The Bombers fielded under 12 and under 14 girls sides this season and hope to add under 10 and under 16 outfits in 2018, along with opening expressions of interest for a senior side.
Complementing the on-field growth, the club is also hoping to expand through Holdfast Bay Council’s $15 million masterplan for Brighton Oval.
The upgrade includes three two-storey clubrooms – one for lacrosse, one for rugby union and a shared one for football and cricket.
Brighton will face Golden Grove in the Division 3 grand final 2pm on Saturday and the reserves will play Flinders Park at 12pm.
Both games are at Aldi Arena (Thebarton Oval).