SAINTS coach David Stratman supervised almost 100 local and visiting footballers at training at the Nangwarry Football Club on Tuesday night as a united show of support for his team, club and town.
With temperature nudging 30 degrees, around 80 players from the eight other clubs in the Mid South East Football League and Penola agreed to don their own club tops and join 20 of the home team.
Over a 90-minute session, there was the usual running routines and ball skills development with few spare spaces on the well-grassed arena.
Stratman shared the coaching load with three recent premiership coaches in the MSEFL – Kalangadoo’s Ben Mules, Mount Burr’s Tom Renzi and Robe’s Jack Kelly.
The super-size session was one of the MSEFL’s ways of backing the club whose licensed premises were destroyed in an overnight blaze on January 9.
There were 14 footballers and officials from Robe alone who made the 250km round trip on a mini-bus from the seaside.
The presence of 10 different jumpers was a rare sight indeed.
Nangwarry defender Aiden Mills has captained the club for the past three seasons and welcomed the strong support on Tuesday.
Mills said the clubrooms fire had been disheartening, but the mood around the club had improved.
“We will get over it and move on,” Mills said.
“The players are up and about and up to 30 players are training each Tuesday and Thursday night.
“Our aim in 2019 will be to win that one game.
“It would be a big boost if we get a taste of success.”
Glencoe Football Club president Ted Peacock said the concept of a joint training session was a “brilliant idea”.
He praised his fellow club presidents Deon Chester (Hatherleigh), John Fenton (Robe) and Adam Gardiner (Mount Burr) for developing the concept.
“Hats off to them,” Peacock said.
“This show of solidarity for Nangwarry was one of the best things I have ever see in my 40 years in the Mid SE.”
Gardiner said the 12 Mount Burr players at the training session were keen to be involved.
“It does prove that we are a family,” he said.
MSEFL president Peter Mitchell welcomed the presence of a number of his league’s club presidents and officials.
“It is a fantastic show by all clubs and Penola,” Mitchell said.
“League officials recently met here with Nangwarry representatives and they are adamant they host all their home games in 2019.
“They are keen to clean up the fire damage and they have enough players to field four teams.
“The Mid SE can replace their premiership flags and provide support and guidance.
“I am absolutely rapt that all clubs and Penola are here and all the players have mixed well.”
Glencoe coach Zacc Cocks said he “really enjoyed” the training session which was a longer period than he expected.
Cocks said his players had a busy week as the Murphies are currently training each Monday and Wednesday.
“It was good to meet with other players and mix with them,” he said.
Port MacDonnell Football Club past president Cathie Williams said the Saints have the backing of her Demons.
“Hopefully, they will re-group and we will help them wherever we can,” Williams said.
“When our Port Mac players heard about the training season, they said straightaway they would be there.”
Meanwhile, a town meeting was held at Nangwarry on Monday night to discuss the spate of fires in the town.
There was an attendance of 150 with police and Wattle Range Council representatives among the speakers.
