We caught up with Salisbury Inter Soccer Club Vice President, Bianca Simeoni, fresh from her Club’s double title-winning season to discuss the perfect 50th Birthday present and PlayStation 4 Women’s National Premier League life in 2017.

In a 2016 season where their Women’s State League Senior and Reserve Grade sides only lost threes game from 44 combined between them (with the Reserves ending the year undefeated) Bianca says the results are a testament to the effort and attitude displayed by the entire squad.

“We’re extremely proud of our squad’s performances this year,” said Bianca.

“Their dedication and commitment to the game was unsurpassed and they took to the pitch each week giving 100%.

“They gelled well as individual team and as a larger State League and Reserves squad they were united throughout the year.”

Although a double title-winning year is exceptional, another clear highlight from the season was 2016 marking 50 years since Salisbury Inter was first established.

“Celebrating this milestone together was one of the biggest highlights at our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Adelaide Oval in June,” recalls Bianca.

“It was a special occasion and winning the league was the icing on the cake.”

The togetherness on display at the Gala Dinner continued until season’s end, too and culminated in a party at the clubrooms when it was official that Salisbury Inter couldn’t be caught at the top of the Women’s State League.

“The whole club has been getting around the State League and watching their results closely all season,” said Bianca.

“When the results were certain, we celebrated together with the senior men’s players, women, girls and MiniRoos players, parents and supporters.”

“It means Inter will start 2017 - its 10th season since entering our first women’s team, with teams playing at the highest level in the WNPL and Reserves.”

It’s with that last point which guides the next question, on how Inter will cope with the inevitable step up to the top-flight for 2017.

But Bianca is confident the Club will embrace the challenge the opportunity has provided.

“We are looking forward to the challenge and keen to experience the professionalism of the competition playing against the best in SA,” said Bianca.

No matter what 2017 and their WNPL experience brings, what’s clear is that Salisbury Inter are well on their way to creating a great experience for young girls and women wanting to play football.

“We have brand new clubrooms currently being built as our home ground undergoes a large redevelopment so it’s a very exciting time for our club,” explains Bianca.

“We have focused on developing our junior girls and we feel this is an area we need to continue to concentrate on for the growth and survival of women’s soccer at Inter.”

“We aim to provide the best opportunities for young girls in the area to take up the sport and will continue to do this into the future.”

For now, though, the End of Season Trip is high on the agenda too, as is celebrating a 2016 season which couldn’t have been much better.

“The girls will be continuing their celebrations with all the Senior Women’s squads at Waikerie this year for their End of Season trip aboard the Murray River Queen,” said Bianca.

It’s clear to us that a unified, supremely confident Salisbury Inter Soccer Club will enter the Women’s National Premier League and their 51st year of existence, well on track for further success.

Written by: Luke Sale
Photo by: Chris Kelly