It has been a golden year for the Cowra Eagles Senior Soccer Club, with the women’s, youth men’s, and senior men’s teams all finishing the regular season as minor premiers.
The feat highlights not only the individual efforts of each team but also the strength of the club as a whole, with coaches and players alike praising the determination, growth, and community spirit that have carried them to the top.
For the Cowra Eagles’ women’s side, becoming minor premiers was the result of months of unwavering commitment, even during challenging stretches of the season.
Coach Mitchell Thompson said the achievement felt well-earned.
“I believe it’s well deserved,” Thompson said.
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“The girls have actually put a lot of effort in, and even when we weren’t playing games, they were still training hard.”
“The commitment was always there, they deserve it,” he said.
The season wasn’t without obstacles, including several washouts and forfeits that saw the side go up to seven weeks without a game.
Yet the players kept showing up to training, maintaining their intensity and focus.
“It’s hard to prepare for a game when you’re not playing, but the girls were really good at training and kept turning up,” Thompson said.
“I’m very proud of them.”
“Hopefully, we can go back-to-back,” Thompson said.
Among the highlights of the season was the improvement of goalkeeper Linda, whose determination and growth in skill stood out.
The Youth Men’s team also secured minor premiership honours, though their path had an unexpected twist.
Coach Drew Willis admitted that while the side had worked hard, the title came as something of a surprise.
“It was good, obviously, but also a bit surprising, considering we were relying on the result of another game,” Willis said.
“We didn’t think it was going to go our way, but it did.”
“It was quite surprising, but relieving.”
Willis highlighted the dedication of a core group of players who showed up every week, as well as the progress of newer recruits.
“The major highlight from this season has been the newer players coming in and improving,” he said.
Looking ahead, the youth men’s team is eager to make the most of its finals run, with home-ground advantage adding extra motivation.
The senior men’s team, under the guidance of coach Adam Gambril, capped off the Eagles’ trifecta of success by finishing first on the ladder.
For Gambril, in his first season back at the helm after a few years away, the minor premiership was a reward for resilience and consistency.
“It was really good, really good reward for all of the effort that the boys have put into the season so far,” Gambrill said.
“Obviously, minor premiers is great, but what we really want to do is win the competition.”
“That’s where our focus is,” he said.
The season had its share of hurdles, injuries and squad adjustments tested the side, but the team consistently found ways to win.
Gambril said he has taken particular pride in seeing younger players cement their places in the senior squad.
“The growth of some of the younger players, like Alex Boswell and Riley McLeish, has been a highlight for me,” Gambrill said.
“Seeing them develop and hold their spots in senior soccer has been fantastic.”
While the minor premiership is significant, Gambril stressed the team’s eyes are firmly on the finals.
“The regular season is great, but every team’s goal is the grand final,” Gambrill said.
“Finishing top two is important because it gives us that second chance if we need it.”
“But our intention is to win this weekend and go all the way,” he said.
For a community-based club, having all three competitive sides crowned minor premiers is a remarkable achievement.
Willis, who is also club president, summed up the sentiment across the club, saying, “three for three is phenomenal for any sporting club, to see it happen here is just brilliant.”
