‘The club was going to fold’: AFL stars align to help Shepparton United

By Daniel Webb

Oct 13, 2022

On the rise: Shepparton United is aiming to field more teams next year. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Four AFL legends will make the journey to Shepparton on Sunday, lending their support to a fundraiser to help Shepparton United Soccer Club survive.

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Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, United has struggled with numbers and funds in recent times and sporting greats Sam Newman, Anthony Koutoufides, Warwick Capper and Ricky Nixon have answered the call to help.

“The club was actually going to fold two weeks before the season started and we had no registrations for any of our players done, we had no uniforms, no equipment, nothing,” club president Cass Wilson said.

“Lewis Coyle (senior coach) and myself took it on because I identified two weeks before the season started that there was nowhere for my kids to go and try out for another team or anything.”

Wilson identified the pandemic as the main reason for the club’s current struggles, with a reduction in playing numbers and supporters attending games resulting in the club being left in a tricky condition.

She said that fielding youth sides would help the club build for the future.

“Moving forward we want to be able to have those sorts of teams to come back in and we need to raise some money to do that,” she said.

“We were successful in a council grant of $5000, so we’re actually going to have a junior girls team and with that grant we’re going to be able to provide uniforms and free registration for those girls.”

While having four Australian football stars attend a function at a soccer club may seem random, Wilson said it was the help of former club members that got the fundraiser organised.

“We were lucky we had a lot of the older community come back and take interest,” Wilson said.

“It’s a 50-year-old club and they wanted to get behind us and support us to make sure that we continue because it’s part of the heritage within our community.

“So they sort of rallied around and supported us and reached out to a lot of their connections in the community and were able to get these people on board.”

With opportunities to meet the legends, have photos taken and bid on sporting memorabilia, the fundraiser is shaping up to be a great event.

Set to be held at Shepparton’s Sherbourne Terrace on Sunday, October 16 from 3pm to 7pm, tickets are available for $85 a person.

More information on the event and details on how to purchase tickets can be found on the Shepparton United Soccer Club Facebook page.