About the Henley Football Club

The Henley Sharks Football Club is a sporting organisation that plays Australian Rules Football in Adelaide's 'South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL)'. It has been providing footballing opportunities for local adults and children since at least 1899.

Location...

The Club is based at the Henley & Grange Memorial Oval, located on Atkin Street Henley Beach, South Australia. Its beautiful location, with great facilities and scenery, is only minutes away from the beach and the popular Henley Square. The oval is informally known as Shark Park to Club members.

Our football teams...

We have 4 senior men's football teams, an Under 18's team and 9 junior teams for the kids. We even provide a team for our over 35 year old players known as the SHOC Sharks, in what is an amalgamated team with Sacred Heart Football Club (SHOC). Once a year, for our even older past players, we provide an annual one game only "Slowdown" match for these former stars to catch up and play a game of footy. It is fun to play and fun to watch.

Therefore we have over 400 football players involved at the Club every year.

Game days...

Football games are played on weekends with Senior teams playing on Saturdays and the Junior teams, including the Under 18s playing on Sundays. The over 35's team play every fortnight on Sunday afternoons.

Each season generally begins in April and teams play around 15 or 18 minor round games. Finals conclude the season and are generally played in September. Trial games are also played in March before the season begins.

With new oval lights recently installed, 2011 will also see night games played at Henley Oval - Friday or Saturday evenings, finish by 9pm.

As games are played on both days of the weekend, we encourage people of all ages to come down to the ground and enjoy an atmosphere of great football, great people and great outdoors. There are playgrounds for the kids and huge oval areas to spend the day out in the park with family and friends. A walk down the park could be a beautiful day out.

Hot food, chips, lolliesand drinks are available from our canteen and the hugely popular BBQ means there is plenty of great food to enjoy.

The Clubrooms also have amusements such as 8-Ball tables and Arcade games. A babies toy area is also available.

Training Nights...

All teams train 2 nights a week. Seniors train on Mondays and Wednesdays (preseason) for Division 6 teams, Tuesdays for Division 1 teams and Thursday nights for both divisions. Our U18s and junior teams train every Wednesdays and Fridays. Any new players are always welcome for U18s and seniors teams. Thejuniors players need to register in February and due to regulations we can only have trainign squads of a certain number of players - unfortunately some people miss out, sorry.

Preseason training generally begins in mid November for our aspiring Division 1 players. Having the beach nearby also compliments fitness development as training includes fantastics nights out upon Adelaide's beautiful beaches. Training for Division 6 players generally starts in late Febuary.

The Club facilities also include a massive gym that is available to any player or club member anytime the Club is open. Entry and usage is always free.

Current Club Patrons...

Patrons of the Club are the 1947 Henley Oval Club Founder Peter Ardill and the Honourable Paul Caica, Member of the South Australian Parliament who is also a former player.

Senior Football Teams...

The football club has 5 senior teams playing in the South Australian Amatuer Football League and its coaches are as follows..

Junior Football Teams...

Our 8 junior teams compete in the Metro West Junior Football League. Our teams are as follows:

Match Presentations...

Presentations are held each Friday night (5.30-7.00pm) for Junior (U8s-U13s), Saturday night (6.30-7.30pm) for Senior teams and Sunday nights (5.30-6.30pm) for the U14s, U16s & U18s teams after games have been played. Prizes are awarded to at least the best three to sixperformers from each team. We encourage supporters, sponsors and other people to join in on these important occasions. Being apart of a large crowd celebrating the day makes an enjoyable and memorable night. Vouchers (non alcohol) and other donations for these player awards are also most welcome.

Volunteering opportunities...

To allow talented sportsmen and children to develop and express their football abilities, the Henley Football Club essentially exists from the help of its volunteers. Huge numbers of people play enourmous roles within many departments of the football club and together each contribution combines to make the club great.

Just about anyone can become a part of the Club simply by helping the players do what they do best. Any help goes a long way as at the same time you can make great new friends and meet many interesting people.

Volunteers can include scoreboard operators, goal umpires, oval preparation assistants, Guernsey washers, team managers, injury and fitness trainers, tradesmen, football game journalists, cleaners, photographers, administrators, historians, coaching assistants, football skill developers and much much more.

If you can offer any assistance in any department we would love to have you on board, because sometimes these roles will never be fulfilled.

Also if there is anything you wish to donate that you believe will further help the Club and its members, please do not hesitate to offer. The Club is dependent upon voluntary contributions as your service will forever be cherished whether it be ongoing or once only.

We always strive to be a community leader within local football and you too can be apart of the team.

Sponsorships...

Sponsorship and support is drawn from local shops and businesses all part of our community focus. We are always keen to have local businesses providing vouchers that can be used as awards for players as each business name is emphasized upon presentation of the prize.

Senior players have the option to become sponsored by a local business, removing the need to make match payments. The player's on field success is highlighted with an announcement of his sponsor at any presentation night conducted and player sponsor lists are regularly posted around the club.

Every year we also dedicate an A-Grade game to our sponsors and celebrate those who support the Club within an annual Sponsors Day.

We would like to thank our Club's major sponsors “ The Lakes Resort Hotel, Pearce Enterprises, Sports Centre, Symons & Clark Transport and Eadon Home Loans.

Good Sports Program...

The Henley Football Club is part of the national Goods Sports Program in which we have been awarded a Level3 accreditation. This ensures we are firmly committed to 'providing a healthy environment for members, families and visitors'. This includes maintaining non-smoking and Safe Transport Policies, as well as a Code of Conduct for Good Behaviour. Official policy documentation can be found in the website's Club Policies section.

Responsible Serving Of Alcohol...

As a licensed facility, we are always committed to the responsible serving of alcohol and have introduced mechanisms such as the provision of 'substantial food' during specific times and the provision of alternatives to alcohol as prizes. We are keen to obtain in-kind sponsorship that supports this. We welcome vouchers for products and services or discounts on purchases.

When alcohol is to be served we will abide by all the requirements and laws of the Liquor Licensing Act 1977. When the bar is open, accompanied under age people are allowed on the premises until 12:00 midnight. Other requirements are covered in our Responsible Service of Alcohol Policy. For a full copy contact Club President Dos O™Sullivan (0418 130 595 or president@henleysharks.com.au).

Clubroom Hire...

Our clubrooms and associated facilities are available for hire by both club members and outside groups for private functions. We are experienced with birthday parties, business workshops, conferences and other special events.

For a tailor made package, please contact Bar Manager Terry Homan bar&roomhire@henleysharks.com.au (0400 905-203).

Other Sports...

The facilities at Henley & Grange Memorial Oval are shared with a number of other sporting groups including the West Torrens Cricket Club and the Henley District Little Athletics Club.

The Henley Community...

A number of schools in the region also use the oval for sports and other functions. Likewise, the oval is used by many people walking their dogs, playing games or just enjoying the outdoors. We strive to work with all of these groups to provide better facilities for everyone.

Green Hubs

The Green Hubs program is developed by Conservation SA (the peak environmental organisation in South Australia) and is focused on helping organisations make their facilities and operations more environmentally sustainable. We have joined this program and immediately we have had a free environmental audit by an expert that normally would have been a major expense ($2,500). Other support will be provided over the next year or so.

The report details our water, gas and electricity consumption over the past 12-16 months and came up with 10 prioritised opportunities we could undertake to save on water, energy and wastes. These sustainable options will provide returns to our club as well as the environment.

Other benefits of being a Green Hub include: Improved club facilities

• Short and long term financial gains
• A smaller carbon footprint
• Improved community profile
• Greater member involvement
• Access to a wider range of funding opportunities.

Already we have been able to apply for funds from the Community Sustainability Grants. These grants are for up to $10,000 and with the assistance of Dominic Nicholls of Green Hubs we were ablesuccessful in gettign $8,140for the insulation of the outside storage shed and cool room, the clubrooms and the canteen. This was comleted in February with the assistance of Premirr Insulation (many thanks Joe Golotta).

We were also successful with a Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation for $17,005.99 for a solar panel system (many thanks to Andrew Farron and the directors and staff at BB West Beach). With club sponsor Energy Matters we are putting in a 7.52kW system in March (worth over $45,000), with room for expansion up to 11kW.

Both these projects save us several thousand dollars every year on our power bills. Also our Carbon Footprint will be lowered, as well as improving Clubroom facilities with greater comfort for anyone who uses them.

We will continue to work with Conservation SA, our various sponsors, members or other groups to assist the Henley Football Club in becoming a leader in sustainability. Additionally the working with Conservation SA will help to deliver support and education for your members and the wider community. If you have any further ideas, please see the Club President.

If you are interested in the Green Hubs or Conservation SA, contact Kathy Whitta at kathy.whitta@conservationsa.org.au or visit the website at www.conservationsa.org.au.

We always receive great support from the City of Charles Sturt, our local council.