THEY are arguably two of the most skillful, determined and loyal players to ever lace on a boot for the Cootamundra Strikers and now club legends Mick Godbier and Mick Simons have joined forces to lead the Strikers into the future.
The local soccer world is abuzz after confirmation Godbier has agreed to take on the head coaching role in 2012, with Simons to act as his
assistant.
The pair are no strangers to the Strikers ranks, having combined for close to 500 games together and forming the backbone of a defensive unit that claimed premiership glory in 2002 and 2004.
Godbier semi-retired after the 2004 triumph to take over the coaching reigns left vacant by Wayne Farnsworth, but now admits he threw
himself into the challenge too early.
“I didn’t know it at the time, but I wasn’t ready to for it (coaching),” he said.
“It was hard as I was coaching many of the blokes I had played with throughout my career and I found it difficult to find the balance between being a coach and being a mate.
“It was tough at times to give the boys a blast in the sheds at half time knowing I had played so many games alongside them.”
Godbier hasn’t been idle in his time away from the club, taking on
several junior coaching roles and leading a South West Slopes girls team to consecutive Champion of Champions titles - a feat that has seen his reputation as a coach expand across the region.
His passion for the game has never waned and he believes the time is right to throw himself back into the senior ranks.
“I always had it in the back of my mind to return to the Strikers,” he said.
“The club was a huge part of my life, I made some great friends and have some unforgettable memories from my playing days, so taking on this role gives me a chance to repay the club in some small way.
“To have the big fella (Simons) agree to be my assistant makes it all the more exciting and gives us the chance to strike up our partnership again.”
Both Godbier and Simons believe the club is on the verge of revisiting the glory days which saw the Strikers qualify for six first grade grand finals in seven years.
“The club won the under 18s premiership this year so there’s
obviously some great young talent in the camp,” Godbier said.
“Our aim will be to combine that with some of the more experienced players and hopefully attract a couple of former players back to the fold and form a very formidable line up.”
Godbier is a firm believer in the 4-3-3 system and that its expansive nature will suit the Strikers’ style.
“It’s an attacking format with the right and left back having an
offensive role as well,” he said.
“I’ll bring it to the table, see what the boys think of it and whether
they want to implement it, but I know it can work well if executed
properly.”
“I’m not expecting miracles, but what I hope to achieve is to have a group that wants to play for their mates, play for their coach and play for their club.
“That is all you can ask.”
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