SOCCER
LVSL
STAFF WRITERS
FALCONS 2000 Soccer Club is gearing up for the 2024 Latrobe Valley Soccer League season.
The Birds are aiming to continue on recent success, which has included the LVSL senior men’s and women’s title in 2022, as well as a runner-up finish for the men which came down the final round of the season last year.
The club has reappointed 2023 coaches Adrian Salvatore (men’s) and Sheeny Whadcoat (women’s), who are both very passionate about winning silverware in season 2024.
Salvatore is a well-known figure around the club, having been at Falcons since 1997.
From being a junior at the club to now the senior head coach, Salvatore understands what it means to be a Falcon, will be looking to instil that in every player in the hunt for success this season.
Salvatore will work closely with another familiar Falcons name in Joe Auciello.
Auciello, the Falcon’s games record holder, is going around again as assistant coach, a role he took on for the first time last year.
Conor Clarke will coach the reserves, and aim to continue on the work of last year that saw the team finish runner-up in the Shopwell Trophy.
Whadcoat brings no shortage of playing expertise to her role as senior women’s coach, being a five-time club best-and-fairest winner, and league winner.
Under Whadcoat’s guidance in season 2023, the Senior Women’s team had a season filled with unforgettable moments, despite the challenges of player availability.
Assisting Whadcoat will be Nick Lapenta, who is making a welcome return to the coaching arena.
Preseason has started with a structured program under the club’s trainer Jack Beechey-Danvers.
Beechey-Danvers has taken charge of all fitness-related matters for Falcons’ senior men’s and women’s teams. The head trainer is out to to ensure players are injury-free when they get onto the park.
With a history like no other club in Australia (Falcons is the only regional club to ever compete in the national league), Falcons has again played its focus on junior development, being a club of choice in Gippsland, and maintaining family cultural values on and off the field.
“This is the one thing that is not negotiable, winning is important at senior level, however development at junior level is as important,” the club’s president said.
