Soccer: Surplus to benefit WaiBOP

Members of Waikato and Bay of Plenty Football (WaiBOP) will be the major beneficiaries of the $100,000 plus surplus announced at the federation's AGM last night. The announcement caps a strong financial period for WaiBOP, who have recorded positive financial results over the past three years.

The current financial position of WaiBOP would have seemed inconceivable four years ago, when the federation was continuously struggling to stay financially secure. However, proactive leadership and a clear vision has enabled the federation to pay off debt and build cash reserves. The establishment of these cash reserves now allows WaiBOP to invest funds back into the game through initiatives such as the Break Through Scholarship.

The Break Through Scholarship ensures youth have the opportunity to continue to participate in Football by providing financial grants to successful applicants. WaiBOP will distribute up to $20,000 per year through this scholarship.

The three year turnaround has also allowed WaiBOP to maintain the lowest affiliation fees in New Zealand; in 2012, only 13 per cent of all federation revenue was generated via affiliation.

Furthermore the strong financial position has allowed the federation to be at the forefront of New Zealand Football's Whole of Football Plan. WaiBOP has successfully employed a regional network of Football Development Officers.

This regional network of 14 staff has enabled the federation to provide grass root support to the many diverse communities throughout the region. The by-product of this support is more than 600 coaches, 400 schools and 200 referees serviced by the federation in 2012 alone. Coupled with an increased player base, WaiBOP now provides quality football experiences to more than 15,000 members.

The call on federation services is set to expand even further this year, following the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between WaiBOP and the Waikato Secondary School's Football Association (WSSFA). WaiBOP CEO Cam Mitchell describes the value of alignment within Waikato and Bay of Plenty:

"Within our district, we recognise that alignment reduces duplication and allows better utilisation of the scarce resources within football."

The benefits of the alignment of the WSSFA, are expected to be mirrored also as the federation takes control of the region's national league franchise.

Under the WaiBOP United title they will provide a clear pathway for talented players and coaches throughout the entire Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.