A young but determined Adamstown Rosebud is well-prepared for the upcoming Northern NSW NPL football competition, which kicks off next month.
Seniors head coach and first grade mentor Dave Rosewarne is heading into his second season with the team, which he said showed promising play as the COVID-19 interrupted year unfolded in 2021.
Rosewarne said four new recruits, plus some extra experience and maturity for retained younger players, would make a difference in 2022.
Coming into the side is former Newcastle Jets Academy defender Narveen Richardson, who has had two seasons with a Sydney NPL 2 outfit.
Up front, Ewan Von Essen and Anthony Wood (both former Jets Academy players) are back with Rosebud after playing with the Jets Academy and Lambton Jaffas respectively.
After missing most of last season due to an ACL injury, Ryan Rooke has transferred from Broadmeadow Magic to provide depth to the midfield and backline.
Rosewarne is pleased to retain almost all of last year’s nucleus, including ex-Australian and Jets Academy midfielder Kaleb Cox as well as promising 18-year-old striker Kyle Munns.
The average age of the squad is about 22 with six players, including Munns, having played with the club since 13s.
“The Adamstown Rosebud way is to promote from within to give continued opportunities to our young players,” Rosewarne said.
“We’re into our second of a three-year plan to develop this young squad to its fullest potential.
“We have a new partnership with Adamstown-based Cornerstone Gym this year to really focus on strength and conditioning.
“I am really pleased with the way the team is building through the pre-season.”
Adamstown takes on NPL competition newcomers Cooks Hill at No 2 Sportsground on Sunday 6 March.
Rosewarne said there was healthy respect and rivalry between the clubs – and he was looking forward to seeing the squad Cooks Hill has assembled.
Club president and former player Chris Dale said the organisation had assembled a great coaching staff under technical director Chris Moylan.
“At Adamstown, our focus is about developing good footballers, having fun, but also assisting our players to be good men, on and off the field,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“We’re continuing our partnership with youth mental health group, Headspace, to give players, across the club, skills and support in resilience and good mental wellbeing.
“Running a football club is a time consuming and expensive business.
“The board is grateful to our partners, volunteers and sponsors, including McCloy Group, Avid Project Management and KCE, for without their support and commitment to football, we wouldn’t have teams or a competition.”
Ahead of the first match, the first grade side will host a club fundraising sausage sizzle at Bunnings Kotara on 27 February.
Founded in 1889, Adamstown Rosebud is one of the oldest football clubs in the region and country.
It runs men’s and boys’ teams from under-9s to firsts across the Northern NSW Junior Development League (JDL), Youth and National Premier League Newcastle and Hunter competitions.
Adamstown took out Club of the Year and the Fair Play awards in last year’s Northern NSW NPL Awards.
This story appeared in the Newcastle Weekly on February 23, 2022.