THE best soccer players from across the Far North Coast will aim for selection in an All-Stars team to compete against professional players at the Newcastle Jets in an A-League pre-season trial game.<\/p>\n
Northern Rivers representative teams for men and women will be selected to play in the match at Newcastle in September.<\/p>\n
It is a pathway for promising junior players to put themselves on the radar of a professional club.<\/p>\n
Similar matches have previously appeared on the calendar but the formal partnership between Northern NSW Football and Newcastle Jets has cleared the way for the fixtures to return annually.<\/p>\n
Northern NSW Football chief executive Peter Haynes was thrilled to have the representative matches locked in.<\/p>\n
“This initiative supports and enhances the pillars of Talent Development for All and Showcase Our Game (programs) as outlined in our 2024-26 Strategic Plan and our 2025 Operational Plan,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Newcastle Jets represent the region’s professional football presence in the A-League men’s and women’s competitions.<\/p>\n
“Enhancing our strategic relationship with the Jets provides a direct avenue for our most talented players and coaches to be exposed to elite environments and pathways.”<\/p>\n
Football technical director Ryan Doidge said it will showcase local talent from premier league competitions.<\/p>\n
The squads will be made up of 25 players from across the region with a final team of 18 to be announced next month.<\/p>\n
“I am excited to help provide opportunities for northern NSW players to compete and test themselves in a representative environment against our local A-League program and potentially be identified,” Doidge said.<\/p>\n
The training window will be limited so that players can focus on local semi-finals competitions.<\/p>\n
Coaches have been selected via a merit-based system and will contribute to the identification and selection of players.<\/p>\n
The match will be held at Darling Street Oval on Saturday, September 20 and is free for Jets members and children under 12.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE best soccer players from across the Far North Coast will aim for selection in an All-Stars team to compete against professional players at the Newcastle Jets in an A-League pre-season trial game. Northern Rivers representative teams for men and women will be selected to play in the match at Newcastle in September. It is […]<\/p>\n