Football (soccer) transformation begins:

Work has started to transform the Hobart Showgrounds from a racing venue to a new base for soccer in southern Tasmania.

After 25 years at the Glenorchy venue, the greyhound and harness racing tracks are being ripped up so the site can accommodate five soccer pitches.

The two racing codes have relocated to the nearby Elwick racetrack.

Phil Legrove from the Royal Agricultural Society says it’s the beginning of a new era for the Showgrounds.

“Racing has been a partner with us for 25 years,” he said, “but they have now moved across the road and so we’ve got new ideas for the Showgrounds.”

The society is also seeking a permit so up to 80 motor homes can be accommodated on the site.

ABC On-line

Rather than bog down the weekend topic with rehash after rehash of the same old topics or even if you want to say something new that doesn’t fit into a current category…put it in here!!

The Socceroos squad to take on arch rivals Uruguay has been announced with a few new faces maybe surprising some of the pundits. Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella headline the list of players unavailable.

Australia will play Uruguay on 2nd June at the Telstra Stadium, Sydney, the same ground at which we saw victory and Australia advance to the 2006 World Cup.

Who would you have NOT selected and who would replace them?

The squad is:

Daniel Allsopp (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremberg, Germany), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets, Australia), David Carney (Sydney FC, Australia), Simon Colosimo (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers, England), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Ryan Griffiths (Liaoning, China), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen, Holland), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Scott McDonald (Motherwell, Scotland), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremberg, Germany), Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom, Norway), Mile Sterjovski (Basel, Switzerland), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente, Netherlands).

Which football resources do you use on the web?

Although this will include your preferences primarily for football news (Australia & OS) but I’m also hoping to learn about coaching, technical, managerial, etc. sites too.

Which sites would leave you bereft if they crashed?? (besides Blackjack!!! :-D)

I’m happy to put up links to the sites that could be useful to others.

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Matchday 6 (Wednesday 23.5.07)

The European version of the Champions League draws to it’s conclusion on Thursday morning but Sydney FC will be trying to win their way into the next round of the Asian version when it takes on Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan on Wednesday night. Sydney MUST win this tie after it’s poor showing in the last round where a win could have seen them going into this match requiring only a draw. But Sydney knows what is required and will give it a red hot shot.

While Sydney will be playing for their place in the next round Adelaide United will be playing at home for pride only. The only highlight will be the final match for Adelaide stalwart Carl Veart who has announced his retirement earlier this week. So there will be plenty to play for if even if it’s only pride.  

Urawa Red Diamonds  0  v  Sydney FC  0

Red Diamonds progress. Sydney goes home.

Adelaide United  3  v  Dong Tam Long An  0

Dodd 3

Adelaide bow out

No Australian teams advance to the second stage of the ACL

Liverpool FC  1  v  A.C. Milan  2

REVENGE AT LAST

Southern Premier League             Weekend Wrap

Tilford Zebras  3  v  Kingborough Lions United  1

Self                              Sanita                               Report

Fagg 2 

Reserves:  Zebras 1 v Kingborough 4 

19s: Tilford Zebras 4 v Kingborough 2

Hobart Olympic  1  v  University  0

Bulis

Reserves: Olympic 1 v University 2

19s: Olympic 7 v University 0

South Hobart  0  v   Clarence United FC  0 

                                                                                Report

Reserves: South Hobart 2 v Clarence 5

19s:  South Hobart 0 v Clarence 6

Taroona FC  2  v  New Town Eagles  0

Timmins

Cox

Reserves: Taroona 1 v Eagles 2

19s: Taroona 1 v New Town Eagles

Metro FC  1  v  Glenorchy Knights  1

Kent                        Fielding                                       Report

Reserves: Metro 3 v Knights 4

19s: Metro 1 v Knights 3

Division One                        Weekend Wrap

Saturday

Beachside 1 v Kingborough Lions United 5

Reserves: Beachside 2 v Kingborough Lions 0 

Huon Valley  0 v Hobart United 1

Reserves: Huon Valley 1 v Hobart United 2

Kingston Cannons 7 v Nelson Eastern Suburbs 0 

Reserves: Cannons 4 v Nelson 2

Sunday

Northern Suburbs DOSA  1 v South Hobart  4

Reserves: DOSA 1 v South Hobart 7

Division 2

Clarence Spirit 2 v Clarence Black 3 

South Hobart 1 v University 3

Beachside 5 v Ethiotas FC 3

New Town Eagles 4 v Uni Dynamo 0

Division 3

Kingston Cannons 1 v Uni Wanderers 9

Tilford Zebras 1 v New Town Eagles 2

Taroona 0 v Clarence 4

Barnstoneworth 0 v University Athletics 4

Division 4

Clarence United 3 v Metro 0

Zebras 2 v Beachside A 0

New Norfolk 4 v Huon Valley 0

Uni Grads 2 v Beachside B 3

Kingborough 5 v Uni Bohemians 2

Women’s Leagues

Premier

Clarence United 0 v Glenorchy Knights 3

Nelson 4 v University 0

New Town Eagles 1 v South Hobart 0

Division 1

Nelson 3 v Kingborough 2

DOSA 0 v Clarence 3

South Hobart 2 v Taroona 6

Uni Gold 2 v Beachside 2

Uni Red v Metro 6 

Division 2

Clarence United  Red 3 v Taroona 1

Beachside 0 v University 2

Northern Premier League

Northern Rangers  2 v  Somerset  1

Davis                                  Considine, C

Otto 

Reserves: Rangers 4 v Somerset 0

18s: Rangers 1 v Somerset 4

Launceston  1  v  Prospect Knights 3

Duffy                          Slater

                                  Claxton

                                  Pickering (pen)

Reserves: Launceston 1 v Knights 1

18s: Launceston 4 v Knights 4

Burnie United  4  v  Devonport City  3

Johnson                          McKenna

Crosswell                        Gilham

Crosswell                         Howe

Gibson

Reserves: Burnie 2 v Devonport 0

18s: Burnie 2 v Devonport 1

Riverside Olympic  4  v  Ulverstone  3

Gaetani                               own goal

Gulbrandson                        Beard

Hughes                                Foote

Jackson

Reserves: Riverside 2 v Ulverstone 2

18s: Riverside 1 v Ulverstone 5

Division 3

Riverside 2 v Launceston City 1

Rangers 7 v Devonport 0

Northern Women’s Premier League

Rangers 3 v Devonport 0

Ulverstone 0 v Burnie 3

There are some strong rumours that FFT have targetted two influential coaches to head the new TIS (Football) department:

Bruce Stowell: A well credentialed football coach having previously coach the Brisbane Strikers in the old NSL but most recently at the QAS (Queensland Academy of Sport) as their head coach. Stowell has also been assitant coach of the Australian U/17 Joeys. 

Stowell has recently resigned from the QAS so in a good position to take up the TIS role.

As a coach Stowell has had some very good results, none more so than being able to boast, while as head coach of the QAS, the inclusion of more players in National, International & A-League roles than any other state or regional programme.  An interesting aside here that the current FFT Development Coach, David Abela was previously the QAS regional coach under Stowell (1994-5) at the QAS.  

Vicki Linton:  currently Technical Director for Women at Sydney University SFC, having recently moved on from her role as Head Coach for Manly United FC. She has experience of coaching junior and senior teams in Australia, the USA and UK. In 2004 she was Asst Coach to the Boston Renegades, a W-League team in the US and in 2003 coached at a UK League Championship School of Excellence. As well as her Australian coaching qualifications she has her UEFA B & FA Level 2 licences from the UK. As a player Vicki represented NSW at U19 and senior level and Australia at the World University Games in 1993. She played for more than 10 years in the NSW Super League, captaining Marconi between 1996 – 99. She played also for UMass, one of the top colleges in the US

At this stage neither coach has been secured as there are still a few issues such as money to finalise but FFT will have done well if they can secure Stowell even if it’s just to get the programme up and running in the next 12-24 months.