All Sunbury Lions football and netball sides will fall under the one banner from this season.
The Lions two clubs, the senior and junior clubs, earlier this month agreed to a merger after months of work behind the scenes.
The club’s had previously tried to merge, but those attempts had failed.
Under the new arrangements, junior and senior football, junior and senior netball, and women’s and youth girls football and Auskick will be all part of the same club.
Both the senior and junior clubs will continue to have their own committees, to look after matters related to the age groups. John Sanderson remains president of the seniors, while Mark Cooke is the juniors president.
The biggest change for the junior club will be the relocation of all netball and football games from Boardman Reserve, to the seniors home grown of Clarke Oval.
Merger chairman John Hansen said they hoped the merger would help build a stronger pathway between the two clubs.
Like many other clubs in the region, the Lions have struggled with a drop off in numbers in the under-16.5 and under-18.5 age groups the last couple of years.
Trying to keep players from those age groups involved in the game is a major focus going forward.
Hansen said under-16.5s will train with the senior club on an ongoing basis to give them an opportunity to learn from the older players.
The club has also decided to waive registration fees for both the under-16.5s and under-18.5s for the season,
The younger age groups won’t miss out on seeing the benefits of the merger with senior players attending selected junior training sessions and the club looking for the coaches work together at times during the season.
Families of players of junior registered players will receive a free senior club membership encouraging them to come to senior games.
The club is still looking for under-18.5 and especially under-16.5 players for this season.
Further information: Mark (juniors) 0412 684338 or Allan (seniors) 0407 357926
