Gunnedah FC coach Andy Cygan believes Gunnedah has the quality to play in the Northern Inland Premier League if the town’s teams pool their talent together.
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Cygan had planned to enter Gunnedah FC into the NIPL this season but a lack of numbers forced the coach to reassess.
Cygan concedes it won’t happen this year but hopes in the near future it could become a reality.
“It’s about getting the players,” Cygan, who also thought the junior ranks in Gunnedah were strong, said.
“There’s always been two teams in town and last year it went to three. If we got everyone together, we’d have a really strong Gunnedah team.
“I think the only place we’ve got to go is NIPL. To have two grades, we’d need at least 30 players and last year we had about 28 players.”
That number has since dropped for the 2018 season.
After taking out the minor premiership in 2017 – before going down in the grand final – Gunnedah FC is now on the lookout for sponsors and players.
“We really need to get a hold of at least one goalkeeper – they’re hard to come across,” Cygan said.
“Both keepers from last year aren’t playing at the moment and it’s going to be a lot harder this year.”
Despite a number of losses, Cygan said Gunnedah FC had retained Matt Davis and Welington Sardinha – players Cygan called “the backbone of the team” – and made a key signing.
“A major positive is the return of Michael Cooke who spent last year playing in the NIPL with OVA,” Cygan said.
“He is a different class and is a winner. I’m really pleased he has decided to come back and if we are to win the title this year then he will play a vital part.”
Cygan called on interested players to head down to the junior soccer fields on a Tuesday or Thursday from 6.30-8pm.
This weekend, Gunnedah FC will head to Forster for the Viking Challenge – a six-a-side tournament – for their first hit out of the year.
