Weston Workers Bears FC

Football club infobox
clubname = Weston Workers Bears FC


fullname = Weston Football Club
nickname = Bears
founded = 1907
ground = Bear Park
capacity = Unknown
President = David Brown
Secretary = Bruce Whyburn Head Coach = Mick Boogaard
league = NBN State Football League
season = NBN State League 2007
position = 7th
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=88A7E0|body2=970045|rightarm2=88A7E0|shorts2=970045|socks2=88A7E0

Weston Workers Bears Football Club are an Australian semi-professional football (soccer) based in Weston, New South Wales. At its senior level the club participates in the NBN League, the highest tier of Northern New South Wales Football and the third tier of Australian football after the A-league and the New South Wales Premier League.

History

Three Weston football clubs were formed in 1907; Weston Advance, Weston United and Weston Albions. The Bears are also credited as being founded in 1907 by coalminers who worked at the Hebburn Colliery.

The Bears have spent the majority of their 100 year history in the top flight of local football, winning 13 Grand Finals, 9 Premierships and 9 Club Championships.

Club Colours

Weston wear Black and White striped jerseys, with black shorts and black socks with white trimming.

It is thought that Weston chose these colours due to the large number of English coalminers haling from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne who settled in the region and helped to set up Weston Workers Football Club.

Weston's away strip is currently a maroon jersey with sky blue trimming, maroon shorts and sky blue socks.

During the 1980s, Weston wore a yellow away strip, which resulted in the fans referring to the team as 'The Canaries' for a short period.

Home Ground

Weston play their home games at Thomas & Coffey Park (sometimes referred to as Bear Park). Weston Park has been home to the Bears since 1955.The park has two grandstands: the main stand and members stand for club members.

Recent Seasons

Weston's performances in recent seasons of the NBN State League:
* 2005: 4th place on 28 points. Defeated 3-0 in Minor Semi Final by South Cardiff
* 2004: 1st place on 42 points. Defeated 3-1 in Grand Final by Broadmeadow Magic FC
* 2003: 3rd place on 36 points. Defeated by Edgeworth Eagles FC in Semi Final
* 2002: 6th place on 22 points.
* 2001: 6th place on 16 points.
* 2000: 11th place on 12 points. (NBN State League contained 12 teams from 1998 until the 2000 season)
* 1999: 7th place on 22 points. (NBN State League contained 12 teams from 1998 until the 2000 season)
* 1998: 10th place on 28 points. (NBN State League contained 12 teams from 1998 until the 2000 season)
* 1997: 5th place on 28 points.
* 1996: 1st place on 48 points.
* 1995: 3rd place on 38 points.
* 1994: -
* 1993: 6th place on 30 points.
* 1992: 6th place on 28 points.

2006 Season

After qualifying for the semi-finals against expectations in the 2005 season, the 2006 season was expected to be difficult for the Bears.

The losses of Brad Swancott and James Monie to Broadmeadow Magic FC and Azzurri FC respectively were major blows for Weston, however the fans still held out hope that the young Bears team would be able to compete in the State League.

Weston struggled to string wins together throughout the season. Weston at times started to look like they had hit form, with wins such as the 4-1 victory over South Cardiff Gunners in Round 6, however they would often follow up with a lacklustre performance, such as the 7-0 defeat against Azzurri in Round 7.

Three quarters of the way through the season, Weston looked as though they might be about to be dragged into a relegation dogfight with Adamstown Rosebud, however a win against South Cardiff in Round 15 followed by a 2-1 victory against Azzurri in Round 16 ensured the Bears would be in the State League for another season at least. Weston finished the season in 8th position.

The highlight of the 2006 season was the finals campaign of the Reserve Grade team. After finishing 4th on the table, the Reserves defeated Broadmeadow and Hamilton to qualify for the Grand Final, which they won 5-0 against Azzurri FC.

The Bears U19s team nearly made the semi-finals, finishing the season in 5th place.

The 2006 season was the last for Bears coach Trevor Morris who decided to step down after 4 years in the top job.

2007 Season

The 2007 season new coaches join the club, with Michael Boogaard coaching 1st Grade, Chad Dobson mentoring the Reserves Paul Waters took the Youth Coach position. The coaching transition came along with 6 teams instead of 5 with a new junior team coming in, the new U/ 13's. In 2007 the Bears also upgraded to a special centenary strip which all six grades will wear.

Current Squad

Rivalries

Weston's biggest rival is Cessnock City. Both clubs have enjoyed success at the top of local football over their histories, however Cessnock were relegated back to the NewFM 1st Division at the end of the 2005 season.

Maitland are also considered to be a local rival, however they have been in the NewFM 1st Division for many seasons, so the rivalry is somewhat inactive.

Weston also has minor rivalries with West Wallsend and Adamstown. West Wallsend have spent recent seasons in the 1st Division, but have been promoted back to the State League for the 2007 season, which will allow the two great clubs to renew their rivalry.

Sadly, however, Adamstown were the team to be relegated in order for West Wallsend to be promoted. The Rosebuds finished last in the State League in 2007, and hence will play the 2008 season in the NewFM 1st Division.

Trivia

* Weston's home game against Toronto Awaba on 10 June 2007 was postponed due to a water-logged pitch from the 2007 Hunter and Central Coast storms. This was the first time since 1984 that Weston had cancelled a match due to bad weather. The match was replayed on 21 June 2007, with Weston running out winners 4-2.

Noted Former Players

* Richard Johnson
* Jimmy McNab
* James Wilkinson
* Stuart Musialik
* Nigel Boogaard
* Luke Walker
* Brad Swancott
* Anthony Surjan
* James Monie

Honours

* Grand Finals: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995
* Premierships (now known as Minor Premiership since the introduction of Grand Finals): 1931, 1936, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1996, 2004
* Club Championships: 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1996, 2004
* The club has also won the numerous State and Local Cups that have been in existence over the years, including the Stevenson Cup, Ampol Cup, Hemmings Cup, BP Cup, State Cup, Alcan Cup, Gardiner Cup, Kerr Cup, Tycon Cup and Shehan Cup.

References

* [http://www.northernnswsoccer.com.au/nnswbn/ NBN League Website]
* [http://www.westonfc.com.au/ Weston Bears official website]
* [http://www.northernnswsoccer.com.au/nnswsf/ Northern NSW Football Federation Main Site]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ OzFootball.net]