FOOTBALL
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He’s been at some of the Hunter’s top clubs, and now Les True is determined to return Beresfield United to where they belong.
It’s been a difficult few years for the proud club.
They were relegated from the Northern NSW Football First Division at the end of the 2010 season when their facilities failed to meet federation criteria and have since
slipped down to the fourth-tier Zone League One.
But things appear to be changing with the appointment of True and signing of former NSL defender Danny Burt, who returns to the club from State League outfit Lake Macquarie.
After coaching at several top-tier Northern NSW State League clubs, the motivation for True to return came after seeing his local club struggling.
“I know Tiger [Phil Peate] very well, and he came to me and asked me if I could get this club back to where it belongs,” he said.
“I live local and after being at Edgeworth and Charlestown in the last few years, where everything is about winning with big name players, I wanted to come to a club where I could work with youth.
“My goal is to try to give the boys better training, better drills, get them enjoying their football and if we can do that we’ll see results on the pitch fairly quickly.”
True said he was looking for “one or two old heads” to come in and help develop the young members of the club, and lauded the experience that Burt would bring.
“Danny’s a real pro, his attitude to football and what he gives to the games, and to the kids, can’t be beaten,” he said.
“He’s 40 now and is still one of the best footballers going around in Newcastle.”
The signings of True and Burt are part of a long-term promotion plan for the club as they seek to match improved on-field results with developments off the pitch.
For Beresfield United president Brad Guy, getting True at the helm was the first step in the right direction.
“We had to go with someone that is respected to attract quality players, and we think that Les is the right man for the job,” he said.
“There’s a few boys from the area playing at other clubs, and by having Les and Danny on board we are confident we can get them to return.
“Our first step is to get promotion into the Zone Premier League, and from there the next step up is NEWFM League, but to do that we need to improve our facilities.”
Part of the problem has been the miniscule dimensions of Beresfield’s Pasadena Oval pitch, and the club will be seeking to rebuild facilities and floodlights on a larger adjacent surface.
Guy will meet with the Newcastle City Council today to make preliminary inquiries about access to grants, but True also called on local businesses to get involved.
“There’s so much industry around in this area, and if we can get the support off the pitch I know we’ll be moving up,” he said.
True will start weekly off-season training at Pasadena Oval from 6pm next Thursday and called on all local footballers to get involved.