Welcome To The Rye Football & Netball Club

RIP Ian “Rabbit” Birkett 

It is with a heavy heart, we write to all our players, committee, members and supporters of the passing of our senior Assistant Coach Ian “Rabbit” Birkett.

Ian was a much loved and valued member of the Rye Football & Netball Club and his short contribution as one of our Assistant Coaches was outstanding. Ian was such a positive influence and role model around the playing group and had a wealth of experience and football knowledge. We were all looking forward to Ian being involved again in 2021.

The clubs sends it’s love, support and condolences to Ian’s partner Sally, her family and all of Ian’s extended family.

RIP Ian xx

Please, in these trying times of no community sport and the isolation of Covid 19, if you have any issues or would like to seek some help or advice, please reach out to the club. We have a wonderful resource in Sports Chaplaincy Australia as well as Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46.

Under 19 Coach 2021 

The club is opening up applications for an exciting opportunity for Coach our Under 19 side in 2021. Please email your application and resume to the Football Manager at ryefc@bigpond.net.au

Applications close Friday September the 25th.

Teams of the Decade 2006 – 2015 

A tremendous night was held at the club on Saturday July the 20th, for our Teams of the Decade (2006 – 2015), celebration. Where the best team of that decade was announced and presented. All the player in attendance were presented up on stage and had time to tell their unique story and the parts they played in that decade. What a side it was, many players from the 2006 premiership made the list, plus having played in finals for most past of that decade, the list of players who made the side was extremely strong and those that missed out were very unlucky. We had 20 of the 22 players selected in the side there present on the night which was fantastic.

AGM 

The clubs Annual General Meeting was held at the club rooms on Wednesday December the 11th 2019.  Michael O’Rourke was elected unopposed to again take on the role as President for season 2020. Vice Presidents were elected with Scott Beel and Mark Egan remaining, while Adam Dyer was also elected as one of the three Vice Presidents in a new role for Adam. Adam replaces Reg Chadwick, who will be on the general committee and again be the junior football clubs Liaison Manager.

Russell Atkins was also elected unopposed as Treasurer for season 2020, while a new Secretary was elected in David Hampton, who takes over from Mandy Allen who did a wonderful job as caretaker Secretary in 2019.

General committee positions were filled by Reg Chadwick, John Sutton, Chris Jones, Kim Harris (also as Netball Manager), Debbie Wilson, Sam Allen, Doogie Howie, Matt McIndoe, and newly elected 2020 committee members in Troy and Sam Harris, Sean Appleford and Gen Blaze.

The club would like to thank the 2019 committee people who unfortunately were unable to continue in 2020. Lauren Hearn, Neil Marwick, Jamie McPherson, Rachel Jankovic, Marcus Gordon and the wonderful Jodie Stephens, who also did a magnificent job as our Netball Manager for the last 3 seasons.

The club is in a very strong position off the field, and with the stability of a 18 person committee, ready to drive the club forward into finals in both Football and Netball in 2020.

Founded in 1946, The Rye Football Club  has played in 20 senior grand finals, winning 8 premierships. A proud and strong club on and off the field , one of the club’s outstanding achievements in its 73 years, is that there has only ever been 5 Presidents, Wilfred Rowley 1946 – 58, Clarrie Jennings 1959 – 79, Nick Appleford 1980 -95, Colin Beel 1996 – 2001 and current President and Rye legend Mick O’Rourke who took over in 2002.

Netball is now an integral part of the club and since its inception in 2009, has been overwhelmingly successful, playing in 6 A Grade grand finals and winning 3. The club now has 5 Netball sides, the Under 17’s, and A, B, C and D Grade teams.