Experience junior soccer — fun, teamwork, and community spirit!

Reiterating from a post made last year……

Imagine a world where your child wants to play a sport, but they went on a waiting list, or they had to try out until they were good enough, or the cost was prohibitive……

Sadly, this is a fact in many places around Australia already and without the parent volunteers that step forward each year, our participation environment could not exist.

ERJSA is first and foremost a group of parents who come together to create an environment where our children can play sport at an affordable cost where all abilities are welcome.

Today we celebrate some of those who make ERJSA the success that it is.

In today’s post are those that make up the ERJSA, the presidents of our member clubs along with those who provide key functions who all combine to ensure that your children can get to play. The camera hasn’t found everyone this year, so we haven’t included photos as we have done in previous years, this is partly because some are rather shy and tend to hide when they see us coming 😜

These people are all volunteers, some of them new to the game, but they step forward, or don’t step back when they are left as the last person standing. They work in fulltime jobs not related to this sport, but find the time to run a club, coach a team, set up locations, work with councils, help train others, and generally give up their free time for the benefit of every one of the children registered in the ERJSA competition.

They learn and work together toward the common goal of providing a safe place for our children to play a winter sport, be part of team, and most importantly, have fun.

Thank you all, you have done an amazing job for another fantastic season.

A huge thank you also goes out to our volunteer coaches and team managers that run the games. Without you all, none of this would be possible.

We love partnering with other organisations and businesses. This year we have had two different volunteer firefighter organisations (Richmond and Campania) support us with sausage sizzles, Banjo's Bakery Cafe again supporting our players with vouchers, in addition to coffee vans at most of our locations. Thank you all, we strive for a great community atmosphere, and you help make this happen.

We would also like to thank and acknowledge Michele Green who, as always, is amazingly supportive. She is one of the most genuine, beautiful souls you will ever meet and cares deeply.

While some clubs are still tidying up their registration portals, at current count we had 1,617 registered players this year, slightly down on our record-breaking year of 2025. It was a nice small contraction, and timely. We literally couldn’t keep growing at the rate we have been for the last several years, we have been running out of grounds and having to play later into the day!

In saying this, we didn’t really contract though as we had 75 players from the Northern Suburbs Junior Soccer Association join our competition this year in U11 and U12, so our total number of players overall remained steady. This partnership was a great success for us; it provided new grounds to play on and new teams to meet. We look forward to working on and expanding this partnership in 2027.

Our goal is to get more children playing sport. We will continue to place our focus on learning while we play while emphasising the social fun aspects of sport, but we need you. All clubs will be heading towards AGMs, and they need more people willing to step forward into roles, so if you can help, please do so.

The cameras will be away next weekend as we enjoy our last games of the season and complete our season pack up. We hope to see you all back in 2027 and don’t forget to keep following our page. Our 2027 calendar will be posted a little later this year after our AGM.

While a little windy at times, the grounds were again an absolute credit to the City of Clarence and Programmed grounds people. Thank you all for the work that you do.

While there were a few minor heavy areas, the vast majority of our grounds had drained exceptionally well from the overnight rain and the eastern shore once again turned it on remaining clear with a lovely view of our snow-capped mountain whilst we played.

Please enjoy some of the action from today’s round. ... See MoreSee Less

With a light sprinkle on Friday night we can’t help but think there were a few parents hoping for a cancellation or two, but no, we’re a hardy lot, and it’s a winter sport after all. Into the rain we went. On the bright side though it wasn’t super cold and Cambridge New is one of the best drained grounds in our region.

A huge thank you to Hannah who was the game leader for both games and while it wasn’t as cold as it could have been, it certainly would have been cold for her by the end of the second game. Hannah used to play in the ERJSA competition, and it is really pleasing to see our past players coming back to help out with the next generation. A nicer young person you will not meet.

Speaking of news, a few weeks ago Edgeworth may have been missing nets, that’s because those who put them up had a baby! Congratulations to Emily and Phil on the birth of Alba. Wonderful to catch up with you all today at the Richmond sausage sizzle at Geilston Bay No. 2.

Please enjoy some shots from round 12. Two rounds to go! ... See MoreSee Less