Women’s soccer wins out

It was great news for local women’s soccer last week when Football NSW announced the inclusion of Eastern UNSW FC to the Arrive Alive Women’s Super League (WSL) next season

A joint venture of the University of NSW’s football club and the Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA), the team’s inclusion was announced in the state body’s declaration of teams for season 2010.

UNSW – which fielded U/12, U/14, U/16 and two open age teams in the representative level state league for a number of years – was ‘relegated’ after season 2008 despite strong performances in many divisions.

This had left no local representative team and therefore no path to elite football for outstanding female players in the Eastern Suburbs.

Players departed for other district teams, played locally for other clubs, or stopped playing altogether. Only the U/12s stayed together, adding some new talent and re-forming to play in (and win) the ESFA league U/14 division 1 this year. According to Football NSW Executive Manager Tony Peters, the success of the girls (most of them playing one or two years above their own age) was “a major factor supporting the club’s impressive application”.

With the successful join application, the girls are over-the-moon that their dreams of one day playing W-League – or even for the Australian national women’s team, the Matildas – are back in play.

The move opens up representative honours to all girls and women in the Eastern and South Eastern suburbs as ESFA has committed to be the official feeder association to the team.

This would assure a strong pool of players and competitive teams in the highly-regarded WSL competition.

UNSW FC president Shane Cox said the success of the joint venture application was due to the different strengths each partner brought to the table.

“With the magnificent facilities of the University’s David Phillips Reserve in Kingsford and the resources and support of ESFA, Easts-UNSW is set to roar in the representative ranks,” he said.

Player trials in various age group categories are set for November10 to 19. Details are at the UNSW FC website www.unswsoccer.com and at www.ESFA.com.au

ESFA rep Peter Kriesler, who worked with UNSW on the successful application, said the trials would offer players a chance to try out in a new environment, free of existing team structures, and to be provided with honest and fair feedback.

“Previous playing experience within the Women’s Premier or Super League will not be a pre-requisite,” he said. “All players will be looked at equally.”

The club has appointed high profile coaching staff, including Anton Ivancic and Alan Lytton as Women’s Head Coach and Women’s Football Manager respectively. Both experienced international players and women’s coaches, they join UNSW FC technical director Luke Andrews at the helm. The club is currently seeking to fill other key youth coaching positions from suitably qualified men or women.

Eastern-UNSW will soon announce the result of a competition to come up with a team name and emblem for the new joint venture girls’ super league team and for the Eastern Suburbs boys’ Metro League team.

The competition, run in association with Sydney FC and with former Socceroo captain Paul Wade and former Matilda Amy Beattie as judges, offers prizes for the winning suggestion that include two season passes to Sydney FC games.

For more information visit www.unswsoccer.com or  www.esfa.com.au; enquiries to unswfc@gmail.com

– BY GEOFF SIRMAI