NEW Emus president Toby Tancred can remember 20 years ago when he and his team-mates would gather after games in “the hut”.
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Nothing more than a glorified shed, the hut was as close as the men in green came to a clubhouse.
Times have changed and Endeavour Oval is now the envy of Emus’ Blowes Clothing Cup opponents.
But Tancred will use the memory of past struggles to ensure the future of the club he loves.
“We are the best placed club in the competition, but I feel we have taken that for granted for quite some time now,” said Tancred, who will be confirmed as the licensed club’s president at the AGM on February 13.
“We have the best facilities in the central west and we can use them to fulfil our vision of being the premier rugby club in the central west.”
It’s a lofty goal, and one shared by all clubs in the competition.
But Tancred believes he and the incoming board have the plans required to make it a reality.
To start with, the club will be re-structured, from the top down.
The senior club will now run the board, with a junior representative, Geoff Potts, being named vice-president.
There will also be a greater importance placed on the roles of director of football, director of clubhouse, director of grounds and, especially, club captain.
“We really want the board to organise things off the field and lead from example in what we want the club to be,” Tancred said.
“That’s why the club captain will be so important, as a voice for the players and a way of letting them know what decisions are being made.”
Tancred, whose sons are involved in the club’s walla rugby program, is confident that the changes will help the club achieve their goals.
First up - attracting the best coaching talent available.
The club will be announcing the coaching roster for the coming season in the weeks ahead, but Tancred indicated that he and the board are very happy with their successful applicants.
Another reason for joy is the planned season launch, to be held on April 12.
The guest of honour, also yet to be disclosed, is a high profile Australian political figure.