Sharks Ready For New Era

Scotsman and former Blacktown City Demons and Marconi Stallions coach Brian ?Bomber? Brown has called Seymour Shaw his new home alongside assistant Cliff Pointer in the Shire region.

Brown has thus far snapped up six players that will don the Sharks jersey for the first time this year and has hinted that there could be a high quality A-League player making a guest stint for the start of the season.

Former Albion Park White Eagles keeper Mitchell Blowes has been recruited by the Sharks after the custodian spent a solid season playing in the local Illawarra Premier League where he wowed football fans with his amazing acrobatics under the sticks.

Sharing the gloves at the Sharks with Blowes will be last season?s number one keeper in Philip Zabaks who will certainly fight for that coveted number one spot.

Ex-Under 17 Joeys star and Northampton Town FC player Pedj Bojic will certainly add a lot of zing into the Sharks squad as he hopes to gain the attention of hopeful A-League clubs once more.

Bojic was training with A-League side Sydney FC but things fell through last minute which prompted the Wollongong born star to look elsewhere with the Sharks winning the race in signing the ex-youth international on a one-year deal.

In the back-line, former Belconnen Blue Devils defender Michael Katz has returned from the U.S. and is hoping that he can consolidate a spot as a stopper in Brown?s squad.

In the attacking department the club has snapped up former Penrith-Nepean United top goalscorer Bradley Boardman while tricky midfielder Jimmy Bakis has made the switch from Sydney United to the Sharks.

Former Picton Rangers midfielder David Reid, brother of former Wollongong Wovles star Paul, has been brought to the club in a bid to resurrect his NSW Premier League career.

Veteran defender George Souris will again lead the side as club captain while fellow team-mate David Huxley will also be set to play a pivotal role in the Sharks midfield.

Shane Lyons, who had an injury riddled season in 2007, will be looking forward to staking his claim as one of the best left-sided players in the competition when he hits the pitch for 2008.

Tenacious tough tackling pit-bull midfielder Nick Stavroulakis will also be out to cement his name amongst the best in the NSW Premier League as he too will hope to stake a claim in being noticed by a respective A-League side.

Outstanding young Shire prospect Ben Spurce will also be one to look out for as well as Ben Price.

At the moment both Smith brothers, Andrew and Matt are currently injured but are hoping to recover in time for the commencement of the NSW Premier League season in February.

Looking at the rising youngsters in the squad, three former Under 20?s stars Brendan Gan, Joel Snellenberg and Matthew Hall have all been rewarded with first grade contracts this season.

Brown stated that a certain A-League player will hopefully hit the Sharks squad by the start of the NSW Premier League season but there could also be a few more new faces that could sign on that dotted line prior to the official season kick-starting.

Sutherland Sharks: George Souris, Mitchell Blowes, Philip Zabaks, Shane Lyons, David Huxley, Pedj Bojic, Ben Spruce, Jimmy Bakis, James Lawrence, Ben Price, Nick Stavroulakis, Bradley Boardman, David Reid, Michael Katz, Matthew Smith, Andrew Smith, Brendan Gan, Joel Snellenberg, Matthew Hall