Club sets sights on top-four finish

As Rockingham City FC enters its 47th year, preparations are already well in progress for the upcoming 2017 season, with the newly formed committee wasting no time in reappointing Rob Crerar as first team coach.

Crerar, who will coach the side for the fourth year, will work closely alongside junior technical director Matt Brooks.

After gaining promotion, the club finished with its highest points total in over a decade, finishing seventh having played some exciting football with a talented, young squad.

Having just missed out on securing a top-four finish, Crerar said he wanted the team to improve and break into the top four this time around.

“We have to improve on last year,” he said.

“A top-four finish is what we want to do; I’d like to think that in the second half of the season that we would be within touching distance of the top.

“Depending on your luck and form who knows … but definitely a top-four finish at this stage.”

With preseason already well in progress, Crerar said the team was shaping up nicely ahead of the night series, which kicks off on February 11.

“We’ve retained nearly the whole squad from last year and we’ve added some real quality and experienced players to help balance it out a bit better,” he said.

“The squad is looking really fit, looking strong and it runs pretty deep, so that’s the key.

“We want the strength in depth so if we have a few injuries or suspensions we have cover.”

This season’s night series will see Rockingham face off against Morley Windmills, Gwelup Croatia, Gosnells City and Forrestfield United.

Crerar said the night series would be used to help the squad gain match fitness.

“We’ve got a young side and we’ve stepped up a league and performed well last year,” he said.

“If these boys can go on with it again this year it will just show you the talent we have got within the Rockingham area.”

With the club’s junior section competing in the National Premier League set-up again, Crerar remained hopeful of retaining some of the brightest local talents.

“It’s really hard to get the young Rockingham talent to stay,” he said.

“I think the young guys who are coming through now can see it’s a young squad … if they see their mate getting in the team and doing well they think they can do it as well if they get their head down and play well.”

This year the club is also expected to reform its men’s socials team after it highlighted a lack of opportunities for 18 to 35-year-olds.