Rouse Hill Rams Soccer Division celebrated it’s 10th Anniversary in 2015 and we are all proud of the achievements of our club in it’s short history.

Our facilities at Hills Centenary Park are the best in the district and this is due to council’s substantial financial investment in the park. We firmly believe that this investment can be largely attributed to the ongoing mutually beneficial relationship between our club and The Hills Shire Council.

The Rouse Hill Rams Sports Club is a strong voice in the community with a growing membership base across all six sporting divisions nearing 3000, and with expected growth to continue we will always advocate for what is in the best interest of our club, our members and our community.

Approximately 12 months ago, Rams Soccer were invited to participate in discussions to form a Hills based soccer association. The concept was overwhelmingly supported in principle by clubs in the Hills district based on reasons including extraordinary growth for our region both now and in the future, unprecedented infrastructure investment (rail/road) and strong support from all levels of government in our region.

The community sentiment has been very strong for the formation of a Hills based soccer association and we have been working along with other Hills based clubs, including a number of clubs currently playing in the Gladesville/Hornsby Association, to ensure that it is not to the detriment of any other association, but provides an opportunity to grow, promote and develop the game in our region. The Sydney Hills Football Association (SHFA) has been registered and is preparing to run a Hills based competition from 2016.

Rams Soccer has been affiliated with the Granville District Soccer Football Association (GDSFA) since our inception in 2005. We have enjoyed playing within the GDSFA boundaries and have formed strong relationships with the Board and General Manager and many of the clubs with whom we compete. Of significant importance is the fact that we play in a competition that is sanctioned by Football NSW (FNSW) and the Football Federation Australia (FFA), the governing football bodies in our state and country.

A number of processes must occur in order for a Hills based competition to be sanctioned by Football NSW. The first and most significant is the required support from the GDSFA as both associations must share the zone currently owned by GDSFA. Football NSW will not submit a new member association or change any boundary to support a new association at the detriment of an existing association. Football NSW are also bound by a number of conditions of their constitution. They indicated at a recent meeting that they are willing to admit a new member association if it were done in a collaborative way, ie, with the support of the GDSFA.

GDSFA are not willing to support a Hills based competition as this significantly impacts on them because the Hills clubs represent approximately 50% of the player base. GDSFA have issued a statement indicating the range of impacts for the game to all GDSFA members.

The only option available at this point in time is for the SHFA to form an independent Hills based competition that will operate without the sanctioning of FNSW and FFA. 

During the early stages of discussions regarding a Hills based competition, Rams Soccer stated that we would not play in an unsanctioned competition. Given that this is the likely scenario for SHFA, we have taken steps to ascertain exactly what impact that would have on our club, our members and in particular the development of the game in our local area.

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer invited the president of SHFA, Mr Craig Gough, and the Head of Football at FNSW, Mr Phil Brown, to address the committee on separate occasions, on what the benefits and impacts would be of playing outside the football family. FNSW has released a document titled ‘Affiliated Club Benefits’ (click here to view) and we have summarized some of the important points of playing in a FNSW sanctioned competition below:

  • The connection between governing bodies and grassroots sporting clubs cannot be underestimated, including the A-League, Socceroos & Matildas, FFA Cup, Men’s, Women’s & Youth State and Premier League competitions. These teams and competitions represent the pinnacle of football in our country.

  • Access and use of the FFA’s My Football Club (MFC) website providing the following important benefits:

    • Online registration

    • Disciplinary history of banned members

    • Statistics for our governing bodies to plan for the future

  • Access and use of policies produced by FFA and FNSW to ensure safe and efficient running of a local club.

  • Access to FFA National Disciplinary Regulations, Grievance and Disciplinary Process.

  • Eligibility into the Champions of Champions Tournament. In 2015, for the first time in our history, Rams Soccer are proudly represented by U12 Girls and U16 Girls in this tournament of the best teams across each association.

  • Eligibility into the State Cup trials and competitions.

  • Ability to play trial or friendly matches pre-season against clubs in other associations. In recent years Rams have arranged club trials against Glenwood Redbacks.

  • Ability to participate in tournaments and tours. Rams participate in Gala Days and interstate tournaments each year. Of note, the club has been represented at Kanga Cup for the last 5 years in either the U10 or U11 age groups.

  • Use of FNSW competitive personal injury insurance program. It is noted that Referees, coaches, team officials and volunteers also fall within the policy.

  • Access to coach education courses via community and advanced coach education courses annually. Rams have participated every year since the club started in coach education courses from Grassroots, Junior and Youth.

  • Delivery of referee education courses. In recent years the Rams Instructional Referee Program has been endorsed and many of those referees are now official black and white referees with a number of them on advanced pathways.

  • Development of Talented player pathways from local football to State teams. Rams prides itself on developing young talented footballers from our FFA endorsed Miniroos Football program and promotes those with talent to explore opportunities at either State League or National Premier League Clubs in Youth or Skill Acquisition Program. 

As a result of the presentations by SHFA & FNSW, and analysis undertaken by Rams Soccer executive members, the Rams executive, after careful consideration and deliberation, have decided that although we support the establishment of a Hills based competition, we have reaffirmed our original position that we will only play in a sanctioned FNSW/FFA competition in 2016.

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer surveyed its members at the commencement of 2015 season and overwhelmingly, the club members support a Hills based competition. We also held an open forum with our committee to discuss the issue and a Hills based competition was supported by the majority. We will therefore continue to work with the governing bodies to ensure that this occurs in a structured format.

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer will be represented and participating in ‘Granville and Hills Region Football Working Group’ established by GDSFA and facilitated by FNSW to ‘investigate ways to review and improve the delivery of football across the region’. Rouse Hill Rams Soccer will advocate strongly for a sanctioned Hills based competition, which is supported by GDSFA and FNSW and has no detrimental impact on the game of football. The recommendations from the working group will be tabled at the GDSFA Annual General Meeting on 14 November 2015.

Our club is of the strong belief that this process is a far better and more progressive way forward. Werecognise that there is a long road ahead to establish a new association and it can only be done through a collaborative approach to identify a pathway moving forward which is in the best interest of football.

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer have formally advised SHFA, GDSFA and FNSW of our decision which is a similar position taken by the Hills based clubs currently playing in the Gladesville/Hornsby Football Association (GHFA). It is important to note that any Hills based competition moving forward either sanctioned or ‘independent’ will certainly require the inclusion of the GHFA clubs for a viable competition.

The Rams Soccer executive have followed a thorough and exhaustive process in order to come to this decision and we believe it is the right decision for our club, our members and football in our community at this time. Whilst we acknowledge this decision may disappoint some of our members, we hope that we have been able to provide you with an understanding of the reasons and look forward to your continued support in 2016.

Executive Committee

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer