Neil Webster remembers a time when Dubbo Touch Football Association sides would arrive at tournaments with minimal preparation or training and then return home without a win to their names.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Things are vastly different now and Webster, the association president, has been a key part of a rise which was capped off on Sunday when the Dubbo Devils won a first Club Championship at the NSW Touch Football Country Championships.
That was largely thanks to grand final wins in the Women’s Seniors and Men’s Open B divisions.
Webster described the weekend, which was played out at the Riverbank Ovals, as the most successful in Dubbo touch football’s history.
“It’s massive for our club to win the Championship,” he said.
“We’ve been building for years and years and we’ve been gradually improving as we’ve moved along and we’ve been getting new players and trying to expand our teams.
“We’ve been getting more professional so to get some recognition for our results is overwhelming, really.
“It’s been a long time coming and it’s really pleasing.”
As well as title wins in the Men’s Opens B and Women’s Seniors divisions, Dubbo Devils side featured in three other finals series.
The only home team not to make finals was the Mixed Open outfit.
Webster added the Dubbo players were “on a high” after the success and attention has quickly turned towards the State Cup at Port Macquarie in early December.
The two Devils title-winning sides will definitely be going to that event and Webster said meetings will take place soon to see if more Dubbo sides will compete.
“Everyone is really excited for that and everyone seems keen to start training again already,” he said.
Webster also confirmed his association will bid for the 2019 Country Championships hosting rights after receiving a huge amount of positive feedback on the weekend.
“The biggest thing for me is that people like coming to Dubbo and it was a perfect weekend with the weather and council did a great job, the grounds were fantastic,” he said.
The association now looks forward to hosting a regional junior tournament on November 19.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
