SOCCER
KEVIN “Squizzy” Taylor is the new head coach of State 4 outfit Baxter.
Taylor’s friend Stephen Fisher resigned from the role after one year in charge citing an impasse between club and coach that could not be resolved.
In an interview in early September Fisher called for the club to move from an amateur to a semi-professional structure and said if the status quo remained then his future there was uncertain.
“I kept making demands that this needs to change and that needs to change but it became clear that it wasn’t going to change,” Fisher said.
“To put it simply there was no common ground, nowhere where we could meet in the middle.
“I was getting more and more frustrated and to be honest they were getting frustrated with me banging on about it.
“We reached a point where I was prepared to quite happily walk away and there’s no animosity at all.”
Fisher emphasised that his relationship with club president Bray Hodgkinson had not suffered and he wishes the club every success in the future.
“I’ll be helping Bray in any way I can to keep the club moving forward and I still consider Bray a very good friend.
“If they keep the playing group together there’s no reason why they can’t be really competitive as they were right in it up the last game of last season.”
When it became clear that Fisher was leaving Hodgkinson offered the senior role to assistant coach Hayden Taylor who turned it down.
“Hayden wanted to stay as assistant for another year or two even though we were sure he was ready to step up,” Hodgkinson said.
“He could take the senior job anywhere and be very successful.”
So Hodgkinson and football operations manager Jamie O’Halloran immediately started a search for Fisher’s replacement and three candidates emerged – former Seaford United and Frankston Pines head coach “Squizzy” Taylor, former Aspendale and Somerville head coach Lee Barber and Adam Steele, another former Somerville gaffer.
“We all know what ‘Squiz’ has achieved in the past few years and we were very impressed with the way he handled himself during the interview,” Hodgkinson said.
“When I took over as president I said there were two people on the peninsula I would love to coach our club – the first one was ‘Fish’ and the second one was ‘Squiz’ – so the fact that they are my first two appointments since taking over is a pretty big thing for me personally.
“And ‘Squiz’ believes in everything we’re striving towards so I can’t think of a better person to come in after the amazing work that ‘Fish’ has done.”
“Squizzy” Taylor’s candidature was secured on a golf course alongside O’Halloran where the ops manager was at pains to remind him that his oldest son Hayden was the senior assistant and his youngest son Daniel was part of the senior squad’s leadership group.
“Yeah he made that point and also pointed out that I’m down there every week anyway,” Taylor said.
“I want to continue what ‘Fish’ put in place last season and the football department is really strong so I’m hoping I’ll be able to build on those foundations.
“Hayden will stay on as assistant with Harry (Liapis) and Dave (Kuhanez) doing the reserves.
“I think there are a couple of spots where the senior squad might need strengthening and I’ve got no doubt that there will be a few bodies coming in but let’s have a few training sessions then take it from there.
“We haven’t really set any goals as yet but let’s just be competitive and see what happens.”
In other news Matildas star Steph Catley made a surprise appearance at North Seaford Reserve late last month.
Catley was the subject of a press conference announcing that she had been hired to promote a proposed sports hub development in a neighbouring municipality.
The bulk of onlookers came from Seaford United’s juniors and after Catley did some on-camera interviews she made herself available to the many autograph hunters in attendance.
Finally here are the pre-season schedules of most local clubs noting that they are subject to change so regular checks of social media are advised.
LANGWARRIN
Saturday 13 January, v. Goulburn Valley Suns, Shepparton, 1:30pm
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Thursday 25 January, v. Boroondara-Carey Eagles, Lawton Park, seniors 7:30pm (no confirmation of Under 23s yet).
Saturday 3 February, v. Dandenong Thunder, George Andrews Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
PENINSULA STRIKERS
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Wednesday 24 January, v. Baxter, Baxter Park, 6.45pm
Saturday 3 February, v. Gippsland Utd, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm
Wednesday 7 February, v Dandenong South, venue & KO TBC
Saturday 10 February, v. Waverley Wanderers, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 17 February, v. Corio, Hume Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 24 February, Australia Cup
Friday 1 March, v. Monbulk, Monbulk Regional Soccer Facility, 6.30pm & 8.30pm
SKYE UTD
Friday 12 January, v Langwarrin Under 23s, Lawton Reserve, 7pm
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Saturday 27 January, v. Monash Villareal, venue & KO TBA
Saturday 3 February, v. Baxter, Baxter Park, 3pm & 5pm
Saturday 10 February, v. Casey Comets, Comets Stadium, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 17 February v. Gippsland Utd, Baxter Park, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 24 February, Australia Cup
FRANKSTON PINES
Saturday 13 January, Intraclub, Monterey Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Wednesday 24 January, v. Chelsea, Monterey Reserve, 6pm & 8pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Sunday 10 March, v. Ashburton, Monterey Reserve, 1pm & 3pm.
BAXTER
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Wednesday 24 January, v. Peninsula Strikers, Baxter Park, 6.45pm
Saturday 3 February, v. Skye Utd, Baxter Park, 3pm & 5pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 17 February, v. Sandringham, venue & KO TBA
CHELSEA
Wednesday 24 January, v. Frankston Pines, Monterey Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 3 February, v. Mount Eliza, Emil Masden Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 17 February, v. Casey Panthers, Prospect Hill Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 24 February, v. Seaford Utd, North Seaford Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 2 March, v. Lilydale Montrose Utd, Keith Hume Fraser Reserve, 1pm & 3pm.
SOMERVILLE EAGLES
Friday 12 January, v. Rosebud, Olympic Park, 6pm & 8pm
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Saturday 3 February, v. Bunyip, venue TBC, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 17 February, v. Lilydale Montrose Utd, venue TBC, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 2 March, v. Shepparton United, John McEwen Reserve, 1pm
MENTONE
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 17 February, v. Mount Martha, Civic Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 24 February, v. Ringwood, Jubilee Park, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 16 March, v. Plenty Valley Lions, R.G.C. Cook Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
MOUNT MARTHA
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Tuesday 23 January, v. Old Peninsula, Civic Reserve, 7pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 17 February, v. Mentone, Civic Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 24 February, v. Blackburn Newhope, Civic Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 2 March, v. East Bentleigh, Civic Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
ASPENDALE
Saturday 3 February, v. Lilydale-Montrose Utd, Mount Lilydale Sporting Complex, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 3 March v. Melbourne Uni, venue TBC, 1pm & 3pm
Saturday 10 March, v. East Bentleigh, venue TBC, 1pm & 3pm
SEAFORD UTD
Saturday 13 January, v. Monash Villareal, North Seaford Reserve, 3pm & 5pm
Saturday 20 January, Wallace Cup, Lawton Park
Thursday 25 January, v. Skye Utd reserves, North Seaford Reserve, 7.30pm
Tuesday 30 January, v. Peninsula Strikers reserves, North Seaford Reserve, 7.30pm
Saturday 10 February, Australia Cup
Saturday 24 February, v. Seaford Utd, North Seaford Reserve, 1pm & 3pm
First published in the Mornington News – 9 January 2024
