MIDDWAY Cobras Football Club player Steve Tabran and coach Gary Lambert hold the premiership cup, watched by players Josh Lambert and Mathew Moir and goal umpire Les Boyes. Picture: Meagan Rogers.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A FOOTBALL team that caters for homeless and disadvantaged people is desperately seeking players just weeks before the start of the new season.
The MIDDWAY Cobras football club has found itself in a predicament after a spate of good news and success.
The team recently landed a major sponsorship from advocacy group Mental Illness Doesn’t Discriminate What About You (MIDDWAY), acquired new guernseys and was set to defend its premiership title in the RecLink football league this year.
The team, which has players from Greater Dandenong and Casey, has enjoyed a run of success, with two premierships and three runner-up titles over six years of competition.
But with the new season about to start, the Cobras have only 14 players to defend their trail-blazing premiership success, leaving them short of four on-field players and an interchange bench full of players.
Coach Gary Lambert, who has worked with the Cobras for the entire six years, said the team was desperately hunting for new players.
“We are struggling for players at moment,” he said.
“We would still be able to play (the season) but it would be difficult.”
The club currently caters for a variety of disadvantaged people who wish to play Australian Rules football without having to spend a fortune.
“Some players have got mental illness, or a social disadvantage, for example, homelessness, recovering alcoholics and drug abusers, and some are just regular players,” Mr Lambert said.
“But we take all types of players, not just disadvantaged.”
Mr Lambert said the club’s recent success both on and off the field, with premierships and sponsorships, was marred with the departure of several veteran players who have retired.
“It’s a shame,” Mr Lambert said.
“We just had all new jumpers made.”
The MIDDWAY Cobras are now urging anyone with an interest in playing to contact club officials.
Experience is not necessary and full training provided.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played football, as long as you get out and enjoy yourself,” Mr Lambert said.
“You don’t have to have any prior knowledge or anything like that.”
Contact Gary Lambert on 0425 763 072 for more information or to join the MIDDWAY Cobras.
