Good morning Team Takaro! Welcome back to another fantastic season of the Beautiful Game with the club in black and orange. We’re delighted to see so many of our players and families returning, as well as a healthy dash of new faces to keep things fresh and interesting.

We’ve three major points of good news to share with you on this wonderful Friday morning (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t need extra good news on a Friday).

First of all, parents of Palmerston North rejoice! Tomorrow is the official start of the Junior Football season for 2017! All grades begin their season over this weekend, and in addition the 12th Grade has the annual Takaro AFC tournament on Sunday, which is always a fantastic celebration of our young players, their skill, and their excellent sportsmanship. Info will be available about times, locations and coaches shortly, just keep an eye on your Facebook feed and your email inbox to make sure you don’t miss it. Plus, maybe set the alarm clock now, so you don’t miss the whole morning altogether!

Secondly, again for our fantastic future footballers, T Market Fresh is once again on board as the Takaro AFC Official Junior Half-Time Sponsor, so our wee ones will once again be able to have those tasty, fresh oranges we all loved last season. Mr Spence, owner and operator, is such a fantastic figure of support in our community, and we’re thrilled to once again have him and his brilliant local business on board to support our junior club through another season. He’s supporting us, Team, make sure you pop by and support him too!

And thirdly, one for all ages! Remember our exciting announcement this time last year, that we’d been fortunate enough to secure the Lion Foundation Grant that enabled us to give every member of our club a subsidy on their fees? Well, everyone can raise their waterbottles to Mr Kevin Palfreyman, our club’s longest and most tireless supporter, because he’s managed to secure it for us again! Just as for last season, the Lion Foundation has seen our vision to be a club that is as inclusive as it can be, and shares our belief that being involved in sports shouldn’t be a massive financial burden to our players and their families. The generous grant allows us to give the same subsidy as last year, with $30 off every senior player’s fees, and $10 off every junior’s, taking the fees down to:
Men’s 1st: $220
Senior: $210
Highschooler: $140
First Kicks: $20
Fun Football: $55
Mini Football: $65
As a committee we are thrilled about this, and we hope you are too! It’s always a bit easier when fees are lower! If you’ve already had an invoice sent out (which most of you have) don’t worry our Treasurer – me – is already working thought them all to apply the reductions and reissue them with the new figure, and I’ll be getting in touch shortly with anyone who has already paid this season in full.

What a way to start the weekend! Wishing all our seniors a fantastic fourth round, and an excellent start to all our juniors and their families.

Yours in Football,
Rachel