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Club statement – the future direction of Joondalup United

JUFC President Stephen Martin addresses club members and all other interested parties as preparations begin for our landmark 20th season competing in WA football.

On behalf of the Joondalup United Football Club Executive Committee,

I would like to take this opportunity to confirm our situation in terms of the rumours that have been circulating over the past few weeks regarding the club folding, merging and everything else in between. I can confirm there will be no merger and JUFC will not be folding.

Apart from the three senior NPL teams this season, the rest of the club is the strongest it’s ever been and we are more financially stable than ever.

As most are aware, the three senior National Premier League (NPL) sides have not had the best start to the season. This is obviously not ideal but comes as no surprise to the Executive Committee. We were resigned to the fact that, after several failed attempts, the City of Joondalup Council were unsuccessful in trying to provide the club with a home base from which to operate from, and therefore we were going to struggle severely in our second season in the NPL.

Our role as an Executive Committee is to operate the club in the best interests of our members and that means exploring every option available, as we have done numerous times during the club’s 19-year history. The City of Joondalup Council had advised us to explore all options and even to investigate options within the City of Wanneroo.

As a result of our current position there was some interest from another club, in particular enquiring whether there was a way to bring our two clubs together with a possible merger and, in the process, solve some challenges currently faced on both sides.

Further enquiries were made, meetings between both parties took place and, following, this the key stakeholders of JUFC were then engaged to discuss all options and work a way forward in the best interests of the club. After much discussion and with due diligence completed we would like to advise that there will be no change to the current structure of the club.

Our search for a home ground has been no secret; whether NPL or not it has been going on for over ten years and the last two years have been the most challenging in which four separate facilities were identified as the new home for JUFC, only to be voted down on every occasion.

The disappointing December rejection of a council proposal for a brand new community facility to be built at the club’s junior ground at Prince Regent Park in Heathridge has left JUFC with no facilities at all and has put a huge strain on every person throughout the club, especially the coaches, players and parents utilising this park. The situation we find ourselves in is ridiculous and is something we are not going to let go lightly.

As a result, the remainder of the 2018 season and the months going into season 2019 is an important period for the club. We are a very proud and successful community club, and we will persevere to explore all avenues to provide this great club an eventual home.

We have now formed a Council Action Group who will lobby the State Government officials and local Members of Parliament. We will also continue to work with the City of Joondalup and engage with the local groups and residents associations, leaving no stone unturned in order to give our club and its members some basic facilities to operate from.

The club will be looking ahead and begin planning for the 2019 season. With some rebuilding and restructuring we are sure we will be able to continue as we always have in the past. Should results continue to no go our way, the NPL Juniors and NPL Development teams will continue to strengthen next season while the seniors rebuild in State League Division One where the compliance and restrictions of NPL do not apply.

The partnership with Glasgow Celtic FC has progressed further this season and we are looking to expand on this more in the coming years. With the senior Amateurs and Masters groups continuing to thrive and compete in all their respective divisions, the club in its entirety will be strong heading towards its landmark 20th season in WA football.

As a club we pride ourselves on providing competitive football for everyone from 5 to 50+ years of age in a family friendly environment. Our core strategy is focused on the development of our players and coaches and in future seasons we will place a strong emphasis in this area to ensure we maintain the standards we have set in our short history.

Stephen Martin
Club President