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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-17 Daily Xml
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MODBURY SOCCER CLUB

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:28): One of the best things available in the north-eastern suburbs is the range of sporting clubs, from calisthenics to netball, basketball, hockey, cricket and all forms of football, including gridiron. However, it is the round ball that I would like to talk about today—the world game—and, in particular, the Modbury Soccer Club. The Jets have had a presence in Modbury since 1963, and although it was lost to Newland in the redistribution some years ago the club will return to Florey at the next election.

It has been my privilege to have had a relationship with the club since 1990 and to have witnessed many highs, particularly its grand-final tilt at Hindmarsh Stadium a few years ago. In what I guess could be called a rebuilding stage at the moment, last Friday saw another memorable evening at Jet Park in Ridgehaven—sadly, one of the coldest places I know.

A goodly crowd gathered not only to see the boys play the Western Strikers, but executive committee member, Matt Selby, who is also the managing director of e-football, had pulled off a bit of a coup by inviting living soccer legend Ian Rush to the club. Ian had been with the club officials since Wednesday and had given a training clinic earlier in the evening. He was particularly generous with his time and spoke with fans, posing for photos and autographing books and soccer balls, one of which I now have the privilege of owning.

Ian's soccer CV is remarkable. He is one of English football's most prolific goal scorers. I say 'is' because he still plays, although he declined to pull on a Jets' strip on Friday night. Luckily, we did not need his help in the end, but more on that and the match later. Ian Rush netted 346 goals in 660 senior outings for Liverpool despite being Welsh-born and a boyhood supporter of the club's closest rival, Everton. Ian won Europe's Golden Boot with 32 Premier League goals in 1984. His haul of 44 FA Cup goals was a 20th century record and he holds an all-time record of five goals in cup finals. He also played for Juventus, Chester City, Leeds United, Newcastle, Wrexham and Sydney Olympic.

Kick-off was at 8pm, so along with my colleagues the members for Newland and Makin, I had plenty of time to enjoy the club's hospitality. Chris Moon's great steak sandwiches and the usual barbecue extras and pasta were available for the fans. The club has a great committee and volunteers to support their activities, and Phil Taylor, assisted by Ted Muldoon, looks after the grounds.

I wished seniors' coach Neil Henderson luck in his pre-match preparations as our year has been challenging and unlucky, but there is great resolve to avoid relegation and remain in the super league. As Lee Gagliardi said in this week's Leader Messenger, scores were locked at one-all at half time, with the Jets putting away a great goal only to see an equaliser within minutes.

The boys must have had a great pep talk at half-time because they came out flying, bagging three more goals and narrowly missing three others. Jets supporters were ecstatic with a 4-2 win, and goals to Matthew Kelly, Damien Morrell, Russell Clayton and Rhys Devlin ensured the Jets took all three points. Best on ground were Anthony Solagna, Scott Weidenbach and Damien Morrell.

Although I left not long after the players came out, I am sure people had no trouble staying on to celebrate. The club is supported by a great group of sponsors, amongst them: Burton Groves Tea Tree Gully, e-football, Infinity Signs, Moving Juice, Vision Security Services, Sportspower Golden Grove, Modbury Press, Zobel Finance, Bunnings at Modbury, The Gully Meat Service and Alan Cassin's Golden Grove Tavern.

The Jets have a great tradition and heritage and I would like to thank Judy Feeney and many others for always making me welcome at Jet Park. It has been a privilege to know the club heroes like Micky Dye, who I spoke about some years ago, and John Jacobs, both of whom have now passed away. Both worked tirelessly for the club. For JJ, no job was too small. A former youth state player, he was associated with the club for around 20 years and was well loved by all.

I was saddened to learn today that Bobby Dale has also passed away. Another club man, Billy Gray, is remembered with a memorial match every year and this year it will be on 3 July against Adelaide Hills Hawks at Jet Park. Billy's son Dwayne was a senior coach for many years, and I am fairly sure that one of his sons attended Ian Rush's clinic so the family tradition seems set to continue.

Soccer is growing as a spectator sport here in Australia and, following the spectacular success of Adelaide United in the Asian league and the Socceroos under Guus Hiddink and now Pim Verbeek in the World Cup, there is every reason for optimism. FFA is bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup and, under chairman Frank Lowy, the future is bright. Many Australian players have done well with overseas clubs and, with initiatives such as the visit by Ian Rush, I am looking forward to seeing a Modbury Jet on the world stage some time in the not too distant future.

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