The South West Slopes Credit Union (SWSCU) will have its logo on the shirts of Cootamundra Strikers soccer club in 2020, after coming on board as a gold sponsor.
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SWSCU has been a trophy sponsor of the Strikers for many years, but have upped the ante now with a commitment of $3,000 for two years.
"I nearly fell over when the credit union offered to become gold sponsors," said president Andrew Parkinson.
"It will be a great boost, covering the cost of shirts for the first grade men's, reserve men's and women's teams."
The club's major sponsor, the Ex-Servicemen's Club, provides $10,000 a year, and Independent Kitchens, a silver sponsor, will also have its logo on players shirts this year.
The Strikers first grade team had a lacklustre year in 2019, with a couple of senior players taking the year off, but Mr Parkinson said these players have returned for 2020 and the Club is looking forward to a much improved season.
"The players we missed last year are back now and have been at training, and I think the attitude towards training this year is a hell of a lot better."
Training started in November and resumed in mid-January after the Christmas break.
"It's been pretty full on training-wise, but in a good way. The coaches for first grade are Josh Purtell and Aaron Kemp, and for reserves Ian Wilson, and I think the boys really respect them, even the younger ones coming in, and you can tell that at training."
The Strikers women's side just missed out on the finals last year and also this year has some senior players coming back after a couple of years off, as well as some younger ones coming in, and is shaping up for a very promising season. Annette Parkinson, Andrew's wife, is coaching the women, with Ashe Holder her assistant and Bev Philpot coming back as manager.
The Strikers have a trial match on Saturday week, February 29 at O'Connor Park, with the women's game at 3pm, the reserves at 5pm and the first grade at 7pm, made possible by the new lights just installed.
There'll be another trial match a week later, on March 7, at the same times.
The new lights will help training and make it possible to have some night games in Cootamundra during the comp, saving a lot of travel for local players who until now have had to travel to Wagga for night games.
Mr Parkinson said the Ex-Services had been the club's major sponsor since 2001, meaning next year would mark the 20th year.
"I don't think people realise how much it costs to run a club like this, especially with ground maintenance, so without the Ex-Service's support we wouldn't have a club at all."
