The buzz is building around the Noosa Tigers Football Club as they kick off 2021 with a new general manager while entering their first year into the QAFL.
Batting off the success of the club last year, former Area Manager of Queensland Cricket, Matthew McEwan is keen to get stuck into his new role as the Tigers general manager.
Starting off his career as a HPE teacher in 2008, Matthew then spent eight years at Queensland Cricket, quickly earning the role of State Field Force Manager.
After relocating his family to the Sunshine Coast, Matthew said he was excited to have this new opportunity.
“They are a successful club anyway, so I’m just hoping that I can come in and keep that success going,“ he said.
“I’m hoping to take a bit of the burden off president Rob and all of the volunteers because that’s what my role is all about.“
Matthew said his main focus in his first week was sponsorship and ensuring the club was financially viable.
“I’ll be letting the football people do what they do best, while making sure the club is sustainable,“ he said.
“I’m not going to try and build Rome in one day, it’s more looking at what needs to be done right now before the season starts.
“I hope to be here for more than a year, if I do well in 2021 then I’ll be back in 2022. I’ve got no intentions of going anywhere.“
President Rob Purves said the club was eager to begin the 2021 season.
“After what happened last year with the Covid pre-season, to play nine matches, and then for the boys to step up into the QAFL state league, the club is on a real high at the moment,“ he said.
“People can see that we’re tracking in the right direction and the boys are ready to get out there and have a go at it.“
He said the players were motivated to put in the extra hours in the QAFL.
“If you look at some of the big decisions we had to make, it’s the extra travel we have to do and how that affects our players,“ he said.
“To have nearly 100 senior men players being prepared to train but also give up their whole day on a Saturday to go and travel to Palm Beach or wherever, it’s fantastic.
“Our women, coming off their premiership last year in their first year, they’re up around 30-35 girls at training as well.“
Rob encouraged the Noosa community to get behind the club and join the ride for the 2021 season.
Junior registration and training has commenced at the club. For more information visit noosatigers.com.au
