Taree Wildcats

Home Ground: Taree Zone Field, Taree

About the Club

Taree Soccer Club Inc known as Taree Wildcats was formed in 1974.

Taree Wildcats is a foundation club of football in the Manning Valley area. Serving the community since 1973. The club caters for all ages and is in a rebuilding growth phase currently.

It is fair to say that prior to 2020 that the Wildcats had lost focus for a number of years. In Feburary 2020 the club did not have a committee and only had 20 players signed up. Some existing board members, some returning members and some new members join together with a commitment to return the Wildcats to being the Manning’s premier club.

Over the last year we have achieved a lot. Highlights include:

• We gained the top level 5 Star Accreditation in the Football Australia program. This program is aimed at good governance of clubs. We are one of two 5 Star Clubs in our area holding this level that we are aware of (congratulations to the other club too).
• We gained entry into the Coastal Premier League (CPL). The CPL is the top club competition for our area. We have an exclusive Licence to the competition, being the only representative south of Port Macquarie.
• We started a highly successful Summer 6s program. Each Thursday over 300 players have been playing 6-a-side football at the dedicated football facility being Omaru Park. We are the only club providing year round football in the Manning. We would like to thank the players from other clubs who participated and the other clubs that shared the information on this program. A strong football community benefits us all.
• We have started a Tiny Tots Football program aimed at 3 – 6 year olds with our friends from Manning Futsal. Thursday afternoons sees around 40 first time football participants at Omaru Park getting some exercise and an introduction to our game. We are the only club offering this program in the Manning.
• We fitted our whole club out in new jerseys. Importantly our whole club wears the same jersey. We are one club from juniors to seniors and our committee serves all.
• We have invested heavily in playing and coaching equipment.
• We have invested heavily in coach education. Right now we are paying over $2500 for two coaches to complete their Professional C Licence Course. That would mean our club has three players who have done this Professional course, we believe the most in our area. Importantly all three of those people are willing to share what they have learnt to the other coaches and players in our club.
• We have engaged heavily with all levels of Government to ensure our sport receives our fair share of funding. We are the largest sport, as a collective our facilities don’t show that. Our representations to government are now bearing fruit for our club, sport and community.
• We have put significant efforts into improving our playing surfaces. They are looking the best they have done in years.

All of the above have been achieved with hard work and allocation of our resources to the most effective area. Importantly we have not had to increase any fees this year, some groups have actually had a reduction. As part of good governance we have costed every age group to make sure that junior fees in no way subsidies senior registration costs.

So we have achieved a lot and that is showing in registration numbers. To date, our registration numbers are up 30% on last year, 2020 had three senior teams (CPL Firsts, CPL Reserves and Ladies) whilst 2021 already sees six senior teams (CPL Firsts, CPL Reserves, three Ladies and 35s).

The entry in to the Coastal Premier League last year was designed to show that our club stood for something. That central focus is that we want to develop players into good footballs and more importantly good people. This is a ethos we are spreading throughout our whole club. The entry is really playing off as players look to join our club and our strength grows

Coaching Panel: James Goldsmith, Ben Sedlen and Michael Wallace.

Taree Wildcats are pleased to advise the formation of a coaching panel for its Coastal Premier League Squad for 2021. The panel will consist of James Goldsmith, Ben Sedlen and Michael Wallace.

James Goldsmith is an experienced coach having coached through the Wildcats previously with junior teams. He is also a highly experienced futsal coach, having coached at an international level.

James is currently undertaking his Professional C Licence course. “Taree Wildcats are helping me fund the C Licence, I am glad to step up and help a club with such a junior development focus”. I am also going to help the club by coaching one of their three ladies teams and an under 9s team too”.

Ben is a Taree stalwart in the Premier League system and will provide insights as required having being a part of the set up for over 10 years. Ben being English in background has a passion for football as you would expect. “Whilst 2020 was a big step up for our club we will definitely be stronger this year”

Michael Wallace is the Wildcats Club Coaching Coordinator and a highly experienced coach. Having undertaken his Professional C Licence course he is looking forward to helping guide the Wildcats young squad. “I have coached for 14 years now with juniors, seniors and in the representative area too. I love coaching young squads as they are so willing to learn”

On match days, both Ben and James will be playing so Michael will take the reigns from the sideline but having known each other form over 10 years, a collaborative approach will be taken.

Captain Kyle Brady

This year Taree Wildcats will be led by Kyle Brady who is 20 years old. Kyle’s age reflects Taree’s development policy, but is far from being considered in experienced. Kyle has played football for around 16 years, during this time I have played many games and represented myself throughout the Manning valley and beyond. When he started my football journey, he played between the Cundletown Jets and Taree Wildcats before being selected to progress into the National Premier League system. He spent 7 years playing within the National Premier League before coming to Taree Wildcats.

“Coming back to play with the Taree Wildcats has been awesome, predominantly because of the culture in and around the club and the passion everyone has towards the growth of our club starting from the juniors”.

Outside of football, Kyle has begun his second year as an apprentice working for R&L Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. “Being able to land an apprenticeship within a company that demonstrates such strong work ethic, attention to detail and pride in serving the community within my home town has really aligned with my own values. I have been welcomed so well into this company and look forward to what the future holds”.

“Being selected as captain for the side is a huge privilege that I am really looking forward to. I hope to be the leader that we need. This year will be the time when we leave our mark in the Coastal Premier league.