Blue skies ahead for Gisborne as record numbers commit to growing soccer club

SOCCER is booming in Gisborne with record numbers representing the Sky Blues senior and junior ranks this year.

SOCCER is booming in Gisborne with record numbers representing the Sky Blues senior and junior ranks this year.

The club, which competes in State League 5 West men’s and State League 4 women’s, has about 400 registered players after an influx of girls.

President Rodney Smith said the addition of several junior sides had made Gisborne one of the biggest clubs in the region.

“Our girls numbers are still going through the roof at the moment and we are still getting inquiries for all our age groups,” Smith said.

“Pretty much all our teams are full. We (have hit) 400 members, which is an all-time record.

“It’s good for a little town. We are pretty much the biggest club in the district.”

The Sky Blues are already planning to field two women’s teams next season, believing their girls under 15-16 side will be capable of making the leap to seniors.

“There’s every chance that team will go into a women’s competition as a team, into State 4,” he said.

Under the guidance of Eric Greer, Gisborne’s senior men’s side has become a more formidable outfit.

The Sky Blues finished sixth on the table last year with three wins from 21 matches, but have shown signs of improvement in the opening eight rounds of 2017.

After three losses from its first four matches, Gisborne has gone unbeaten between rounds five and eight and recorded a breakthrough 4-1 triumph over Maribyrnong Greens.

“We have drawn three times and all of those draws we really should have won the game,” Smith said.

“But I suppose having an inexperienced senior squad, that will come. Last year and the year before, they are games we would have lost.

“Since we have had Eric come in, he’s given the guys a bit of belief.”

The Sky Blues secured an emphatic 6-0 triumph against Kyneton District on Saturday, scoring five second-half goals.

Gisborne next meets table-topping Deakin Ducks away this Saturday.