ONE local soccer club has seen a boost in numbers in the lead-up to the season thanks to the cancellation of the Riverland Football League senior season.
The Loxton United Soccer Club has been the beneficiary of no senior football, with new and old faces returning as they look to stay active this winter.
A revised 12-week Riverland Soccer Association season kicks off this Sunday, with a Top Four Cup competition to follow later in the year.
Loxton A grade men’s co-coach Pat Perre said numbers were looking good ahead of the first round of the season this Sunday.
“We picked up a few initially when the Independent league had some teams call it quits for the year,” he said.
“Then just recently with the RFL’s decision, we have had a few more come through.”
Mr Perre said the club was even looking the possibility of fielding three senior men’s side this year.
“We are having meetings about our teams and with the extra numbers, we may have to put two B grade teams, which would make three senior men’s teams, which is good.
“Another good problem is having to choose an A grade squad, which in the past has been a bit of a challenge with getting players and now the challenge is who to choose.
“It is good to get the players to have to earn their positions in the A grade.
“That makes a big difference.
“In the last few years we have been off a bit, but we have probably been two or three good players off the pace, so that will hopefully bridge the gap this year and we can have a really good season.”
Mr Perre said his side has been bolstered by plenty of talent through the players with previous experience and those new to the game.
“A lot of the footballers who have come out have actually played before and due to time and work they have just committed to football to have one sport and they were actually quite good soccer players,” he said.
“With there being no football, they have come back and a lot of them, we know the talent they have got.
“There have been a handful come out for the first time and they have realised the sports are a lot different.
“It’s a lot more running than football, which is a lot more positional, whereas soccer is constantly up and down the pitch.”
Mr Perre was hopeful Riverland soccer would be able to hang onto some of the players who have switched to the sport this year following the cancellation of senior football.
“It will be good to expose the game to those who are playing it for the first time,” he said.
“It would be good to get a few juniors around the high school age come through, because that is where we tend to lose them.
“From under 14 and under 16 up, we kind of drop off a bit, because it is the age where they want to switch over to footy.”
Round one matches will be hosted by Loxton this Sunday, with the home side facing reigning premiers Berri in A grade men’s action, while Renmark takes on rivals Barmera.