Central Coast Mariners National Youth League (NYL) Head Coach, Tony Walmsley, will spend the next four weeks on the hunt for some fresh faces to add to his 2011/12 Premiership winning squad.
Central Coast Mariners National Youth League (NYL) Head Coach, Tony Walmsley, will spend the next four weeks on the hunt for some fresh faces to add to his 2011/12 Premiership winning squad.
With former NYL captain James Oates, striker Mitchell Duke and midfielder Anthony Caceres having all been promoted to the Mariners Hyundai A-League roster, Walmsley is in need of a talented crop of youngsters to join the team as the junior yellow and navy aim for back-to-back titles.
Central Coast-s NYL team won the league by four points plus a game in hand last term, ensuring the Mariners achieved Premiership success in both the youth and Hyundai A-League competitions.
More importantly, however, the Club places a keen emphasis on ensuring the players that progress through their NYL ranks have a real opportunity of earning a senior deal be it with the Mariners or elsewhere.
“Our program has been among the most successful in the country with a number of players advancing from the National Youth League to full time Hyundai A-League contracts,” Walmsley said.
“We have managed to promote Jimmy (Oates), Dukey (Duke) and Anthony (Caceres) this season, but have also helped develop the likes of Mathew Ryan and Bernie Ibini who are now legitimate first team stars.”
Meanwhile, Nick Fitzgerald (Brisbane Roar), Nathan Sherlock and Mitch Mallia (both Sydney FC), each spent two years on the Mariners- NYL roster before securing pro deals in the Hyundai A-League.
Indeed, Walmsley and his web of scouts will be casting their net wide in the search for talented players.
As well as attending numerous fixtures, the Mariners are seeking to hold an open trial for players who believe they have what it takes to step up Australia-s highest youth football level.
The open trials will be held in late July and/or early August with venues and times to be confirmed. However, players playing in elite representative football born from 1995/4/3/2 can apply by sending a CV to info@ccmariners.com.au with the subject header ‘NYL Trial-.
Walmsley added: “We are very eager to tie key players eligible for next seasons’ squad who were with us last season to new deals. But naturally we will need a few more players to come in and would like to offer ambitious footballers the opportunity to impress.”
A number of players in the Central Coast Mariners U18 Academy Squad have performed very well this season.
“The standard they need to get to is getting higher each year as the NYL becomes more sophisticated,” he said.
“At minimum we will be inviting several local players to participate in the program as official train on and injury replacement squad members.”
“We are also aware that there is some age-eligible talent playing in the Central Coast Football Premier League and we are keen for those players to trial,” Walmsley concluded.
The search for young talent is ongoing at Central Coast Mariners and the introduction of Western Sydney provides a new challenge in ensuring the Club stays at the forefront of youth development.
