After a season fraught with trials, tribulations and triumphs, Sale United Football Club came together recently to celebrate the year that was.
Sale United’s Presentation Night was a homage to a historic 2023 Latrobe Valley Soccer League season, with players, coaches, members and guests celebrating one of the most successful years, both on and off the field, in the club’s 49-year history.
It has truly been the year of female football, at least for Sale United.
Sale United’s imperious 2023 senior women’s team won 19 of their 20 games, scoring 122 goals and conceding just 10, securing the club’s first women’s league championship.
But that’s not all.
The history book was opened long before the season’s commencement, with the Swanettes sealing an inaugural victory in the 2023 Kendall Cup Grand Final back in February.
In August, Sale United’s senior women were named 2022/23 Team of the Year at the annual Gippstar Awards.
Topping off a record-breaking campaign, Sale United’s senior women claimed back-to-back Browne-Huzier Cup victories, completing a historic double for the club.
Sale United’s female football success didn’t end there.
The club has continued to be a pillar of gender equality this season, undeniably leading the way in women’s football, with high participation numbers and weekly game supporters, just scratching at the surface of supporting evidence.
Sale United’s implementation of female-focused football programs GO Mums and GO Girls has continued to record growing numbers, with the club also boasting gender parity among its leadership group.
They may not have the silverware to prove it, but Sale United’s senior men, reserves and second division sides weren’t without their own triumphs this season.
While finishing the season in the same place as 2022 (seventh of 10 teams), Anouk Meereboer’s senior men excelled in improving their on-field performance.
The senior men won eight of their 18 games, double the number of wins managed in the 2022 season.
Sale United’s senior men put away 43 goals and conceded 49 to finish the season with a goal difference of -6, a significant improvement from last year’s 24 goals scored and 61 conceded.
Performance improvement was also a trend among Sale United’s reserve and two second division sides, one of which (Sale United White) was crowned the 2023 Nan Bosma Cup runner-up.
In celebrating team efforts and the 2023 season’s success, Sale United’s Presentation Night also recognised and rewarded individuals for their contributions to the club and the game.
Tenacious senior women’s midfielder Milli Harbour and senior men’s clinical forward Charlie Cockell were Sale United’s 2023 Rising Star Award recipients.
The second division green, second division white, reserves, senior men, and senior women coaches award went to Sam Lewis-Elliott, Kyung Stewart, Tynan Eldred, Brennen McGill and Rebecca Stobie, respectively.
Josh Deschepper claimed the second division green and reserves golden boot award. Luke Wilson took home the second division white golden boot award, with Anouk Meereboer, the senior women’s golden boot award recipient and Isaak Jondahl, the senior men’s golden boot award winner.
Sale United’s Most Improved Player Award went to Tenille Page and Mitchell Lummis.
Sale United’s 2023 President, Tom Breakspear, was second division green’s Best and Fairest Award winner, with Josh White taking home the runner-up best-and-fairest award.
Curtis Roesch was the second division white’s best-and-fairest award winner, with Luke Willams the runner-up.
Tynan Eldred was the reserves’ best-and-fairest, with Josh Deschepper taking home the runner-up trophy.
Anouk Meereboer was awarded the senior women’s best-and-fairest award, with Hollie Ryan runner-up.
Isaak Jondahl won the senior men’s best-and-fairest, with Charlie Cockell runner-up.
Sale United senior women’s captain Zoe Askew and vice-captain Hollie Ryan were the 2023 women’s players player recipients.
Jamie Penn was awarded the 2023 men’s players player trophy.
Sale United’s 2023 senior men’s vice-captain Alan Harris was the Ben Piefke Most Determined Player Award winner.
Charlie Cockell took home the Goal of the Year Award.
Naomi McPherson was 2023’s Club Person of the Year Award winner.
Hamish Wain took out the John Errol Flynn Sportsmanship Award.
Zoe Askew was named Sale United’s 2023 Presidents Trophy recipient.
Sale United Football Club welcomed three life members at the 2023 Presentation Night: Laurel Irvine, Cameron Irvine and Jan Mitchell.
Mitchell and the Irvines are fundamental members of Sale United, without whom today’s success and ongoing growth would not exist.
Attention has now turned to the 2024 LVSL season, in which Sale United celebrates 50 years.
Gabrielle Clare will take over from Tom Breakspear as Sale United Football Club’s new president.
