Brighton bounces back
Struggling footy club to return in 2020 with five teams
FROM being at death’s door, the Brighton Football Club is on the rebound and aiming to field five teams for the 2020 season.
The Robins could only muster an SFL men’s reserves and a women’s team this year, and almost folded its men’s program during the pre-season, but now will field a men’s senior team under new coach Byron Howard, and plans to have a boys’ under-18s and girls’ under-17s teams as well.
Howard, a former multiple North Hobart premiership player, is also the Robins’ last premiership coach having led Brighton to the 1998 SFL flag.
And he will have family support with his son Jacob to coach the reserves.
“I just wanted to help rebuild the club, it is a club I’ve got a real close connection with and the area for me and my family so I thought, ‘ why not?’,” Howard said.
“We are looking forward to rebuilding the club, we have signed 40 players.
“Things are going really well, the majority of players this year have resigned and we’ve signed another 15 to 18. Numbers won’t be an issue and we are working hard to entice ex-Brighton people back or players who are living in the area.”
He said the aim for 2020 was to be competitive but success would not be weighed by wins and losses alone.
“It is about building on what we’ve got and making it a real family club and a good place where people can come and spend time with their families,” he said. “It is such an expanding area we need to ensure the future of the club is strong so to be able to have five teams next year as opposed to the two this year will be great.”
The Robins have signed former Clarence ruckman-forward Wade Wall as a playing assistant coach, as well as former Glenorchy players Connor Salter and Joel Millhouse with more to come.
The Brighton Council has got behind the club, with a planned redevelopment of the social and change rooms planned of up to $6 million through next year.
“Sponsors are coming on board and the Brighton Council has been very supportive,” Howard said.
“Hopefully it is going to be a place now that is going to stay long into the future.”