KIAMA Quarriers Football Club is banking on a new coach and a returning sponsor as they look for more consistency in the 2015 Football Illawarra District League competition.
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The club is backing 29-year-old first grade coach, Kiama's James Spence to lift their side, who finished a competitive ninth in the 2014 season. The rookie coach is confident that the Quarriers are headed in the right direction.
"The new deal to go back to the Kiama Leagues Club as our major sponsor for the first time since 2007 is exciting, and we will be looking to repay their confidence by getting some good results in the upcoming season," Spence said.
Spence isn't concerned by his perceived lack of experience, instead concentrating on what positives he can bring to the team after playing juniors with the club and seniors since the age of 16.
"It's not that I haven't coached before - I was in charge of the youth grade team for two years and was first grade assistant last year, and hope that some of those young blokes will be putting their hands up to play first grade this season.
"It's increasingly hard to keep players in the District League when they are offered bigger money to play Premier League, and we have lost our two best players from last season, but having said that we would never try to stand in the way of someone trying to better themselves.
"It's a catch-22 situation - you need to finish high up in the District League to qualify for the Premier League, but without those players you probably won't get that chance.
"But having said that, all we can do is make sure that the guys who want to play with Kiama have a good time, and apart from the departing pair, we have managed to maintain the rest of last year's squad.
"We also hope to have Daniel Swinton back from a year in the Premier League, and he will be an enormous plus."
Spence has had a couple of offers to coach youth grade in the Premier League, but sees his future very much with his local club.
"Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our club and it's great that some of the players coming through the ranks have such strong family ties with the club.
"Club stalwarts like my father Neil, Dave Cooper and Larry Beringer have sons playing seniors and they are all still very much a part of the club.
"In fact I think dad will probably be my right-hand man this season."
The Quarriers are training at the Kiama Leisure Centre grounds on Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm.
Anyone interested in playing can get more information by phoning Spence on 0419 145 665.
