Employment shortage killing football clubs

By Les Muir
July 10 2014 - 8:00am
HARD TIMES: Tumut co-coach Matt Free says lack of jobs is crippling rugby league in the town
HARD TIMES: Tumut co-coach Matt Free says lack of jobs is crippling rugby league in the town

LACK of jobs is steadily strangling rugby league in the proud football town of Tumut.

With the employment situation grim, Tumut has been plunged into a player crisis that has shattered the image of the Blues as a Group Nine premiership powerhouse.

After eclipsing the Group Nine premiership four times between 2003 and 2010, Tumut has fallen on desperately hard times, and slid down the table in the past three years.

The dramatic decline, however, has plumbed new depths in 2014, with the Blues failing to even win a game in the opening three months of the season.

Reflecting on Tumut's 0-9 start to the premiership, co-coach Matt Free yesterday highlighted a drastic shortage of work in the town as an undeniable reason.

Free, who shares the coaching role with Greg Crampton, is adamant the employment woes of the mountain town are the worst in a decade.

"I reckon there's the least number of 19-25 year olds (in Tumut) in my time," Free said yesterday.

"Locals can't even get jobs and they're having to travel (for work)."

Born and bred in Tumut, Free says the scarcity of employment has seriously affected the Blues chances of recruiting football talent, including a high-profile captain-coach.

"One hundred per cent," Free said yesterday.

"Players want a job."

Tough times in the timber industry have been a killer for the Blues, who won their first premiership in 30 years under Brett Goldspink in 2003.

Originally from the region, Goldspink signed on as Tumut captain-coach 11 years ago after a colourful career with Illawarra, South Sydney, the Western Reds and various English clubs.

At the time, the recruitment of Goldspink was big news - and produced the desired instant result.

Nowadays, the Blues have precious little hope of attracting a player of Goldspink's football stature of pedigree.

Free yesterday admitted it was Tumut's inability to attract a captain-coach that landed him, and Crampton, a position they didn't actually want.

"We had no intention of coaching," Free said.

"We just put our hand up to help the club out because of the work situation in town."

As Tumut prepares for a crack at Cootamundra at Les Boyd Oval on Saturday, Free is not playing down the challenges ahead for the team.

Amid the football carnage, however, the powerful lock said the players were "staying positive".

"We knew it would be a tough year with the depth (of players) we've got in the town," he said.

"Everyone is still keen and just hoping to get a win."

Far from going through the motions, the Blues have shown gradual climbed off the floor in recent weeks.

"We had a rough start and struggled for the first four games," Free said.

"There's been a bit of improvement lately and everyone keeps putting in.

"They're all playing for a bit of pride."

Smashed 96-12 by Southcity in May, the beleaguered Blues have bravely clawed their way back.

Two weeks ago Tumut lost 16-12 to Tumut before the team was edged out 20-18 by Brothers last weekend, the best results of the season so far.

Tumut's precarious position is not an isolated case – several other Group Nine clubs are also in a similar employment bind.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Wagga Wagga news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.