New soccer season ready to kick start

The men’s premier league has been reduced to four teams with Albany-Bayswater dropping out while six teams remain in the women’s premier league as the Great Southern Soccer Association season begins this week.

Senior games started earlier this week with the two premier league competition underway.

Changes to the senior format this season include the introduction of a women’s social league, replicating the success of the men’s social/masters competition.

The GSSA will now have six fully fledged senior competitions under its banner in 2019 but it is without a president.

Men’s premier league games will be played on Saturday evenings at 6.30pm while the men’s reserves fixtures are also scheduled for Saturday afternoons.

The women’s premier, reserves and social competitions will all be played on Friday nights. Tuesday nights will facilitate the men’s social/masters league.

Albany-Bayswater have dropped out of the men’s premier league this season, leaving Caledonians, Albany Rovers, Phoenix and Polonia to contest the title.

Denmark, Port Albany, Phoenix, Polonia and Caledonians are the five teams that remain in the women’s premier league after all competing last year.

Mt Barker United are the team not participating this season, instead playing in the women’s reserves competition.

They have been replaced by reserves league champions Royals, who return to play in the top-tier women’s league.

Dominant local side Caledonians begin the campaign as defending league champions against Phoenix in round one.

Women’s league champions Denmark tackle Phoenix tomorrow night in their return to action.