Ian Crook leading the way at the NSWIS
Former English youth international and ex-Norwich, Tottenham and Northern Spirit midfielder Ian Crook is leading the way with the current NSWIS football program.
Having also managed and assisted the likes of Norwich City, Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Avispa Fukuoka, Sydney Olympic and Northern Spirit to name a few, Crook has been busily preparing for what will be a huge year for the NSWIS in 2012.
Football NSW Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis caught up with Ian and discussed various issues surrounding the program and also mentioned his new batch of potential future Australian internationals.
How have you viewed the new intake of NSWIS players for 2012?
We work as hard as we possibly can to get the best players into the system.
I was able to watch games involving all Under 14 and Under 15 teams last year and compiled a list of players along with my assistant Ante Juric as well as watching and having the U14 Project22 group train with us on regular occasions at NSWIS.
Your objectives with the NSWIS program and goals for 2012?
Goals for this year are simple; to improve the players as individuals and also within a team frame. To then watch them develop and continue to build as players on the player development pathway is also something I want to see.
Could you name some of the players that you have coached under the NSWIS program that have kicked on
In regards to players I have coached, it has only been one-year since I took over the head coach role but we have had Daniel Nizic sign with an overseas club also Hagi Gligor has gone onto the Sydney FC youth team and both Darcy Madden and Bright Appiah have been offered AIS scholarships.
All the above players have achieved what they have due to their hard work and all the coaches they have had over the past few years have all had a part to play in the boys? progress.
We also had three players who represented the next U17 Joeys group in Thailand for the Asian qualifiers.
Your squad will be part of the Under 18?s Super League competition for 2012 your thoughts on that?
In regards to the squad entering the Under 18 NSW Super League, we felt this was a competition that would be perfect for the next stage in the player?s development.
How important is the NSWIS football program to the development of the sport?
I believe the NSWIS program is a vital stepping stone in the boys? development as both a player and an individual and also a vital cog in the development pathway for our game both in NSW and Australia.
Where does your squad train and how many nights a week?
We train 4 nights a week plus a game. We train at Macquarie University twice a week and at Blacktown International Sports Centre.
Following the player pathway, you?d love to see players progress from the NSWIS to the AIS to the Hyundai A-League I suspect?
In regards to the pathway the obvious steps are to the AIS then onto an A-League club and then onto the national team with players being able to play overseas in the bigger leagues as regulars with the club and not just squad players.
NSWIS Squad 2011/2012
? Alex Frost (Sydney United)
? James Baldacchino (South Coast Wolves)
? Matthew Stewart (Marconi Stallions)
? Boden Allport (South Coast Wolves)
? Kevin Ly (NSWIS)
? Tony Lo (NSWIS)
? Adam Berry (Blacktown City)
? Bai Antoniou (Sydney Olympic)
? Martin Lo (Bankstown City FC)
? Steve Kuzmanovski (Sydney Olympic)
? Anthony Kalik (Manly United)
? Daniel Alessi (Project22)
? Tom Slater (Manly United)
? Mark Rizoski (Marconi Stallions)
? Alexander Gersbach (Sutherland Sharks)
? Jackson Bandiera (Marconi Stallions)
? Liam Rose (Sydney Olympic)
? Aaron Calver (NSWIS)
? Tom Manos (Manly United)
Head Coach: Ian Crook
Assistant Coach: Ante Juric
Assistant Coach: Anthony Crea
*The NSWIS will be involved in the up and coming Institute Challenge held at the AIS Complex in Canberra on the 5th of December where they will take on the rest of the institutes from around Australia.
-By Mark Stavroulakis
