Manly United’s Leigh Egger wins Lucas Neill scholarship

The three-time NSW representative will board a plane on October 2 for a three-week trip to the UK and train with three clubs including Championship side Leeds United and English Premier League outfit Everton ? the club Neill will now call home leading into the 2010 World Cup.
Neill?s management company Inspire Sports is finalising details on the third club Egger will visit and it is likely to be another high-profile EPL club.
Egger, who regularly played in Manly United?s Grade 18 side this season ? including during the narrow 1-0 grand final loss to Wollongong at Marconi Stadium earlier this month ? said he is looking forward to the experience of a lifetime.
?It?s a great opportunity and one I?m determined to take with both hands,? he said to a large gathering of television, radio and print media at Cromer Park this morning.
?I?m very grateful to Lucas and all the coaches at Manly United for providing this chance and I?ll be motivated to do them all proud.
?I can?t wait to get over there and see what it takes to get to the level that Lucas has reached ? it will be a real eye opener for me but I?m ready for the challenge.?
Egger has worn a Manly United jersey since he made the 2002 under-10 Skills Squad before going onto represent the Manly-Warringah Football Association in the Metropolitan League 11s and 12s. He arrived at Manly United from his local junior club, Seaforth FC.
He then progressed through the club?s 13s-16s and played a regular role with this year?s 18s. He also made the NSW 13s, 14s and 15s along the way ? the first Manly United player since Neill himself to make a state team three years running.
Manly United head coach Phil Moss said it was a highlight of the Manly United calendar to announce the winner.
?This announcement changes the life of a young footballer forever and that Leigh is the first genuine Manly-Warringah local junior to win it makes it all the more special,? Moss said.
?Leigh is a very worthy winner and ticked all the boxes. He will now have the unique opportunity to taste football at the very highest level and the fact he goes over there on the back of a personal endorsement from Lucas allows him to concentrate solely on training well and showing himself.
?It?s always tough for me to narrow down potential winners on to a shortlist to give to Lucas? dad Ed and his Australian-based agent Paddy Dominguez.
?But at the end of the day Leigh showed he has many attributes that can enable him to forge a professional career in the game and that is what tipped him over the line.
?He is a natural leader, has the technical ability and tactical awareness required and, like Lucas, is very self-assured on the ball and always makes time for himself.
?Leigh has the ability to rise to the level he is surrounded by and I?m sure he won?t let anyone down once he gets to the UK.?
Egger, who is training with Sydney FC?s youth team to maintain his fitness ahead of the trip, was presented to the media this morning and did television interviews with Fox Sports and SBSTV as well as several radio stations, the Daily Telegraph and The Manly Daily.
He was also presented with two boxes of Nike gear as part of Neill?s sponsorship arrangement with the sportswear giant, a mobile phone with credit from Optus so he can stay in touch with family during the trip and other goods from Sony to keep him occupied during the long flight to and from the UK.
The scholarship has launched professional careers for previous winners Chris Payne and Joey Gibbs ? both of whom ply their trade for Sydney FC ? while Simon Beer has gone on to play for Manly United Grade 20 side and has been earmarked as a first grader of the future at the very least.
?This scholarship is a very unique way for a current Socceroo ? let alone the national captain ? to put something back into the game,? Moss said.
?The experience and profile it provides a young player gives them every chance to springboard themselves into a professional career.
?Manly United is very proud of our record with regards the Lucas Neill Scholarship and we will continue to work overtime in developing young footballers to go on to higher levels of the game.?