This season has been an historic season for ESFA and our Clubs with our highest player numbers, our greatest success in the Australia Cup and the Sapphire Cup and once again our Clubs are not disappointing us as we reach the climax of the Football NSW Champion of Champions Tournament.
All roads on Sunday 20th October lead to Valentine Sports Park where we have 3 teams representing their Clubs and the Association. This result compared to the far larger Associations with far greater player numbers, cannot be underestimated.
Dunbar Rovers O45 are looking for a complete season of being undefeated as they line up against Mosman Football Club. This particular age group has not been victorious since 2015 when Pagewood Botany became the Champions. This is not the first time that Dunbar have made the final however, this is the first time an undefeated O45s team has graced the turf of Valentine Sports Park.
Coogee United are looking for history by becoming the first ESFA Club to win both the AA Men and AA Women. This is a colossel achievement reaching the finals, by both teams and we are blessed to have them play back to back on Sunday. This is not the first time the AA Men has been represented by Coogee United MPL who famously in the 50th Anniversary of the Tournament back in 2018 became Champions of Champions. The AA Women have also been represented by Coogee United WPL and this year we have been bouyed by their results throughout the Tournament and believe 2024 is the year that history indeed will be made.
The Men take on NSFA Club Lindfield FC who were famously beaten by Phoenix FC earlier in the year in a penalty shootout in the Australia Cup and the Women take on SSFA Club Gymea United who required extra time in their Semi Final to ensure victory.
Regardless of the result on Sunday 20th October, history is already made and football in the Eastern Suburbs should be spurred on by successes such as these to ensure the future of community football is secured. We are proud of all three teams and both Clubs and hope for a huge contingent of support from the east cheering on.
We reached out to both Dunbar Rovers and Coogee United to understand more of what representing their Club and ESFA means to them.
Dunbar Rovers:
“It’s been a long season but Dunbar’s O45s are still enjoying playing together and haven’t taken any of our success for granted. ESFA have done a great job strengthening the O45 Championship Competition. The league gets better each year as clubs push each other to play their best football. Winning the ESFA league and the Grand Final was a great achievement. Playing Champion of Champions football and getting to the Grand Final is the icing on the cake. The squad are excited and looking forward to Sunday’s game.
We lost six long term members of our squad at the end of last season and had to recruit new players. That was a big challenge but it’s been satisfying watching our new players gain in confidence and integrate into the squad. Each of them has been determined to earn their place in each game and have given us exciting options to develop the way we play. Now they’re all vital members of our squad and have made big contributions to our success. We aren’t a first eleven team plus substitutes. Players park their egos and committ to playing as a part of a squad. Everything we’ve achieved and enjoyed this season we’ve done as a group of players who respect each other and enjoy playing together.
Sunday’s game will be our last of the year and our biggest of the year. Most players don’t get to experience being a finalist in Champion of Champions and I know every player will be wanting to step up to the challenge and will give of their best. I’ll also be reminding them to cherish and enjoy the occasion. We’ll be celebrating appearing in another Grand Final, along with everything else we have achieved playing together in 2024. With a big performance and a few more goals, we’ll be playing to bring the big prize back to the eastern suburbs.”
David Mills Coach
Coogee United:
Club
We have consistently turned up for each other when times have been tough. We have had injuries, suspensions and multiple boys away and we have continued to find a way to win. The character of this squad is one of the best I have been apart of.
We integrated a lot of new faces this season, and at the start of the season I seen it as our biggest challenge, but the increased quality of the squad and their personalities has created an amazing environment to be involved in. The club, players and coaching staff have all gelled so well together.
The main focus will be to win, but it is a great occasion for everyone involved. We are really looking forward to testing ourselves against the best and I am sure our boys will enjoy the occasion and revel in the opportunity to be crowned champions.”
