BYRON BAY FC PHOTO’S BY DOGWHISTLE
Celebrations have greeted the announcement that Byron Bay and Lismore Thistles are the respective Tursa Employment and Training Male and Female Summer Youth League champions for 2017.
Byron Bay won a fourth Male Summer Youth League title, with the champions not being decided until the final round. The Rams got the required three points against Lennox Head and news that Goonellabah was held to a 3 all draw against South Lismore initiated happy scenes for Byron Bay players and supporters as they learned that the title was headed to the coast. The Hornets needed a win last Friday evening to seal the title and met a strong South Lismore side that came back from 3-2 with less than five minutes to go last Friday night to break the hearts of the Goonellabah players and supporters. Congratulations to coach Chris Layland who guided the Rams to the title, giving Byron Bay yet another trophy for 2017.
The female competition went to Lismore Thistles with the team having swept all before them, going through the nine rounds undefeated and not conceding a single goal. The Blues dominance follows on from the Women’s Premier Division season in which the club won the pointscore and grand final trophies. Led by captain Elsa Mangan and coached by Paul Albertini and Harvey Wilson, Thistles has seen a group of young players progressively evolve over several seasons to become the new benchmark for local women’s football in the region.
Football is now in recess until registrations open on the 1st of February 2018, with Tursa Employment & Training again being confirmed as the sponsor for the ANZAC Cup, Callan McMillan and Summer Youth League competitions next year.
