The beautiful park-like surrounds of Wharepai Domain will again be the venue for soccer when the Old Blues club move there for the season start on April 13.
It has been more than 10 years since the beautiful game was played at the inner city venue, and the people associated with Old Blues are determined to make it a successful move.
Club president Lawrence Flude says they have been playing at Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay but overcrowding there led to some positive negotiations with the Tauranga City Council and an agreement to play at Wharepai Domain until 2018, when the Parau Farm sports fields in Bethlehem will be established.
"Waipuna has been really good for us but when Wharepai was given as an option we just jumped at it,'' Flude said. "Everyone in the club was 100 per cent behind it, and said let's go.
"We have had nothing but positive dealings with the Council and they have been helpful in every way. There have been a lot of hoops to jump through legally with health and safety but we are very happy with how it has gone.''
The Old Blues move is in line with Council's new Active Reserve Level of Service policy to maximise use of city reserves in a manageable way and it has been a win-win for all involved.
Old Boys have lifted their coaching strength by hiring former All White players Grant Turner and John Whitley to coach the Federation 1 men's team.
The duo played together decades ago at Gisborne City and coached together at Tauranga City before a disagreement with club officials saw a parting of the ways in June 2011. Whitley says that is all water under the bridge now and admits he and Turner ``are hardly touchy-feely sort of coaches'' but he is optimistic about how they can improve the standard of soccer at grassroots level.
"Old Blues approached me about wanting to take the next step and getting away from the totally social side, and wanting to start climbing leagues and having a proper football club,'' Whitley said.
"The way forward is a three to five-year plan to get to the Northern League and get our finances in place, as there is a lot more travelling involved up there. ``We have found there was a lack of training ethic and attitude, plus a sad lack of technical ability with young people.''
Federation 2 team coach Saunders says he works closely with Whitley on game plans, training plans and philosophy.
"That is the way it has to be because the interchange of players between the two squads dictates that everyone must know their role so if they move from the second team to the first team and vica versa, there is no sitting down and having to teach them from square one.''
Flude says the past few years have been great at Old Blues in women's football and it has been the iconic base for the club's success.
"They have gone from strength to strength to strength and just about every cup they play for they have won, including the Pullar Cup twice. They have outclassed almost every team they have played and I think the onset of the new coaching regime will only improve that situation as well.''
Old Blues are looking for a new coach to take the Women's Bay One team for 2013.
For information contact taurangaoldbluesfc@gmail.com