Club Update: Home at Cross Keys and a Big Month for Women’s Football
Watch the full May club update above, with President Vitale Ferrante and Club Secretary Matt Galea.
It has been one of the best months of the season so far. We are back home at Cross Keys, the senior sides are in flying form, and we put on a celebration of women’s football that the whole club can be proud of. Here is the rundown.
Home at Cross Keys
The headline of the month is simple: we are home. After a few months of training across different venues to start the season, every team is back together on Cross Keys Reserve, and the pitch and facilities are in fantastic condition.
The difference has been clear. From Kickstarters running around on a Saturday morning, to three pitches full of girls, boys, men and women on a Sunday, the atmosphere is exactly what we missed. It is no coincidence that the senior men have found their form again now that everyone is training under the one roof. Thank you to all our teams and families for sticking with us through the juggle to get here.
A Massive Weekend
The weekend just gone delivered 12 goals across our two senior sides. The Senior Men put in a commanding Friday night display to beat Nunawading City 5-1, and the Senior Women followed up with a statement 7-1 win over Box Hill, a top of the table clash. Both NPL programs and our junior boys and girls are also tracking really well.
Youth Premier League Watch
Our Youth Premier League sides are pushing hard across the age groups. Leading the way are the U14 boys and U15 boys, who both sit second in YPL1. The U14s have won 10 of their 15 games with a goal difference of plus 25, while the U15s have lost just once all season. On the girls’ side, our U13s sit fifth with nine wins and 35 goals. The rest of our YPL teams keep developing week to week, and the depth coming through the club is great to see.
Celebrating Women’s Football
A couple of weeks ago we hosted our celebration of women’s football at Cross Keys, with our senior women facing South Melbourne in the headline fixture. It ran from nine in the morning until five in the evening and took months of planning, with a big thank you to our general committee.
Our NPL girls, under 20 girls and senior women all played across the day. Day sponsors including Cinch, Insight and Bendigo Bank set up marquees and activities, and there were drummers, giveaways, face painting and braids throughout. The highlight was a panel hosted by our technical director and Melbourne Victory player Grace Maher, featuring A-League players including the Taranto twins and Chelsea Blissett. Our young girls filled the room with questions, hearing how the players started out and made it to the A-League and the Matildas. The Taranto twins actually began their football at Royals. With our girls program now just about outnumbering the boys, days like this show why it matters.
Ladies Soiree This Saturday
The Ladies Soiree returns this Saturday at Penny Young. It sold out last year and is on track to do the same, with only limited tickets remaining. If you have been meaning to grab a spot, do not leave it too late. Grab your tickets here.
This Weekend
There is a midweek fixture too, with our senior women in the Nike Cup on Wednesday 3 June at Eltham.
Team Dinners Are Back
With everyone home, team dinners have returned to the pavilion at Cross Keys thanks to Calmer Cafe. It is a great chance for parents and players to head upstairs for a meal after training while the kids run around together. Team managers, please reach out and lock in a night for your team.
Reverse Raffle Moves to August
One of our main events of the year, the reverse raffle, is moving to August. With female round, the soiree and plenty more on right now, the committee made the call to give everyone a breather and turn the raffle into a celebration of the season further down the track. Tickets have gone out to team managers, and we would love to see every team represented on the night.
We Are Royals.