Surf Coast girls make club history with CPL title

Surf Coast FC has become a powerhouse of girls soccer in the region. Photo: Coerver Coaching.

Surf Coast Football Club’s under-13 girls have become the first team from the club to win the Community Premier League (CPL), capping a strong season for the region’s junior football program.

The team secured the North West CPL title after a crucial 3-2 win over Albury-based Moriah last fortnight, before finishing the job with two wins last weekend.

Coach Adrian Leijer said the premiership reflected years of development from a group that had been playing together since they were about six or seven.

“We’re a small little region, but we really punch above our weight,” he said.

“Everywhere they go, they make noise and people talk about them.”

Leijer said the team’s development had been built on off-field connections, focusing not only on players’ game performances but helping them to become good community members.

The under-13s will now face Manningham United, winners of the South East league, in a statewide championship match this weekend.

“If we can manage to win this next game, it would just be a nice little bonus to finish the season,” he said.

He hopes the group stays together at Surf Coast as it progresses through the junior ranks.

“They’re a special group and hopefully a lot of them stay at Surf Coast,” he said.

The strength of the club extended beyond the under-13 side, with Surf Coast’s under-15s finishing second by one point and the under-17s finishing fourth.

The combined results were enough for the club to win the North West division across the three age groups.