L’Unica on Parkville played host to the Coburg Football Club season launch on Saturday Night.
Guests ranging from past and current players, to trainers and sponsors arrived in Parkville at 7 o’clock.
The formalities began at half past seven with master of ceremonies’ Matt ‘Spider’ Lee welcoming the guests to the event. Lee has been a member of the broadcast team at SEN 1116 since its inception and played the role of host very well.
The night would be followed by a range of speakers with the common goal of bringing back the Lion in the Coburg Football Club.
Lions’ president Bill Balakis, and General Manager Craig Lees first spoke in unison about the future of the club for the upcoming season.
“It's going to be a tough road, but we want everyone involved, the Lions are back, it's time to get involved again!" Lees stated.
During Lees’ speech, he proudly announced the renaming of City Oval to the brand new Piranha Park. The ground is sponsored by the Piranha Corporation, which produce over fifty lines of snack foods.
In keeping with the running theme, a past players’ video was shown with some of the greatest legends to don the Coburg sash. Trevor Price, Brad Nimmo and Vin Taranto reminisced about their favourite memories and gave advice to today’s crop of players.
This was shortly followed by two contrasting speeches. Past player Robert Evans spoke of having pride in the club and the jumper, whilst Phil Cleary gave a rousing speech that set the room alight with buzz and fuelled the players with ambition for the upcoming season.
Senior coach Peter German spoke to the guests about his current crop of players for the season and the winning mentality he wants to set at the club.
“I want the playing group to play the first minute of the game, exactly the same as the last” he said.
Then it was the players’ moment. Every player had their chance to be presented with their jumper for the upcoming season assisted by Bill Balakis.
The leadership group was named during the jumper presentation. This season it will consist of captain Nick Carnell, Vice-Captains Ben Clifton and Daniel Venditti, Andrew Sturgess, Daniel Younan, Lech Featherstone and Nathan Thomas.
Following the jumper presentation it was time for the shaggy haired Nick Dundon to lose his locks for the World’s Greatest Shave. It was a grand gesture by Dundon, who managed to raise over $1300 in previous weeks to contribute to cancer research.
It was a light-hearted end to a fabulous night at L’Unica on Parkville. The Coburg Football Club succeeded in celebrating the past, present and future of the Lions.
Last Modified on 19/03/2014 14:33