Blue Rovers Junior Football Club from Tauranga have been named as the 2016 WaiBOP Club of the Year.

Each year a club is selected by WaiBOP Football as the region's Club of the Year. The club needs to show that it has excelled in a cross section of activities within the WaiBOP Football framework.

This includes GoalNet utilisation, organisational development, having club coordinators, encouraging referee education, forming alliances and links to other clubs and schools along with other community organisations, support of the junior framework and Whole of Football Plan, and generally being supportive of and communicating positively with the Federation and the footballing community.

Blue Rovers Junior Football Club has been consistent across all of the criteria and, in particular, was very supportive of our junior programmes, including futsal, girls and bringing on coordinators.

The link forged with Tauranga Old Blues and local secondary schools as well as their physical club development has been a highlight.

Blue Rovers is a very proactive club, well run and organised. They run early season trials and training sessions and every grade has a coordinator," says WaiBOP Chief Executive, Mark Christie.

"Club President, Theo Ursum, and committee member Brent Armitage are always looking to improve the club and give the opportunity to the kids and coaches to develop."

Mark says they worked hard at the end of last year and in the early part of 2017 to be involved in the new U12 Federation League and have been very supportive regarding our Talent programmes.

"Although there is still some work to do to reach the high standards required to operate in the Talent space we feel that the work already undertaken has put them in a good position to achieve more in the future.

"From a Futsal perspective the club has supported teams into the local Futsal leagues and are keen to grow and foster futsal further."

They have signed an MOU with a neighbouring senior club to help provide a full pathway and they have been in discussions with local secondary schools to support the youth programme.

"They are always supportive of NZF and WaiBOP Football initiatives. They have purchased their own club rooms and refurbished the building including change rooms and kitchen area.

"Theo and Brent also personally mentor youth at risk spending a lot of time and resources on them, they are doing a good job.

"Blue Rovers is very supportive of fostering girls only football. The Club has a great management style and looks after their volunteers."