Victoria Park Soccer Club | Peter Fletcher

Vic Park SC wins 3rd in a row

June 15, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

Following consecutive wins against Woorooloo and South Perth, the resurgent Victoria Park men’s team travelled to Belmont to take on BSRC Wanderers. The game shaped as an important test for Vic Park who had been by the Wanderers 8-0 in the opening game of the season.

From the outset the game was played at a hectic pace with both teams being starved of scoring opportunities by good defensive pressure.

But 15 minutes in, Gabriel Silias passed superbly to fast-running mid-fielder Ger O’Keefe who flicked the ball past the keeper to open the scoring.

10 minutes later Belmont equalised thanks to some smart midfield work. They continued to press forward earning several corners and firing off a number of shots from long range but without success.

Then, shortly after the half-time break fullback, fullback Steven McGuire pushed a long pass into space where Ger O’keefe was able to finished off to give Vic Park the lead.

At the 80-minute mark, forward Aaron Lake crossed accurately to Paul Stacey who finished off to give the team a convincing win.

Next week Vic Park take on UWA-Nedlands FC at Raphael Park. Kickoff is at 3pm.

In football three weeks can make a huge difference

May 25, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

At 3:15pm this afternoon the Victoria Park Soccer Club men’s team had their first win. After the game the club met at our place to drink beer and eat snaggers and celebrate the milestone.

But as much as the win was great what was better was the way the boys played. They played hard and tough but they played fair. They refused to be intimidated by their opponents. They didn’t back chat the ref and they kept their language under control.

In the end the result was an outcome of the way we played and that’s what’s worth celebrating.

But it hasn’t always been this way. Three weeks ago I thought the team was about to implode. The boys back-chatted the ref to the point of being insulting, their language made the few supporters we had cringe and their teamwork was abysmal.

Why the difference? There are two main factors at play here. The first is that we had a team meeting where together we agreed to a set of team rules that governed our conduct both on and off the pitch on match day. These were rules that the team created and agreed to be bound to. Everyone has taken playing by these rules seriously.

The second factor is time. In building a team it takes time to build a connection and understanding and culture. This level of connection doesn’t happen over night but as the team works together during training an understanding builds about who can be counted to be where. Only time builds this understanding.

So, when I finally sat down and had a beer this afternoon I reflected with a great deal of pride about the progress we’ve made as a team. There’s a long way to go and lots of obstacles to overcome for us to have success in the long term. Today was a big step in the right direction.

Town of Victoria Park: I’ve had enough

April 13, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

If you’re thinking about visiting the Town of Victoria Park to enjoy one of it’s many excellent coffee shops or eating houses, think again. Why? Because as of a bit over a month ago the local council imposed on local businesses and their customers one of the most draconian, absurd and regressive parking policies ever seen in the metropolitan area.

Their policy is to place parking meters along the full length of the Albany Highway strip and in most of the side streets. Parking will cost you $1.50 per hour with the first 15 minutes free. Unlike pretty much anywhere else in Perth, paid parking starts at 8am and ends at midnight–yes, that’s right, midnight!–seven days per week.

Now, if you’re thinking that I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, you’re right. Here’s why.

I’m the President of the newly formed Victoria Park Soccer Club. As a new club we’re struggling for resources, struggling for sponsors (if you’re keen, let me know) and struggling to get the support of established local clubs with whom we’re required to share resource. So today I dropped in to ask the Perth Royals if we could use their club rooms at JA Lee Reserve to store our bag of training balls. It didn’t seem like a big request but I soon got the impression they were less than keen to assist. Darren, the guy serving in the canteen and a club stalwart, explained why.

“Look, Peter, we’d love to help you but the local council aren’t giving us any reason to do that. Let me explain. Eight years ago we installed the pitch lights. They weren’t cheap. Now the Council have taken them back so they can sell the use of the grounds to other clubs so they can train at night. We still pay for the electricity but they get the ground rental fee. Tell me how that’s fair!”

I nodded in agreement. “It doesn’t sound fair at all,” I said.

“We pay $7500 a year to rent these facilities but we still have to beg the council to spend money on re-turfing the pitch in front of the goals. The want the money but they’re just not willing to do anything for it,” he explained.

“So, Peter, until we get some co-operation from the local council, we can’t help you. I hope you understand.”

I told him I did and wished him well.

After I left it got me thinking about the issue of paid parking and how the local council has lost it’s way. For who really benefits from paid parking? Local businesses? Hardly. If the council were serious about people overstaying their allocated time limit they’d tell the parking attendants to get off their arse and go write some tickets. Selling tickets does nothing more than glosses over a lack of productivity on the part of ticket writers. Consumers? Not at all! Now, if you want to drop into a local cafe for a coffee you’ll pay 4 bucks for the brew and another 2 for parking. Anyone up for that? Nope, didn’t think so. And who wants to–or thinks its fair to be forced to–go and buy a ticket when you go out for dinner when there are dozens of empty bays available? Once again, no-one’s raising their hand.

No, the only beneficiaries of paid parking is the local council through increased revenue. If that revenue flowed directly through to the community I might be a fan. But I’m not because that’s not what’s happening. Instead, the extra revenue is creating more jobs at Council house, more rules and regulations, and a place that’s decidedly less easy to live in.

So, just what’s happening here? My belief is that the local council–and particularly the Councillors because they’re the ones that should be calling the shots–have lost touch with the real needs of the local community. They’ve lost touch with needs of local volunteer organisations who want to create places where people can play and have fun without their members being forced to spend a fortune. They’ve lost touch with local shoppers who want to go to the pub on Sunday afternoon and not have to worry about their parking ticket running out. And they’ve lost touch with what it really takes to run a local small business.

It’s time for the local council to pull their heads out of their collective you know wheres and start paying attention. Because I for one have had enough. And I know I’m not alone.

Vic Park SC wins 3rd in a row

In football three weeks can make a huge difference

Town of Victoria Park: I’ve had enough

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