Dear All Gladiators
I hope you are all safe and well.
Despite it being a challenging year for Gladiators football in season 2021 we did manage to play 10 rounds of football which when you consider that we were under a strict lockdown from late June was probably a good result.
Registration refunds
The YJFL have announced that due to their costs being lower this year they are providing every player with a $46 refund of their registration fees. We have received the total refund amount from the YJFL and will communicate refund payment processes shortly.
Yearbook for 2021
The yearbook for this season will be available online shortly. Thank you to all coaches and team managers for preparing submissions for each of their teams.
Congratulations to Sam Darcy
Long-time Gladiators player Sam Darcy was the number 2 selection in the AFL draft this week and will be playing at the Western Bulldogs which is the same club and his dad Luke and grandfather David played at. We wish Sam every success in his AFL career.
Ferrie Oval Lighting Project
The Ferrie Oval lighting project is progressing well. Stonnington Council have advised us that the tender evaluation has been completed and they have identified a preferred contractor to deliver the works. Most of the cabling and infrastructure is already in place so the actual installation of the four light towers will not take long to complete. We are therefore confident that the lights will be installed well prior to the start of season 2022.
The 10 year licence agreement to allow the Gladiators to continue to occupy the Righetti Oval Clubrooms and play football at Righetti and Ferrie Ovals until at least 2032 will be executed shortly.
Sponsors
We have had a record year for sponsorship revenue in 2021. Recently we received notification from Goldman Sachs Gives that they will be donating approximately $55,000 to the Gladiators through the Australian Sports Foundation. Many thanks to Christian Johnston for arranging this significant contribution which will be used to continue and improve our coaching program.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank the following Gladiators Platinum and Gold sponsors for the very generous financial contributions they have made to our club:
- Grill’d
- Clarendon Lawyers
- Jellis Craig
- Instacare
- Efex Group
- Malvernvale Hotel
- Woolworths Hawthorn East
In addition we had the following 20 individual team sponsors who each made financial contributions to our Club this year: Boob Armour, BuyerX, Capitol Health, Chadstone Toyota, CHP Management, Colliers, DMP Asset Management, First Place Building Company, Macelleria Richmond, Matteo’s Malvern Pizza & Spaghetti Bar, Melbourne Shoulder & Knee, Motion Health Toorak, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Ontime Healthcare Agency, Patterson Cheney Cars & Trucks, Pizza Religion The Rose Fitzroy and TIG Freight.
Executive Committee and Sub Committees
I would like to thank each and every one of the 30+ members of the Gladiators Executive and sub committees and the 200+ volunteers for the huge contribution they all make to the Gladiators. A special mention should go to Jan Gnatt who continues to provide huge support to our Club.
It’s Farewell From Me
After four years as President of this amazing football club it is time for me to move on and invite someone else to take over. My children have all grown up and (unfortunately) no longer play football at the Gladiators. It has been an absolute pleasure and honour serving as President of the Gladiators and I am extremely grateful for the enormous support I have received and the friendships I have made throughout the last four years.
The Gladiators Annual General Meeting will take place next Monday at which a new President will be elected. I will continue to offer the club’s new President any support I can and will always remain a passionate supporter of the Gladiators.
Take Care and Go Gladiators!
Andrew Chambers
President
