Werribee Football Club opened their doors to another team from Wyndham bearing the Tigers name last week.
The Wynbay Tigers, a team made up of disadvantaged and risk youth from Wyndham and Hobsons Bay, had a training session at Werribee’s Chirnside Park base Avalon Airport Oval on Wednesday May 15.
The club, which competes in the Reclink community football league, were able to use Werribee’s gym facilities as well as have a kick around on Avalon Airport Oval.
The training session came about thanks to a partnership formed between Werribee and Wynbay Tigers designed to help that latter find more players.
The Wynbay Tigers are run by Latitude: Directions for Young People, a youth homelessness service in Altona.
Project coordinator at Latitude, Peter Loe, said it was an eye opening experience for the Wynbay Tigers players.
“They’d never had had access to anything like that before,” Mr Loe said.
“They got access to he Werribbee Footy Club’s first class facilities and professional fitness instructors so it was a great opportunity for them to engage with other sporting people in the community.”
Victoria Police youth resource officer for Wyndham, Scott Sutton, was also there to support Wynbay players on the day.
Mr Loe said the partnership with Werribee had lead to a number of new players joining the club, but that participation was the aim, not performance.
“It’s around reducing isolation, increasing social interaction,” he said.
“There’s not too many superstars among them, but they definitely enjoy the program and being around the team and what it provides them.”
Those interested in joining the Wynbay Tigers should contact Peter Loe at Latitude on 93150061.
Cade Lucas
