Adelaide United FC have confirmed it will be entering two teams in the PlayStation 4 National Premier League (NPL) competitions in 2015, after securing a license from the Football Federation South Australia (FFSA).
The Club will compete in the NPL State League and will field one senior team, comprising many of its players from the current and future Foxtel National Youth League team, as well as an Under 20’s team. The FFSA NTC side will play as the Under 18’s.
Adelaide United has undertaken extensive planning in building the best model for its Football Program, and gaining entry into the PlayStation 4 NPL competition is another step in that direction.
Adelaide United’s primary focus for its Football Program will be to produce future Reds. By having two teams in the PlayStation 4 NPL competitions, as well as a Foxtel National Youth League team, the club will have the opportunity to train, nurture and teach the Adelaide United style and philosophy to over 30 talented young footballers between the two sides for up to 12 months of the year, along with another 16 or so in the Foxtel National Youth League squad.
The training base for the new PlayStation 4 NPL teams will be at the new FFSA Parks Football Centre. The venue will boast the state’s second artificial surface (lit to 200 lux) and will be complimented by a natural turf pitch (lit to 100 Lux). The development is due for completion early 2015. Home games will be played at The Parks Football Centre and at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre, (the current home ground for the Foxtel National Youth League team).
Adelaide United FC Chief Executive Officer, Michael Petrillo said that the Football Federation South Australia’s decision to accept Adelaide United into the PlayStation 4 NPL is a great boost for youth development for the Reds and the State in general.
“This is a significant step for the club and football in South Australia in regards to junior development. We are sure that the ability to have two teams in the local competition aligned to the NTC program will eventually result in a steady stream of South Australian players making their way through to the Hyundai A-League ranks,” said Petrillo.
“What we also hope to achieve is a stream of talented young players flowing into the local FFSA competition for those players who do not pick up Hyundai A-League contracts.
“These players will have had the added benefit of several years of football development in a professional environment. We see this as an enormous benefit to football in this State.”
Reds Coach Josep Gombau was also pleased to see the addition of two junior development teams into the local competition.
“This is a great step forward for our Club. In Europe every single club works with young players from a very early age. Now we too can start in this way with two teams,” said Gombau.
“The Senior team will really be the more developed players who can take the next step to the Foxtel National Youth League team or to the Hyundai A-League if they are good enough and the next team will be a younger team of players we will continue to work with and develop for the future.
“It’s also very good to have the NTC team aligned with us and working with our coaching staff as well as us working with the coaches of the FFSA. This is very good for the players and in the end this is who we need to develop.”
Football Federation South Australia Chief Executive Officer, Michael Carter welcomed the inclusion of Adelaide United FC into next year’s competition.
“The national direction supports National Youth League Teams participating in state based competitions and we expect their inclusion will add a spark to the State League in 2015,” said Carter.
“We are also pleased that we can provide training and playing facilities for Adelaide United and having multiple groups playing and training at FFSA venues supports the establishment and improvement of future venues for Football in the state.”
