Bedford has big vision for Townies

With pre-season training having kicked off for the West Kimberley Football League’s 2019 season, a new leader has stepped up for Towns Football Club.

Liam Bedford was named the new head coach for the Townies late last month, taking over from Robert Wilson.

Bedford, who has been involved with Towns as a player, said he had always had his eye on coaching and was excited to step into the new role.

“Towns is going through a bit of a rebuild at this stage, with a number of players leaving and a few young boys coming through the ranks,” he said.

“The level of football up here is pretty raw, so I would like to bring some structure as well as enhance the fundamental skills.

“The club is going through a bit of a rebuild in terms of club culture, so I wanted to be a part of the new culture.” Bedford said he wanted all his players to get to know each other’s style during pre-season training and to build friendships among each other to bring a united front to Towns.

“I would like to see Towns become more of a family-friendly club rather than a strictly competitive one,” Bedford said.

“While it is wonderful that we have won flags in the past, we all need to come together as a group, from players to coaches to family and friends.

“Some people think the footy is all about beers and the boys, but we want to make it open for everyone to come down and enjoy.”

During the 2019 season, Bedford said he hoped to incorpor-ate a more structured approach to game-play, as well as to encourage players not to give up after a loss.

“There’s always going to be teams that are very strong like Looma Eagles and Cable Beach, but I want to ensure the boys give it their all and they come off the field with nothing left,” he said.

“My intentions are to play as well.

“But that will depend on the circumstances from round to round, whether or not we’re short a few players due to injuries.

“I really want to set an example for the players and show them that as much as I will tell them what they need to do, I want to show that I will practise what I preach, depending on the circumstances.”