Prospect United powering on with positivity and youth development

With brothers Darren and Chris Camilleri at the helm at Prospect United SC, the  dynamic duo are hoping to continue their culture of producing talent for success.

Head Coach Darren Camilleri has been at the helm at Prospect United SC for eight seasons; his younger brother, Chris, joined him four seasons ago from current League One side Rydalmere Lions FC, where he was a coach and a former player.

Chris is currently the club’s Head of Football and Technical Director for their senior side, as well as the Under-20’s head coach; he is also in charge of player recruitment at the club.

The club has shown consistent improvement over the past few seasons, operating on a model where they bring players through the club from their Under-13’s to First Grade.

The belief Chris and Darren have in the youth is highly evident with 23 players having made their debuts for the club in the past 18 months.

“[It is] great for the continued improvement of players and giving them a taste,” Chris said.

“We want to make sure our football club is somewhere where players want to be and over the last four years since myself and my brother have teamed up, the culture and environment have changed so much.

“We are constantly pushing each other to be better.”

Chris spoke on how the early stages of player development is allowing them to express themselves, while once they reach a certain age, learning how to win and fight for results is key, as well as learning their system of play.

“We try to put them in an environment where they can show their potential and grow with our family club.”

Prospect United’s President Lucas Clarke and Club Football Manager Brian Vella have been at the club for 16 years and have given the two brothers the confidence to to continue to do what they do in pushing the side further up that ladder.

“Prospect is always a club that has punched above their weight… working with my big brother was something that excited me and really made me want to make a difference to the ship he was running.

“[Our dad] is also a big fact to why myself and Darren put in as he instilled the hard work ethic into us from day one.”

Chris stated that he really practiced what he was preaching with the motto “Pride and Passion” being a main priority.

“[They are] not only talented, but top blokes and that is a huge reason to why the club’s ‘never say die’ attitude has been so easy on the eye over the years.

“Any player out there who had played for the club at NPL level would know how much we take pride in what we do.

“Pride and passion is our motto.”

The attitude and quality within the squads is exemplified by the relative position of both the League Two Men’s side and the Under-20’s side, who at the time of writing, both sit in fifth position in their respective leagues.

The Under-20’s debuted a 15-year-old last weekend and had five 16-year-olds on the bench. Prospect are pushing to have as many young players experience the senior and youth matchday experience as possible.

The team wants to bring success, both to the club and to the players; they want their players playing at the highest level of football possible, whether that is League Two, League One, NPL or beyond.

Currently sitting in fifth spot, the club has produced success from within, the model could pay off with another promotion, either this season or the ones to follow.

By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta