Wanderers keen to get back on track as WA Football Commission allows communtiy football training to restart

Upper Great Southern Football League president Tim Cowcher says there is an air of excitement about footy returning, on the back of the WA Football Commission’s announcement this week that training can resume under set conditions and protocols. Cowcher remains hopeful UGSFL can have a season this year as COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed on community football on Monday. The WA Football Commission confirmed that community football training can resume under set conditions and protocols from May 18. Under the conditions training can resume in groups no bigger than 20, all training is non-contact, footballs are permitted but not other equipment like weights and tackling bags and no access to change or club rooms. It was set to be round five in the UGSFL this weekend but president Tim Cowcher said he believes footy could return within the next two months. “We as a league have always been optimistic that we would have some sort of season this year,” he said. “Having spoken to a number of clubs and players they are extremely excited to begin training with the expectation of playing actual games in the near future. “With the announcements that have been made (Monday) we will start planning on the season potentially beginning in late June.” “We still need a number of things to happen for our season to begin though.” Cowcher said the major doubt surrounding a UGSFL season would be around limitations on crowds. “We held a teleconference meeting with all club presidents and Brent Sheridan from WACFL who gave us an update from a State perspective,” he said. “We will be holding our usual meeting at the end of May to make plans on what our season will look like going forward. “We will make a decision on playing without crowds at our next meeting but I personally think it would be near impossible to play if we are restricted to gatherings of less than 100. “Ideally we would like the government to allow gatherings of up to 500, which would then allow us to run our competition as close to normal as possible.” Katanning Wanderers president Michael Kowald said they were having a meeting this week to work out when they would start training but expected it to be within a fortnight.