Menu
Menu

National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1

Home of the Men's National Premier League NSW

Manly United set for NPL NSW kick-off

By

Manly United Football Club is proud to take its place in the 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Competitions, for the men and women.

Football NSW outlined a varied format for the 2020 competition comprising 11 rounds and a two week semi final system, asking all NPL clubs to reaffirm their place in the competition.

Following separate meetings with the Men’s and Women’s senior squads and coaching staff Manly United has officially notified Football NSW of its intention to take part in the 2020 NPL NSW Men’s/Women’s Competitions.

“It was one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever made. We are a football club and our core focus is to play football games for men, women, boys and girls,” said Manly United CEO David Mason.

“Our men’s senior team had no hesitation in taking payment cuts for the 2020 season and we made the decision to retain the current payments for our women’s team.

The unprecedented COVID-19 disruption has presented unique challenges, as all Australians have had to adapt and evolve with the rapidly changing health, social and economic impacts it has created.

Football is no different.

Manly United Football Club has worked hard to rebound from a 10-week lockdown to ensure all teams and players can return to training and matches as soon as possible.

Junior teams and players have been back in training under COVID-Safe conditions for the past four weeks and Football NSW announced last week the resumption of the senior competitions under a varied format

“One positive out of this COVID-19 disruption and restrictions has been the opportunity for us to recognize the part football plays in our community and how much it has been missed,” Mason said.

“The COVID-19 shutdown has been challenging for Manly United as we worked to allow all of our players to return to training and matches as soon as possible and reshaping the training programs and season to ensure our players received the same development opportunities in 2020 as previous years.

“We are not immune to the financial realities that have hit our country and we’ve suffered a loss of revenue through sponsorship, canteen, holiday programs and annual fundraising events.

“It is a testament to the club culture that both the mens and womens senior squads have been not only understanding but supportive of the Club and agreed without question to resume the season.

“We are proud of the culture we have at Manly United and it is the people that drive that; the players, coaches, managers, volunteers and families it attracts has allowed us to charge full steam ahead into the varied 2020 season.”

Men’s Captain Sam Gallagher said: “We just want to play football. Ultimately we start playing football because we love the game. We all understand that the Club, like our entire country, has taken a hit and we are more than happy to get back onto the pitch and play for the love of the game.

“We have all missed the competitive aspect but more importantly the enjoyment and camaraderie and we can’t wait to get back into training on Monday night.”

Women’s Captain Chloe O’Brien was equally enthusiastic to restart the competition.

“The last few weeks training without knowing what was happening with matches has been difficult but it has been great to be back on the field playing the game we love. The club has been fantastic with getting training started as soon as possible and we are very grateful that we’ve been treated with respect with our contracts. I just can’t wait to play.”

-Manly United Press Release

Antelmi remains focused in hard times

By

“It’s as this is a movie”, were the words that Sydney United 58 and one of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s most prolific attackers Patrick Antelmi explained the current situation gripping Australia and the world due to COVID-19.

Celebrating his 26th birthday last week, life as Patrick and the rest of the globe knew it changed via this virus.

“To be honest, I cannot fathom at the moment how normality to lockdown has quickly progressed with people losing lives, jobs, it’s a crazy period for everyone.

“I was at a restaurant with my girlfriend last week and was met with a reality check when 90% of the staff were told they weren’t needed after service.

“It’s a serious time as we know it, but we all have to stick together to fight this through as one.”

With football suspended till Tuesday 14th of April, Antelmi and his Sydney United 58 troops have been busily preparing for the fight to stay and remain fit until their next official game has been announced and cleared by football authorities.

“As of last Tuesday, we had our last meeting at the club and we went over a video session, we didn’t train, just took what was happening in and Spider (Zeljko Kalac) stated we must return fit, healthy and raring to go when the announcement is made to return to the game we all love.”

Antelmi is fortunate that he has a facility close by where he keeps his body ticking.

“I have a little 5 x 5 pitch close to my house where I do my drills and skills.

“I also do 5-10km runs just to keep my body moving as well as core stuff.

“I want to look after my body, remain focused before we get back to playing once more.”

A real estate agent for McGrath in Epping by trade, Antelmi is praying for the safety of everyone in this tough time.

“Please take the right precautions during this time and be safe.

“Don’t lose contact with your close ones, now is the time to connect with them even more.

“We all need to hold on tight, work together for everything to go back to normality soon so we can enjoy our lives once more – especially getting back onto the football pitch we ever so love.”

Having knocked in two goals in three matches, Antelmi will no doubt be hoping to continue his form when the season continues.

Prendergast bags a Wanderers loan spot

By

It’s been a whirlwind week for Blacktown City’s number one custodian Tristan Prendergast following the recent temporary suspension of all football across the nation due to COVID-19.

With no football scheduled till the 14th of April, Prendergast was met with some huge news that he was to be involved in Friday’s Sydney derby following the news that second choice keeper Vedran Janjetovic was ruled out through injury.

Prendergast will be play as the second choice keeper to Wanderers number one Daniel Lopar at Bankwest Stadium.

What makes this switch more intriguing is that  Prendergast was once a Sky Blue.

The in-form keeper has been on song with his club in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition as City have gone three from three victories prior to the suspension of the league.

Good luck to Tristan this evening.

Grassroots and NPL Football temporarily suspended

By

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today advised that, after considered discussion with its nine State and Territory Member Federations and assessment of developments today, sanctioned grassroots football competitions and associated training as well as the NPL would be suspended for the next four weeks.

The decision will take effect from 12:00am on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 until Tuesday, 14 April 2020.

The decision comes as the latest in a series of measures being introduced by the FFA to combat the ongoing spread of COVID-19 following the announcement of its COVID-19 Guidelines yesterday and places the concerns, health and wellbeing of the Australian football and wider community as the highest priority.

Football NSW Chief Executive Officer Stuart Hodge understood that the safety and wellbeing of our football family members was put above everything else in making this decision.

““Football NSW first and foremost supports our football family members and the wider community in ensuring that their health, wellbeing and safety is paramount amidst the current climate.

“We are all unified as a sport to help ensure that the situation stabilizes by allowing our participants the chance to focus on what is important to them right now and that is keeping safe and well.

“We will continue to update all our members on the on-going changes that may occur but may I ask that each and everyone of you take care of yourselves, your family members and friends in this time of need.”

FFA Chief Executive Officer James Johnson explained that while disappointing, reducing community gatherings would help slow the spread of the virus and that this was the driving factor in the decision.

“Our decision today follows extensive discussions with all of Australia’s nine State and Territory Member Federations, taking into consideration the latest feedback from all levels of the football community,” Johnson said.

“We are also taking into consideration the ongoing response by both the broader international and Australian communities which is evolving almost on an hourly basis now.

“We also recognise that there have been some recent material developments which have changed the landscape significantly, including the decisions made by the Victorian and ACT Governments to declare States of Emergency late yesterday afternoon. Today, more schools, universities and also public sporting facilities have announced that they will be closing so we have had to respond quickly to this.

“It is very regrettable that grassroots football will not proceed for the next month, but as a good and responsible citizen, we recognise that our game of approximately 1.96 million participants has a significant role to play in slowing the spread of the virus.

“More Australians play grassroots football than any other team sport in the country and we have been able to listen to the voice of our community, through the establishment of the National COVID-19 Working Committee and our Guidelines, who have expressed a desire to contribute more to the nation at this time through a unified and Whole of Game response.

“As a game we need to be responsive and agile in how we deal with this situation, and we are working together around the clock to deal with this challenge. We will continue to assess our position regularly to ensure that it is reflective of the most accurate state of affairs and views of the game.

“I would like to acknowledge how Member Federations have worked so constructively with FFA, through the Working Committee and established Guidelines, to arrive at what is right for our players, coaches, officials, their families and the wider community. We are meeting on a daily basis and will continue to do so, taking into account the latest Government medical advice and community sentiment.”

Football NSW alongside the FFA will continue to communicate new developments in the lead-up to 14 April 2020.

Peterson riding the waves at Manly

By

After a stint with Western Sydney Wanderers, Marley Peterson has returned to Manly United and is eager to build on an exciting cameo which won his side their first three points of the season on Saturday night albeit after the temporary football lockout due to COVID-19.

The 21-year-old led the line for Paul Dee’s men during their first two outings this season, but his most decisive impact to date arrived as a super-sub against Sydney United 58 last weekend.

Shortly after being introduced, Peterson found himself in the right place at the right time to power home a header which broke the deadlock with five minutes to play.

The young attacker said the 2-0 win was well deserved following two unfortunate defeats to kick off 2020.

“I think we’ve been really unlucky in our past two games and should have got something out of them,” Peterson said.

“Obviously I played a few more minutes in those but I was just really happy to help the team win.

“Starting on the bench was more of a tactical thing, not exactly based on performance, but I am obviously still very happy that I was able to show I would still like to play as much as possible.”

Peterson broke into the Manly first grade side as a teenager back in early 2018 and impressed enough to earn a move out west, linking up with the Wanderers’ A-League academy.

There he had no troubles finding the back of the net for their National Premier Leagues 2 NSW side, but unfortunately did not quite manage to secure an A-League contract.

“I had a good two-year stint at the Wanderers but it didn’t work out in progressing into the A-League team,” he reflected.

“The Wanderers helped me develop so much, playing and training full time with the professional squad during the last four months I was there.”

Peterson barely had to think twice when a return to the Northern Beaches came calling ahead of the 2020 campaign.

“I saw it as a great opportunity to come back to my home club and play well this year with the first team,” he said.

“Coming back to semi-pro level it’s still a serious, great environment to continue progressing as a player.

“As a forward player I always want to score and hopefully I can replicate my form from last year to help the team win.”

Manly United’s 2019 campaign was highlighted by a run to the FFA Cup round of 16 that Peterson believes must act as inspiration for a tilt at finals football this season.

“I think we have to build on our success last year in the FFA Cup and bring that more into the league,” he enforced.

“Even though we haven’t had the best start we believe we can definitely push up there to challenge for finals and the championship.”

– By Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)