Public votes: What people really think about teens booted from Southport Soccer Club

Thousands of members of the community have revealed what they really think of the teenagers who were booted from their football club for ‘not drinking enough at the bar’. READ THE FULL RESULTS OF OUR POLL AND DISCOVER WHAT THE PUBLIC HAD TO SAY.

THOUSANDS of people have put their support behind a group of teenagers who say they were no longer welcome at their childhood club because they “don’t drink enough at the bar”.

An online poll has garnered 3661 votes, with 86 per cent of people saying it isn’t fair to kick players out of sports clubs for not spending money there.

Months after winning the Football Gold Coast Metro Division 3 minor premiership for the Southport Warriors, the 18 and 19-year-olds were forced to join another club.

Zac Robson and his teammates declared they were told by the football director that they “didn’t drink enough at the bar” but Southport president Gary Hugo has since strictly denied that occurred and stated the “only reason” they were told to leave was because they didn’t contribute financially in any way outside of the $475 registration they paid to play.

Here is what some people on both side of the argument had to say on the matter:

NOT FAIR TO BOOT OUT OF THE CLUB:

Jake

I agree it’s a massive financial commitment for any soccer club big or small to keeping running. But not letting 18, 19-year-old kids play soccer for not putting money back into the club or buy beer after paying registration is poor form. This is a massive point of their lives massive decisions regarding careers and it’s hard enough to save for a house but now you have obligation to spend money at a club. What would the director of that soccer club say if it was their son put in this position. Life’s hard enough why make it harder on young adults

DJS

Disgusting, these youths desperately need the use of the club, which I am sure receive

some government assistance. We have a huge problem on the coast, with youths who

are on the loose looking for mischief. This club like others have a culture of ordinary food,

and drinking at the bar. It is so refreshing for young people to embrace their sport without

joining the drinking culture of some clubs.

Xerxes911

I play at this club and must admit only go to play and leave. The reason is that I am an athlete. I don't want to eat junk food and I don't drink. I understand that they have a cost base but they could be including some healthy food options or add a gym for a fee. One of the clubs I was in overseas had massage chairs that were making the owner $1000 a week. There are so many ways to make money. But these clubs are run by the same old thinking, get them in, get them drunk and they will buy our junk.

Julie

Put the registration fee up to $800 but give vouchers for food and drink. That way they will eat/drink at the club to get some value for the money they have paid, and by eating/drinking at the club the atmosphere might improve and they might spend even more money.

Fred

Supporters drink players play. Soft drinks and pies are not a healthy option.

ASON

If it truly costs over $800 per player to put the team on the park then that’s the real problem. They need to get stuck into the council and governing bodies to reduce the costs of ground hire and affiliation. Their registration fee should cover the majority of the cost. Can’t rely on raffles and the canteen etc to break even. They are for profit and shouldn’t be compulsory. Most kids that age aren’t flush with cash – assuming they are paying their own way, mostly.

Peter

Poor financial planning is not the responsibility of kids.

FAIR TO BOOT OUT OF THE CLUB:

James

Clearly the majority commenting have no idea of the cost of running an amateur or semi-professional football club particularly if they have seniors and juniors. If those that made suggestions for raising funds think that no one had thought of and used them before now and that successful ideas soon spread, they clearly have not been involved. As someone with four children, now adults, that played numerous sports every year all year round at clubs and schools as well as representative levels including overseas tours and been on numerous committees I can say they require hard work and persistence and new ideas are rare and require hard volunteer graft to succeed.

Carpe Diem

Cannot believe the thrust of so many comments on this storey. It is pretty obvious that a lot of people have never been involved in small club sport committees and do not have the faintest clue of the financial outlays required to be paid for playing ground rent, lights, insurance (personal/public liability), uniform subsidy, liquor licence, food licences etc.

Before anyone runs on the field to kick a ball. Where do people think this money comes from so as to keep registration fees as low as possible? People say go to another club. Get real, they have to raise sort of money for their club to operate so will have the same expectations of their players and supporters.

Cheviot

A local community club is just that, a community. Having spent many years involved with a sports club I can vouch that there is nothing more frustrating than seeing players who are happy to play a game each week but give nothing back. Forget manning the bbq or selling raffle tickets. They won’t pick up their dirty jerseys after they throw them in the ground. It’s about more than buying beers. It’s about being part of the club.

Gerard

This all seems a bit harsh but clubs wouldn’t turn away premiership players lightly unless there is a major problem.

Every club have their takers and their givers. The takers simply take what the club offer and do not give back in any way other than playing. We all know the type. The game finishes and they’re gone while the president is there for hours after the last game.

Clubs exist so these kids can play but it sounds like they need to do a bit more so this club can exist.

Look in the mirror boys and ask some questions of yourselves

EARLIER

DEATH threats have been levelled against some people as the fallout from the ousting of a group of teenage footballers from their childhood club for ‘not drinking enough at the bar’ reaches a new low.

Southport Soccer Club officials have received death threats and other abuse through social media and over the phone since the news broke of their decision not to allow a team to return in 2022 because they didn’t support the club in any financial capacity.

Club president Gary Hugo declined to comment on the matter.

The reigning Metro Division 3 soccer premiers have accused their own club, Southport Soccer Club, of not letting them play this year because they don't drink enough at the bar. Among the team are (from left) Brooklyn Gossling 18, Mark Merideth, 19, Zac Robson, 18 and Gerard Faya, 19. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Teenagers booted from sports club for ‘not drinking enough’

February 16: A group of teenage footballers say they are no longer welcome at their childhood club because they “don’t drink enough at the bar”.

Months after winning the Football Gold Coast Metro Division 3 minor premiership for the Southport Warriors, the 18 and 19-year-olds are looking for a new club.

The club’s president said the snub was more to do with the team not supporting the club financially in any ­capacity.

Zac Robson said he and his teammates turned up to pre-season training only to be told by the senior football director they were no longer welcome.

“He told us we don’t spend enough at the bar so they won’t let us play,” Mr Robson said.

“We were shocked. We didn’t know if he was joking or not so we came back the next week and he confirmed it with our coach, saying we don’t bring enough revenue in.”

Mr Robson said nearly the entire team was on their P-plates, meaning they couldn’t have a drop of alcohol in their system in order to drive.

Mr Robson said many of the players had been at the club since they were six-years-old and the fallout had tarnished some of their favourite childhood memories.

“It is a kick in the nuts ­really,” Mr Robson said. “There is no loyalty. We thought it was a football club, not a drinking club.”

Each player paid $475 in registration fees to play in 2021.

Both Pimpama City Football Club and Nerang Soccer Club have told the team they are welcome to play without the need to spend more money at the club.

Southport president Gary Hugo rejected claims the decision to oust the team was due purely to drinking, declaring they didn’t support the club ­financially in any capacity.

“It isn’t because they don’t drink enough, that is bulls---,” Mr Hugo said.

“We don’t condone excessive drinking and we practice the responsible service of alcohol at this club.

“I have no idea what (the football director) said, I can’t work on hearsay. It was never a stipulation that they had to spend so much money at the bar. They didn’t have to buy a beer at the canteen, they could have bought soft drink or food.

“We have a full kitchen at the club where they can get a meal and all our other teams come up and enjoy the facilities. This team just wasn’t interested.

“We charge senior men’s players around $500 in registration but it costs us over $800 to put each player on the park.

“We have lights, referees, balls and more that have to be paid for. We give them everything they need but there has to be give and take.

“We are a non-profit organisation. I don’t think we asked too much from them.”