Official website of the Essendon District Football League

The CEO's Perspective - Saturday July 7th, 2018

By CRAIG ARMSTEAD


COMMUNITY football provides many benefits.

In fact, a study undertaken by La Trobe University in 2015 found that for every dollar spent to run a community football club, there is at least a $4.40 return in social value.

Our EDFL clubs are always undertaking new initiatives to improve themselves and the services and facilities they provide for their players, officials, supporters and community.

Today the Airport West Football Club have designated their home match against East Keilor as their NAIDOC Game.

The game coincides with NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) week which celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Activities on the day will include the Long Walk from AJ Davis Reserve to Hansen Reserve, a Welcome to Country Ceremony, and a function featuring guest speakers Nova Peris, Kyle Vander Kuyp and Courtenay Dempsey.

The Airport West players will wear specially designed indigenous guernseys on the day.

Next Saturday, July 14, the Aberfeldie Football Club will host Keilor in their NAIDOC game.

On the day, both Aberfeldie and Keilor will wear special indigenous guernseys to mark the occasion.

Across many of our clubs there are capital improvements projects in progress.

Whilst some are only at the planning stage, others are further advanced:

 - In late June, the State Minister for Sport, Honourable John Erin officially opened the new facilities at the Pascoe Vale Football Club. This included new change rooms for home and away teams and the umpires, all of which have toilets and showers suitable for males and females. The players’ change rooms are large for senior football, however can be partitioned to convert to multiple change rooms for junior matches.

 - Roxburgh Park Football Club have opened their long-awaited new social rooms.

 - EDFL followers who have recently been to either the Moonee Valley or Greenvale Football Clubs will have seen major development projects in progress. Whilst there is short-term inconvenience associated with these infrastructure works, no doubt they will be enjoyed for many years to come.

2018 marks the 100th year of the Pascoe Vale Sports Club spanning 1918 to 2018.

A century marks a significant milestone for any sporting club and a highlight of the celebrations will be a Centenary Gala Dinner being held on July 21.

For those associated with the club this will be a once in a lifetime event and no doubt, a night full of memories.

Good luck for the weekend.

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