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Football as usual despite leagues club's woes, says Balmain boss
March 24, 2013
Daniel Lane - SMH
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Balmain Tigers chairman David Trodden has hosed down suggestions the famous football club's ability to compete is at risk because of the leagues club's financial woes.
While the redevelopment of the Balmain Leagues Club in Rozelle has been frustrated by government red tape and resulted in financial stress, Trodden insisted the club was firing on the football field.
''Everything is looking fine,'' he said. ''Last year, we won the SG Ball competition for the first time in 30 years, we were the Australian under-18 champions for the first time and we won the NSWRL club championship for the first time since 1950.''
While Trodden said the football club's balance sheet was in good shape before Sunday's annual meeting, former Balmain star Paul Sironen said the Tigers would know no limits if their proposed redevelopment of the financially troubled leagues club - a separate entity from the football club - was given the green light by the government's planning office.
The Victoria Road site is in a state of disrepair, covered in graffiti and said to be inhabited by homeless people and used by drug addicts.
''It's been very tough and things haven't changed,'' Sironen said. ''I'm not on the board any longer so I'm not privy to everything, but I don't think you need to be a Rhodes scholar to realise we're struggling and just keeping our heads above water.''
He described it as heartbreaking that while Balmain club's two outlets - the old bowling clubs at Five Dock and Homebush were struggling with their budgets, there was a full house of supporters at Leichhardt Oval on Friday. ''If we had have had the leagues club [at Rozelle], we would've had 4000 supporters return to the club after the game to celebrate the win,'' he said. ''The club would be completely different to what it was [if it was permitted to go ahead], it would cater for the entire community.''
Sironen's son, Curtis, who made his top grade debut last year, returned from injury in the Wests Tigers under-20 team against Parramatta after his season last year ended early through a shoulder injury. ''He came through reasonably unscathed,'' Sironen said. ''He's a little bit sore but that will be the case for the next few weeks. He has to put his hand up and say to the coach Mick Potter 'pick me, I'm playing well'.''
March 24, 2013
Daniel Lane - SMH
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\
Balmain Tigers chairman David Trodden has hosed down suggestions the famous football club's ability to compete is at risk because of the leagues club's financial woes.
While the redevelopment of the Balmain Leagues Club in Rozelle has been frustrated by government red tape and resulted in financial stress, Trodden insisted the club was firing on the football field.
''Everything is looking fine,'' he said. ''Last year, we won the SG Ball competition for the first time in 30 years, we were the Australian under-18 champions for the first time and we won the NSWRL club championship for the first time since 1950.''
While Trodden said the football club's balance sheet was in good shape before Sunday's annual meeting, former Balmain star Paul Sironen said the Tigers would know no limits if their proposed redevelopment of the financially troubled leagues club - a separate entity from the football club - was given the green light by the government's planning office.
The Victoria Road site is in a state of disrepair, covered in graffiti and said to be inhabited by homeless people and used by drug addicts.
''It's been very tough and things haven't changed,'' Sironen said. ''I'm not on the board any longer so I'm not privy to everything, but I don't think you need to be a Rhodes scholar to realise we're struggling and just keeping our heads above water.''
He described it as heartbreaking that while Balmain club's two outlets - the old bowling clubs at Five Dock and Homebush were struggling with their budgets, there was a full house of supporters at Leichhardt Oval on Friday. ''If we had have had the leagues club [at Rozelle], we would've had 4000 supporters return to the club after the game to celebrate the win,'' he said. ''The club would be completely different to what it was [if it was permitted to go ahead], it would cater for the entire community.''
Sironen's son, Curtis, who made his top grade debut last year, returned from injury in the Wests Tigers under-20 team against Parramatta after his season last year ended early through a shoulder injury. ''He came through reasonably unscathed,'' Sironen said. ''He's a little bit sore but that will be the case for the next few weeks. He has to put his hand up and say to the coach Mick Potter 'pick me, I'm playing well'.''
