Regional players and coaches treated to Junior and Young Matildas experiences

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Valentine Sports Park recently hosted several elite Junior and Young Matildas matches with the objective to challenge and develop our next generation of female football stars.

Numerous regional players from across Regional and Northern NSW were also given opportunities as well as Regional NSW based coaches who also attended these high-level matches assisting in their professional developments within these elite games.

Young Matildas and Future Matildas Coach Leah Blayney praised the initiative.

“This has been both a value add to the individual but also to our youth national team programs.

“These opportunities have allowed several regional coaches to experience the talent identification, organisation and running of an elite match with coaches being involved in all facets of the game from the lead up to game day.

“For regional players it has been a great opportunity to put themselves up against other top players in the country.

“Players have been identified easier with the progress of the TSP Regional Program and with Football Australia Staff attending Game Days such as the recent TSP Girls Game Day at VSP in April.

“The support from Football NSW for these players and staff has been outstanding in assisting them to be able to perform at their best on match days by providing financial support including overnight accommodation, meals and travel support for all coaches and players from regional areas.”

Football NSW Development Manager for Regional Football Andrew Fearnley was delighted with the experiences he and other regional coaches shared.

“The intention is all coaches and players can take back these experiences to their own environments which is always a good win for anyone given these opportunities at this level.

“It has been great for coaches such as myself, Sam Gray, Meaghan Kempson, Liam Dedini and Larry Bugden that were given the opportunity to be involved in these matches four our development and then bringing it to life.”

Football NSW looks forward to hosting many more future elite matches to assist in National Team Identification and continued avenues for Regional Coach Development.

This program and the benefits offered to our regional players is supported by funding received from the NSW Government through their Office of Sport.

Football NSW thanks the NSW Government for their ongoing support.