MWFA

FUTURE COACH PROFILE: LACHLAN FINCH

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Lachlan Finch has been involved in football on the Northern Beaches for his whole life, starting with the Killarney Heights Leprechauns at the age of 4, and then spending his teenage years with Forest Killarney FC which led to playing Premier League for the club before retirement at the age of 27, after which he immediately undertook his first foray into coaching.

“I was asked to coach the first grade squad that I had just left, and in hindsight it was quite naïve for both the club and myself to appoint a coach with absolutely no coaching experience. It would be fair to say that it didn’t end well, however I got called back to play 3rd grade and coach a lower AL division team for 3 seasons, so it can’t have been all bad!”

In his second spell as a coach, he gained some real insights into the role and the impact a coach has beyond training and games.

“When I look back now, I realise how little I knew about not just technical coaching, but the science of how to coach effectively. I did however form great bonds with the young men I was coaching and recognised I could have a positive impact on their lives both on and off the football pitch.”

Lachlan was persuaded back into playing a few seasons for a Dee Why AL squad until he tore his ACL at the age of 40, which finally cemented his retirement from football all together, until his sons started playing for CC Strikers where he felt he could add value as a coach.

“In my life I have never actually sought to become a coach, but I’m a strong believer in giving back to the football community which has given me so much. I have lifelong friends, mentors and experiences thanks to so many people who have given their time to help me succeed, so it’s only fair that I do the same.”

Lachlan is driven to be the best coach he can for his team, but in his first season with the U12s, he felt like he didn’t really know what he was doing. He knew his coaching methods were antiquated at best, so he decided to attend some coaching workshops offered by MWFA build a relevant skillset.

“These courses were nothing short of revolutionary in terms of my thinking. I was amazed at how relevant and practical they were, and I just kept thinking every coach should be doing them!”

Now into his 3rd year as coach of his son’s team, he really wanted to lift his coaching abilities and jumped at the opportunity to join the Future Coaches Program.

“To be honest, it wasn’t what I was expecting. It could almost be described as an SAS course on the methodology, science and practicality of football coaching. Eugene sets and maintains a very high standard for all of the participants which delivers a very intensive course. I feel I have gained a comprehensive knowledge of coaching techniques to improve my coaching style, and an alumni of like minded coaches to share ideas with and rely upon well into the future.”

Finchy, as everyone knows him, is also an ambassador for Man Anchor (a men’s mental health initiative on the Northern Beaches), so hopes to combine his passion to inspire and have a positive influence on young boys lives with his newly acquired coaching ability.

 

MWFA is looking forward to seeing Lachlan continue to create not just good footballers, but amazing young men.

Look out for more articles on other MWFA Future Coaches over the coming months.

 

MWFA JUNIORS NAMED FOR AUSTRALIA’S AFC U23 ASIAN CUP SQUAD

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Three Manly Warringah Football Association and Manly United juniors will be jet-setting to Uzbekistan as part of the Australia U23 Squad for the AFC U23 Asian Cup.

Lewis Miller, Cameron Peupion and Patrick Wood will be pulling on the green and gold jersey this June, something they only dreamt about when they first started playing football as kids in the MWFA.

Miller, who now plays for Central Coast Mariners, began his career at Pittwater RSL FC before moving onto Manly United. Since joining Central Coast Mariners, Miller has now played 22 games for the club, including the 2021 FA Cup final where you could see him sporting the Pittwater RSL FC badge on the right shoulder of his jersey.

Peupion has also made strides in his career. Spending his youth at Lionel Watts for Wakehurst FC and then at Cromer Park with Manly United, you will now find Peupion in England playing for Brighton Hove & Albion FC U23’s squad, where he has been playing since August 2020.

Spending his junior years at CC Strikers, Wood then moved through the ranks joining Manly United before taking the next step in his career. Wood now plays for Sydney FC in the A-League competition.

The bulk of Australia’s squad for next month’s AFC U23 Asian Cup has today been revealed, with twenty-two (22) of the twenty-three (23) players set to represent the Olyroos in Uzbekistan locked in.

The green and gold have been drawn in Group B of the tournament alongside Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan, and will play its group matches in the cities of Qarshi (two matches) and Tashkent (one match) between June 1 and 7.

Each of Australia’s matches at the AFC U23 Asian Cup will be broadcast exclusively live in Australia on Paramount+, with the first cohort of players in the squad assembling in Uzbekistan from Monday, 23 May 2022 for a pre-tournament training camp.

Any players with A-League Finals – or potentially A-Leagues All Stars – commitments will travel to Uzbekistan following the completion of their respective domestic campaigns.

One additional player will be added to Australia’s squad prior to the commencement of the tournament.

Trevor Morgan, who will coach Australia’s U23s at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup with the assistance of former Socceroos attacker Richard Garcia, said he’s excited by the pool of players that will represent the nation in Central Asia.

“We have assembled a strong squad of young Australian talent to compete at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup, with one additional player to be added in the coming days,” Morgan said. “The players in the squad are making an impact in senior football, and with many age-eligible for Paris 2024 this tournament will provide an important moment in their development. While some players won’t be eligible for the next Olympic cycle, the opportunity for them to go to a high-level international competition will assist them in their careers, and help to create further depth for the Socceroos.”

“In recent youth national team camps we have placed a strong emphasis on having former Socceroos, such as Paul Okon, Craig Moore, Mark Milligan, and Luke Wilkshire involved, so I am delighted that Richard Garcia has accepted our invitation to travel with us for this tournament as an Assistant Coach. Richard represented Australia at U23 level, played 17 internationals for Australia including at the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and enjoyed a fantastic club career, so the advice and experiences he will be able to impart on the players will be crucial.”

Australia finished third at the last AFC U23 Asian Cup, then known as the AFC U23 Championship, in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2020 to secure qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Men’s Football Tournament. Since competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, multiple young Australian players have secured club moves abroad, and/or progressed into the senior Socceroos’ set-up, illustrating the importance of Australia’s U23 program.

The upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup does not serve as part of the process for qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Men’s football qualifying for Paris 2024 is set to commence in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) next year.

Football Australia announced last week that former Socceroo Tony Vidmar will take charge of Australia’s U23 men’s program at the completion of the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign.

Australia U23 Squad (one player to be added) | AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022

NameClub, CountryJunior Club (Member Federation)
Hosine BILITYFram Reykjavik, IcelandCroydon Kings FC (Football South Australia)
Nicholas BILOKAPIC (Gk)Hartlepool United, EnglandSydney United 58 FC (Football NSW)
Jordan BOSMelbourne City FC, AustraliaHoppers Crossing SC (Football Victoria)
Lachlan BROOKAdelaide United FC, AustraliaGawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia)
Jacob CHAPMAN (Gk)Huddersfield Town AFC, EnglandEpping Eastwood Tigers FC (Football NSW)
Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINSRakow Czestochowa, PolandNewmarket SFC (Football Queensland)
Louis D’ARRIGOAdelaide United FC, AustraliaWest Torrens Birkalla SC (Football South Australia)
Jacob FARRELLCentral Coast Mariners FC, AustraliaWyoming FC (Football NSW)
Tyrese FRANCOISFulham FC, EnglandCampbelltown Uniting Church SC (Football NSW)
Joe GAUCI (Gk)Adelaide United FC, AustraliaCumberland United FC (Football South Australia)
Tristan HAMMONDFK Austria Wien II, AustriaFairfield Hotspurs SC (Football NSW)
Alou KUOLSV Sandhausen, GermanyShepparton SC (Football Victoria)
Lewis MILLERCentral Coast Mariners FC, AustraliaPittwater RSL FC (Football NSW)
Ramy NAJJARINEWestern Sydney Wanderers FC, AustraliaMounties Wanderers FC (Football NSW)
Joshua NISBETCentral Coast Mariners FC, AustraliaSt Marys FC (Football NSW)
Bernardo Oliveira (BERNARDO)Adelaide United FC, AustraliaPort Adelaide Pirates SC (Football SA)
Cameron PEUPIONBrighton Hove & Albion FC, EnglandWakehurst FC (Football NSW)
Joshua RAWLINSPerth Glory FC, AustraliaDianella SC (Football West)
Jay RICH-BAGHUELOUAccrington Stanley FC, EnglandPalm Beach SC (Football Queensland)
Kai TREWINBrisbane Roar FC, AustraliaGungahlin United FC (Capital Football)
Patrick WOODSydney FC, AustraliaCollaroy Cromer Strikers FC (Football NSW)
Patrick YAZBEKSydney FC, AustraliaAustral Soccer Club (Football NSW)

 

Match Schedule | Australia U23 | AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022

Matchday 1: Australia U23 v Kuwait U23
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+

Matchday 2: Iraq U23 v Australia U23
Date: Saturday, 4 June 2022
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+

Matchday 3: Australia U23 v Jordan U23
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Venue: Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+

MWFA Spotlight: Anthony Pollard

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Anthony Pollard has called St Matthews Farm home since 2008 when he joined the CC Strikers.

Like many others Anthony came to the club when he started coaching his son Joshua’s team, a role he held for many years and only recently taking a small step back to assistant coach. However, you will still find him heavily involved in most training and games days.

In 2011 when his other son James joined the CC Strikers community, of course Anthony had to jump on board as coach, a position he still holds to this day.

Deciding to take on a bigger role within the club Anthony Pollard took on one of the biggest roles available, Club President.

Having been in this role for many years now Anthony is always ready to help anyone around the club from committee member to players to parents.

Working all year round to ensure that players are ready for the season and are enjoying playing football, CC Strikers are grateful for his dedication saying, “he is a great representative of what community football is about!”.

However, Anthony does not do all this work for recognition or praise, he does it for the love of his club and to give back to his community.

“I love the friendships that I have made, and I enjoy meeting new people in the community and making connections. I also like seeing the enjoyment on players faces when the season starts.” Anthony said.

“I think people have a view of volunteering as something arduous. However, the opposite is true, being part of the Strikers is kind of like having a second family.”

“It also can be very rewarding being part of the club. It is also a good way to give something back to the community.”

MWFA Partner with PhysXrehab to Present Player Welfare Talks

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Manly Warringah Football Association and Manly United have partnered with PhysXrehab, a physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic based at the Cromer Park clubhouse, to host a series of Player Welfare Talks with the first talk being held on Monday 6th June, 7pm at The Far Post Cromer on the topic of Concussion.

Hosted by guest speakers and PhysXrehab’s Principal Physiotherapist & Head of Medical Sports Science (MUFC), Steve Felsher, there will be a total of four talks covering the topics of concussion in sport, sports nutrition in football, mental health in youth athletes, and injury prevention in football.

As the football season continues the MWFA, Manly United and PhysXrehab feels it is important for our footballing community to have access to educational information surrounding current issues in sport.

These free Player Welfare Talks presented by experts in their fields aim to help coaches, players, managers, and parents gain a greater understanding of these topics and improve player welfare.

“I feel it is essential for players, parents, and coaches to be across the most current evidence-based information on four incredibly important topics in Youth Sport.” Steve Felsher, Head of Medical Sports Science MUFC/ Principal Physiotherapist PhysXrehab said.

“I am very excited to announce that we have secured outstanding presenters and experts in their given field to present to the greater football community and thank the MWFA for partnering with PhysXrehab in this Player Welfare Series “.

All four talks are completely free; however, registration is required – https://manlyunited.wufoo.com/forms/m177bir067ydcp/

 

Player Welfare Talk Information

All talks held at 7pm at The Far Post Cromer

First Talk: Monday 6th June – Concussion in Sport, presented by, Dr Nicole Sly (Sports Medical Physician)

Second Talk: Monday 4th July – Sports Nutrition in Football, presented by Amanda McCredie (Sports Dietitian)

Third Talk: 1st August – Mental Health in Youth Athletes, presented by Steve Gamble (Director of Man Anchor)

Fourth Talk: 5th September – Injury Prevention in Football, presented by Steve Felsher (Head of Medical & Sports Science MUFC)

Curl Curl’s Female Football Champion

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Lucy Davies pictured on the right.

Starting with Curl Curl Football Club at the age of eight Lucy Davies continues to be an integral part of the club and the Women’s AL/1 team.

From a young age Davies began playing where she was coached by her father Kevin. Falling in love with the game, when the time came, she couldn’t resist the opportunity to play both Saturday and Sunday.

From under 10’s all the way through the Under 18’s Davies played for her mixed teams on Saturdays and her women’s teams on Sunday.

Having many successful years Davies always found herself down at Cromer Park on Grand Final weekend either on a Saturday or Sunday.

As the HSC approached in 2017 it was unfortunately time to let Saturdays games go, however this did not stop her from succeeding.

In 2017 Davies and her team in the Women’s AL/2’s found themselves on grand final undefeated and Davies once again holding the major and minor premiership trophies.

As the stresses of high school came to an end Davies decided it was time to give back to the club that she loves and so now you will find her every Saturday morning at the Curl Curl canteen.

Riding her bike down in the early hours of the morning you will find Lucy busily preparing rolls for the BBQ, restocking the fridges, or making lolly bags all in preparation of the weekend ahead.

Once the canteen is restocked and ready to go it is time for the canteen to open and for Davies to start her serving duties.

Whether you’re looking for a delicious bacon and egg roll or a bag of lollies you will be greeted by the smiling face of Lucy Davies.

On Sunday afternoons however she will be in her green and gold playing for the women’s AL/1’s.

Coaches Michael Kember and Ryan Gibbs could not be happier to have the Curl Curl junior in their team saying, “she continues to be a hard-working and dedicated player who consistently shows leadership through her performances”.

An inspiration to young female footballers who continues to play for the love of the game, Lucy Davies is a true female football champion.

#PlayinPurple weekends re-scheduled to July

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The #PlayinPurple campaign that sees football fields across Australia turned purple for pancreatic cancer and supported by grassroots football clubs and associations, has been re-scheduled to the weekends of July 23/24 and 30/31 for clubs in NSW.

The adverse weather across the state coupled the sheer amount of rain has impacted the start dates for many local competitions around the regions, with some teams only recently playing their first games and clubs working extra hard to get their season started.

After broad consultation with associations and clubs, the overwhelming feedback is to re-schedule #PlayinPurple weekends to July 23/24 & 30/31, after the NSW school holidays. The re-schedule will allow more time for clubs to find their rhythm and remove any need to communicate deadlines for sock orders in the coming weeks, taking the pressure off those managers, coaches and parents who are focused on their own club activities at this time.

All other elements of the campaign remain unchanged, with the online store will remaining open for orders until the end of June. The PanKind website reflects these changes for football clubs in NSW.

We apologise for any inconvenienced caused, thank the associations for their cooperation and understand the change to the July dates for #PlayinPurple will better suit the grassroots footballing community who have largely been challenged by the disrupted start to the season.

The #PlayinPurple 2022 campaign will again be supported by Football NSW, Football West, Capital Football and A-League clubs Sydney FC and Perth Glory as well as key associations who will be sharing key campaign messages and encouraging participation for this important cause.

Key information for the 2022 campaign:

  • #PlayinPurple 2022 runs on two weekends of July 23/24 and 30/31 (clubs choose their round to play in purple socks)
  • All players, clubs and codes are encouraged to participate Australia wide, with a simple change of your local club socks to purple socks for one weekend in July!
  • PanKind purple socks are $15 per pair and the funds raised will go directly toward pancreatic cancer research
  • The campaign is live, socks are available on the online store: https://fcw.com.au/shop-product/pankind-foundation-socks/
  • Players can also wear their 2021 purple socks and simply make a donation https://playinpurple-2022.raisely.com/
  • A #PlayinPurple Participation Pack including a social media guide is provided to each club. Campaign hashtags #playinpurple #pancreaticcancer @PanKindFoundation
  • Socks are delivered Australia wide in time for #PlayinPurple weekends in July.

Follow our social media channels and visit our website to make sure you are
updated with key dates and information:

Find out more about the campaign here: https://pankind.org.au/take-action/playinpurple/
Follow us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/PanKindFoundation
Please email playinpurple@pankind.org.au for support or enquiries about the 2022 campaign
Donations can be made on this page: https://playinpurple-2022.raisely.com/

About PanKind

PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is exclusively dedicated to pancreatic cancer with a mission to triple the survival rate by 2030 and dramatically increase the quality of life for patients and their families. We aim to achieve this through a strategic focus on raising awareness, collaboration to increase progress and investing in ground-breaking medical research.

 

 

Narrabeen Longest Female Footballers

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In celebration of female football week Narrabeen FC took a look into their club archives to find their longest serving female players.

This is when they found Sky Kirkland and Maia Moffat.

Back in 2007 a young Skye kicked her first football in a mixed under 6 team. The following year her dad, Dave, pulled together an all-female team and in the Under 7’s to play in the mixed competition.

This was when Maia decided to join in on the action and has continued ever since.

““With all the different things and madness, you have in your life growing up, there’s always soccer. Laughing and having fun on a Sunday with the girls is the best” Skye and Maia said.

Now in 2022 the pair are still loving their football and Skye’s dad, Dave, is still their coach.

Both Skye and Maia agreed that they are only playing because their coach is an exceptional human being…. Or that they have a common enemy…no one is quite sure…

 

Avalon’s Female Football Champion

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At every club, there’s a handful of faces you see week after week, year after year. They are always on hand to help, and nothing is ever too hard for them.

Avalon Soccer Club is lucky to have a number of these people who continue to support the community. Among them is Sharon Burton.

Sharon is currently the junior Vice-President, a WALs player, team manager and so much more.

Sharon is the lifeblood of the junior program at Careel Bay, managing a team of volunteer age coordinators and 52 teams from those newest to football at under 6, right through their development journey to the cusp of competition at under 11.

If a kid has come through Avalon in the last 5 years, they’ll know Sharon.

Under her stewardship the junior program has boomed, with nearly 120 new U6 players joining in 2021, a record for the club, but also a huge logistical challenge, that she has handled with aplomb.

Sharon’s influence has also been keenly felt in the development space, as a key driver of the recently installed Avalon Development Program, offering players the chance for additional coaching at Careel Bay.

A typical weekend will see Sharon at the club at 6am, helping to set-up the fields, before jumping onto the BBQ to kick off the morning’s feast, or helping out in the club shop.

Later in the morning, she’ll be an active sideline presence as a manager to her son’s team in the U8s, before watching her daughter play U11s on a Sunday and dusting off her own boots to run around in the WAL2s competition.

There’s no job too big or too small for “Shaz”. Be it packing kitbags, slicing bread, handling player issues, or offering advice and a friendly ear to new committee members.

President John Kowtan knows the impact she shas had saying, “Every club needs people like Sharon. I know that whenever I need a hand, or the club needs someone to step up, she’ll be there. Sharon really epitomises everything that is great about Avalon.”

A true female football champion Sharon is the dedicated person the MWFA seek to celebrate this Female Football Week. The MWFA would like to recognise the incredible work of Sharon Burton and thank her for her commitment and dedication to our footballing community.

Female Only Coaching Course A Success Again in 2022

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As part of Female Football Week, MWFA would like to celebrate and recognise the contribution females make to our sport, including female coaches.

We recently ran another successful Female Only Miniroos coaching course, as we believe in developing more female coaches and role models for female players as well as offering prospective female coaches with a welcoming and learning environment. Although the wet weather kept some coaches away, it was still a very successful evening.

This course was delivered by female presenters Jane Lillycrop and Marilinda Winter, who are both previous Female Coaching Scholarship winners with MWFA and part of our Coach Development Team. They were supported by 2021 Female Scholarship winners Emily Wood and Izzy Keech.

Kylee O’Ryan, who coaches the mixed U8 Crows at CC Strikers, said it was great having access to a female only course, as being a new coach, it was less intimidating and she felt more comfortable.

“I found it really good and really helpful. It was great for me because it changed a lot of ideas I had about coaching. Recently one of the mums in my team said I was an awesome coach because I was approaching it very differently to how their previous coach had in the sense that I was making it all about fun and her child was really enjoying the season so far, which was really nice of them to say. I want to thank MWFA for making this course available because it was really great for me!” Kylee added.

MWFA would like to thank Jane and Mim running such a great course, and wish all of the coaches who participated good luck for the rest of the season.

 

We have one final MiniRoos course available this season taking place on Wednesday evening May 11 from 6:30pm in Pittwater. See here for more details: https://education-ffa.sportingpulse.com/event.asp?ID=25177

We also have various other coaching other workshops still available between now and the end of the season. See here: https://www.mwfa.com.au/coaching-workshops/ 

MWFA will again be offering Female Coaching Scholarships in 2022, so please stay tuned to our website later in the season for more information.