Sawtell/Toormina Saints AFL Club - SNR

HISTORY/OVERVIEW
The Sawtell/ Toormina Saints AFL Club, is a local not for profit sporting club, founded in 1985. The Club now in its 33rd year, making ‘The Saints' one of the oldest clubs in North Coast AFL. Sawtell Saints is a vibrant club that brings together players, friends, families and local business to support local sport.
With a proud history of success on the field winning a North Coast AFL record Nine Senior Premierships in 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2018. The Club also has three senior runners up titles, five Reserve Grade premierships and Two Under 18 Premierships.

The aims of the Club are to:
• increasing membership numbers
• increasing the participation numbers of younger players
• providing quality facilities, programs and experiences
• provide a family friendly, supportive atmosphere for the local AFL community

CURRENT STATUS
The club participates in the North Coast AFL competition, fielding a Senior teams (Men & Women), Reserves & U17’s. The Club provides over 250 footballers and their families the chance to play and support the game they love each weekend.
For the first time in 2018, Sawtell/ Toormina AFL will field a senior Women’s side in the North Coast AFL competition. This is very exciting for the club, following the growth of Women’s sport in Australia, it is hoped that the AFL brand will grow on the North Coast.
Our planning is focused on being a competitive and prominent force in the League in the 2018 season and into the future as well as providing a great experience for our community and younger players.
We believe we have the capacity to continue our growth in line with forecast growth of AFL Australia wide, and as a large populated region and growing bigger by the year, we are perfectly placed to assist our partners in growing their businesses, achieving outcomes and contributing to the community we service.

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT
The lifeblood of any sporting club is its juniors and we at Sawtell/Toormina Australian Rules Football Club foster the development of Australian Rules football on the North Coast. We are tightly aligned with the Sawtell/ Toormina Saints Junior AFL which field junior teams from Auskick (under 9’s) through to under fifteens. This ensures a huge number of players, parents, relatives and friends are attending Richardson Park on a regular basis, so great exposure and advertising opportunities are there for the taking.
FACILITIES
The Club, based at picturesque Richardson Park Sawtell, has undoubtedly some of the best facilities in local sport, with a $500,000+ upgrade to playing fields and facilities not long ago and is only 2km from Sawtell’s Main Street.

There are also future plans to include a second (Junior Sized) AFL field at the Northern end of Richardson Park; with ongoing discussions with the Coffs Harbour City Council regarding this second field in addition to a new amenities building and full field lighting.

THE FUTURE
Sawtell/ Toormina Australian Rules Football Club is building for the future. The Club has a long-term plan to become one of the power clubs of North Coast AFL Football and to continue to foster development of Australian Football on the North Coast of New South Wales.
The Club is actively seeking ways to best utilise its facilities by forming partnerships with other sporting groups and associations to further improve sport and recreation in the region.
The Saints have a long and proud history of working with other community clubs and organisations to provide recreation, sport and healthy lifestyle options for our local population. Richardson Park will undoubtedly be a place for all sports to call home in the future.