THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA...
Now that the club has been in existence for several years, I suppose you could say we are no longer just "Fledglings"; or baby
eagles. We have come a long way in those years. The start of it all was back in 1994 when Canterbury had juniors playing, they
had Under 8's & 12's, the coach Steve Young had been running the soccer as part of his work with the Presbyterian Church.
We would bring five boys across from Eltham with another two families, to practice and to play. We met up with a fourth family
who lived in Bundoora, they played with Nth Blackburn. I confess, it was actually their idea that made us think about starting
up a soccer side in Eltham. When I finally started the club, I thought I would be able to rely on their support and their four
sons, but they went and played basketball instead, a great help that was.
TRYING OUR WINGS
So in 1995 the Eltham Eagles Soccer Club hatched just north of the Yarra River, we had a lot of help from the soccer club that
had been there since 1967. In fact it suited them to help us out for a number of reasons, it gave soccer more profile in the
area, it allowed them to refer players to us rather than to another area, and because we were playing on Saturday it did not
interfere with the VSF league that they were in. We found them to be a great help, the experience that they had as a club
ensured we were not breaking new ground, and when they saw we were not in opposition to them they looked for ways to help us
out. My advice for anyone looking to start up a club, is to see what's in the area already, and build on it. I remember the
Eltham Redback's actually gave us five players in our first year, and in our first game we were playing up at Mt. Evelyn, it
was the first time the whole team had gotten together...we hadn't even had time to introduce ourselves, we lost the game 1 - 5,
but we were on our way.
PEAKS AND TROUGHS
I remember asking the VCSA (the ESCSA, way back then) what about insurance?, shirt colors?, what do I charge?, grounds?,
training?, help?, no I didn't ask that I think "help!" was always on my lips in the first season(s), Bill Parry was always so
patient with me, he was fantastic along with the Wrights, what support! I don't think I've stopped since that first year when
we first leapt out of the nest, so much goes through your mind, what can I do?, what more can be done?, can I make it better?,
what about sponsors?, achievement awards?, fundraising?, it can grab you and you won't even realize it. The biggest project I
undertook was the Eltham Eagles Cup, we invited 2 other clubs to come and challenge, it was great, it was satisfying, it ...,
it..., it was a lot of work!!! Though you can 'soar' to great heights, the trough will come when you unwisely don't share the
load. The sign of a great leader is making the track easy for the others who are behind you. We have grown as a club, from two
teams in '95, four teams in '96, six Junior teams and one Senior team in '97 to ten junior and two senior teams in 2001. I make
it my job to know every player, to make them and their family feel welcome, encourage them, support them. I also get alongside
my coaches, hopefully giving them all that they need to function properly.
THE CHURCH
As far as I am aware, all of the clubs in the association are affiliated with churches like Canterbury Presbyterian, Nth
Blackburn Baptist, etc... that is I think except us, we do not belong to any one church, but we are in fact represented by many
churches in our area. We are aware of the many needs that surface, and even moreso now with nearly sixty families, what we do
then is make those in need aware of what is available for them.
WHERE DO WE FLY NEXT
One of my foremost thoughts is if one person can do what I have done, in this area, why can't others. My goal apart from
setting a good foundation for the Eltham Eagles, to continue to grow and meet needs in our area, it is to see the Northern
region say across to the Hume Highway and up to Whittlesea and Epping explored and encouraged to start up their own soccer
clubs. The opportunities are unending, an old saying is " if you don't push the door, you will always stay in the same room ",
and as an Eagle I'm not content to wait for things to come my way, I want to fly at them, I want the challenge to grow in
myself, so that others can benefit.
" They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, and they shall soar with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow tired, they shall walk and not grow faint" Isaiah 40 verse 31
May this always be my cry, and motto, that I wait upon the Lord, please keep us in your prayers, and we will see you on the pitch.
Paul Cogger - President