THE 2020 Limestone Coast Football Association season is just around the corner, with the Steeline Cup to kick off the year in just over five weeks.
All is set for another successful competition and according to president Eric Nieto, team numbers are in good shape.
“It seems all the clubs are on track with a lot more numbers this year,” he said.
“At least we have heard no different – usually by now we hear there are teams missing in the junior ranks.”
That is a positive start, but a true indication of numbers will not be clear until round one of the cup on March 29.
Another exciting announcement is the possibility of a women’s National Premier League game hosted in the Blue Lake city.
“The Limestone Coast board and SEWFA are working on hosting a women’s NPL game,” Nieto said.
“That could be happening in early April.
“Both associations are working together in conjunction with FSA (Football South Australia) to bring a National Premier League women’s game here.”
An expression of interest has been put out to clubs and so far Blue Lake, Apollo and International have all showed signs of interest to host the event.
As far as the LCFA board goes, there have been a couple of changes, with Brayden May stepping into the senior sport director role.
“He will be in charge of the senior grade squads and things like that,” Nieto said.
“Plus, being a referee, he will have a big input on the running of the referees from within the board.”
Wayne Fallas is another new face to the board and will be in charge of sponsorship and marketing, while a new position has also been created for 2020.
Amid the controversy between the LCFA and Limestone Coast Referees Association in 2019, which saw several senior referees step away from the competition, the LCFA board has introduced a new position of referee coordinator, with the aim to ensure a healthier relationship between the two organisations.
The position is yet to be filled, but May and junior sport director Warren McCallum will share the duties in the meantime.
As a referee himself, May said the introduction of a coordinator, as well as his own presence on the board, will be beneficial to both associations.
“I think it makes it a bit easier being under the same umbrella,” he said.
“It is sort of hard when you have one group over here and one over there and you are trying to communicate with each other.
“Being a first-year referee last season I found it hard because there was a lack of communication.
“Personally I think it is going to be better this way.”
Probably the biggest change for the 2020 LCFA season is the format of game day.
The decision has been made to play all grades in order, with Under 12’s starting the day as per usual, followed by Under 14’s, Under 17’s, Reserves and Seniors.
Nieto said it was a choice made by the clubs and the board has backed the decision.
Another change for this year – and seasons to come – will see players travel out of Mount Gambier for pre-season finals.
“This year we decided all the cup finals will be out of town,” Nieto said.
“The grand finals will be played consecutive years between Portland, Millicent and Naracoorte.”
The decision was made to help the outlying clubs financially and ensure they all receive an opportunity to host a final.
“Portland for instance – every time they are going to have semi-finals at the end of the year, it is just a quagmire at their ground – so they always miss out on finals,” Nieto said.
The Steeline Cup will finish with the grand final on May 3, before the premiership season starts the following week on May 10.
