Strikers welcome new coaches
BY ALEX TIGANI
Incoming Singleton Strikers Mick Jarvis and Julia Weir have only just met.
However, the club’s new coaching duo admit they already feel at home following the Strikers’ opening two weeks of pre-season.
Jarvis is already a popular figure within the Hunter Valley football scene.
As Zone technical director (catering for 32 clubs) he still managed to coach the Weston Bears under-18 line-up with Ian Brogan in 2021.
Now based in Muswellbrook, Jarvis takes over the Singleton Strikers’ first grade coaching role from Brendan Slade.
“The group has been very welcoming, they drive each other which is good,” Jarvis told The Hunter River Times.
“Sladey, has done a really good job getting them to where they are, making sure they stay accountability to the town, the club, themselves and each other.”
If all goes to plan in 2022, Jarvis may go down as the third coach to bring the Northern League One title back to Singleton after Slade (2020) and Steve Turnbull (1992).
“We’re here to make sure this last premiership and finals campaign isn’t a once in every 19-year event for the Strikers,” he added.
“We’re here every year.”
MEANWHILE Singleton Storm player Julia Weir will make history when coaching the club’s reserve grade line-up.
The 27-year-old admits the Illawarra Stingrays pushed her through her coaching license during injury at junior level.
“She has a thirst for knowledge where she’s like a sponge, taking it all in and open to everything we’re doing,” Jarvis continued.
“Her enthusiasm is fantastic, she is willing to put in the time, the players trust her and give them the best possibility to grow.”
Weir will spend her Mondays on the ‘Kick on for women’ program and Tuesday and Thursday (and game days) with the reserve grade side (leaving her Wednesday and Fridays for the women’s line up). “I think as a whole we have really good potential to build a great senior’s team and ultimately that can filter back down to our juniors and encourage more people to the club,” Weir added.