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Wolves appoint O’Connor as 20’s coach

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NPL NSW Men’s Premiers and NPL Finals Champions Wollongong Wolves have appointed former Socceroo defender Steve O’Connor as its new Under 20’s coach for the 2020 season.

Steve has enjoyed an illustrious career in Australian football.

During his 13 years in charge of the Australian Institute of Sport football program, O’Connor developed many of Australian football’s golden generation and is widely acknowledged to have had a significant influence on the careers of player such as Mark Viduka, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko, Lucas Neill, John Aloisi, Craig Moore, Kevin Muscat, Simon Colosimo, Josh Kennedy, Carl Valeri and Wolves senior coach Luke Wilkshire.

In a recent article, former Socceroo’s captain Craig Moore named Steve O’Connor as one of the biggest influences on his career during his formative years.

Wilkshire was delighted to link up once more with O’Connor who had a huge influence on his career.

“Steve was in charge of the AIS when I attended as a 16 – 17 year old.

“He had a massive influence on my career and many other players who went on to become household names in Australian football and to have careers in the top leagues in Europe.

“Steve has always been exceptional with young players and this is why we have brought him in. We view our under 20’s team and program to be very important to the future of our club and our region.

“The way Australian football is set up, players in this age group are at a crucial stage in their development and Steve will help develop these players.

“Steve is a winner and will instill a mentality of hard work and persistence into these players, whilst at the same time, demanding they play in the style I want the whole club to play in.

“I look forward to working closely with Steve and developing these players with a view to winning the league and having the players put pressure on our first team squad. I want to see these players break into the squad and become first team regulars.”

O’Connor was looking forward to the challenge ahead at WIN Stadium.

“I am looking forward to working with Luke and at the club. In my talks with the club I was impressed with what they are trying to achieve both on and off the pitch.

“I worked with Luke during his time at the AIS and he obviously went on to have a great career. Now I get the chance to work alongside him and I am looking forward to that. I believe that I still have a lot to offer and I am also looking forward to developing the club’s young players.”

Roberts swaps Popondetta for Central Coast

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Former Mount Druitt Town Rangers star John Roberts has become the latest NPL NSW Men’s star to sign with A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners. 

18-year old Roberts has been on trial with the Mariners for a number of weeks, highlighted by a clinical hat-trick against the North Shore Mariners that caught the eye of club supporters.

Roberts has spent time with both Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers in the past, but said that this opportunity with the Mariners feels like a second chance and a new start for him.

“For me, and for my family, this is really big,” Roberts said on Tuesday.

“It was tough since I left Western Sydney, trying to figure out where I was going to be.”

“Staj gave me a chance to come here and play and train at the Mariners, it’s not something I’m going to take lightly and I feel like I owe Staj and the club so I will try to reward them now.”

Roberts was born in Guinea after his parents fled the war in Sierra Leone, and made his way to Australia before he turned 10 years old.

This year, he returned to NPL NSW Men’s club Mt. Druitt to restore his confidence and get some game time, and believes it was a key to him arriving where he is now.

“I think I needed to take that step backwards to then take another one forwards,” he said.

“From now it is about working hard, giving 110% every time and hopefully getting some game time in the first team.”

Mariners Head Coach Alen Stajcic said it was an exciting opportunity for Roberts and a further indication of the Mariners providing opportunities for young players.

“John has been on trial now with the Mariners for a few weeks and he has impressed us with his work rate, his footballing ability and also his attitude around the club.”

“He’s a hard worker and this is a big chance for him to show us what we know he can be, given his time formerly in the Joey’s and also as a Young Socceroo.”

“This follows on from Lewis [Miller] signing and Sammy Silvera and shows the Mariners are a club that is ready to provide opportunities to our talented young players.”

 

Parkhouse joins Olympic

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Sydney Olympic have continued its recruitment process for the 2020 NPL NSW Men’s season by confirming former NPL NSW Men’s Player of the Year Adam Parkhouse will call Belmore Sports Ground home.

Parkhouse will swap Cromer Park where the flying midfielder spent the majority of his time at with Manly United before playing in the A-League with the Wellington Phoenix before returning to the Northern Beaches this year.

Parkhouse was excited about joining new coach Terry Palapanis and his teammates for the 2020 season.

“ I was flattered when the club approached me about signing. I’ve enjoyed playing at Manly over the last few years but a new club brings new challenges and I can’t wait to get started.

“Olympic have a strong history and tradition and have always had a strong team, I’m really excited to join the group and add what I can to the team. I have always kept in touch with Terry and I’m looking forward to working with him this season.”

Parkhouse will also be joined by former Sutherland Sharks keeper Anthony Bouzanis who will also call Belmore Sports Ground home.

Wollongong Wolves crowned NPL Champions of Australia

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Wollongong Wolves have been crowned 2019 National Premier Leagues Champions after defeating Football Queensland’s Lions FC in a thrilling 4-3 encounter at Albert Butler Park cementing them as the best NPL club in Australia.

The 2019 NPL NSW Men’s Premiers needed extra time to give Luke Wilkshire and his men the coveted title after the game ended 2-2 in ninety minutes.

But the Wolves were made to work for the NPL title as the visitors struck first in the 13th minute after Andrew Thompson sent a pinpoint cross to Shaun Carlos who headed the ball beyond Justin Pasfield and it was the Queenslanders who drew first blood.

The scoreline stayed that way as half-time saw Warren Moon’s men grab the ascendancy but it was the second half that saw the action and tension hit fever pitch.

The hosts bagged an equaliser in the 52nd via a penalty as Harry Callahan was brought down in the box by Matija Simic.

Up stepped the NPL NSW Men’s Player of the Year and Golden Boot award winner Thomas James who dispatched his penalty and it was game on.

The action was flying thick and fast but the game finally saw a third goal scored in the 80th minute when Wolves’ Japanese import Takeru Okada scored what he thought was the winner. His cracking left foot shot was too hot to handle and the Wolves were in the box seat of winning the prestigious NPL title.

Lions FC had other plans and blew the match right open as four minutes after Okada’s goal, Marek Madle hit an equaliser. Teammate Josh Brindell-South worked his magic and sent through a cross to Madle’s head and he finished with aplomb.

No further goals were scored in the ninety minutes although Lions FC knew its task of winning the NPL title was to be made that much tougher after Mitchell Hore received his second yellow of the match and was given his marching orders.

Extra time was yet another see-sawing event and after the first half concluded, it was the second half that drew all the goals.

The Wolves hit the lead once more in 109th minute after Taylor McDonald sent through a brilliant cross to Bul Juach and his resulting header sent the Wolves fans into raptures.

Wollongong then made the task that much harder for Lions FC as sharpshooter James smashed home his second of the game in the 116th minute and it looked like it was game set and match.

Joe Duckworth had other ideas as Madle won his team a penalty following a foul from Wolves defender Nikola Djordjevic – Duckworth tucked his spot-kick away in the 119th minute but it proved to be too little too late as the final whistle sounded with the NPL title heading back to NSW.

The win gave the Wolves not only the NPL Title but a round of 32 FFA Cup spot in 2020 pushing the quota to six representative teams hailing from NSW.

Football NSW would like to congratulate the Wollongong Wolves on being crowned Australian NPL Champions!

Harry Callahan from the Wollongong Wolves took out the prestigious John Kosmina Medal for being the player of the NPL 2019 Grand Final which was presented by former Socceroo and NSL & Hyundai A-League Champion Alvin Ceccoli.

2019 marks the seventh edition of the NPL Finals Series, which was won last year by South Australian club Campbelltown City SC. Sydney United 58 FC won the inaugural competition in 2013 and in 2016, while MetroStars SC from South Australia (2014), Blacktown City FC from New South Wales (2015) and Heidelberg United FC from Victoria (2017) have also been crowned Champions of the series in the past.

NPL 2019 Grand Final Match Details

Saturday 5 October 2019

Wollongong Wolves (NSW)     4 (Thomas James 52’ (p)/116’, Takeru Okada 80’, Bul Juach 109’)

Lions FC (QLD)                        3 (Shaun Carlos 13’, Marek Madle 84’, Joe Duckworth 119’(p))

Albert Butler Park, Primbee, NSW

Kick-Off: 2:30pm (local) (2:30pm (AEST))

Referee: Stephen Laurie

Assistant Referee 1: Brad Wright

Assistant Referee 2: Emma Kocbek

Fourth Official: Tim Danaskos

Crowd: 1,362

Wollongong Wolves (NSW): 1.Justin Pasfield (gk) (c), 2.Taylor McDonald, 3.Darcy Madden, 4.Nikola Djordjevic, 9.Thomas James, 11.Takeru Okada (23.Jordan Nikolovski 108’), 14.Harry Callahan (13.Stefan Dimoski 117’), 15.Nicholas Littler, 16.Guy Knight (10.Brendan Griffin 94’), 17.James Stojcevski, 24.Lachlan Scott (8.Bul Juach 95’)

Substitutes Not Used: 12.Luke Kairies (gk)

Yellow Cards: James Stojcevski 40’, Justin Pasfield 53’, Guy Knight 91’, Harry Callahan  112’, Nikola Djordjevic 119’

Red Cards: Nil

Lions FC (QLD): 90.Luke Borean (gk), 2.Andy Thompson (17.Marek Madle 73’) , 4.Matija Simic (c), 5.Tommy Jarrard, 8.Mitch Hore, 10.Joe Duckworth, 11.Nathan Shepherd (9.Keegan Jelacic 62’), 12.Shaun Carlos (6.Nathan Reardon 73’), 13.Henry Hore, 15.Danny Kim, 16.Joshua Brindell-South (3.Leum Walpole 105’)

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Jacson Riley (GK)

Yellow Cards: Danny Kim 32’, Mitch Hore 54’/90+2’, Joshua Brindell-South 103’

Red Cards: Mitch Hore 90+2’

John Kosmina Medal Winner:  Harry Callahan (Wollongong Wolves)

Wolves chasing Australian NPL Crown

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Luke Wilkshire, Justin Pasfield and the Wollongong Wolves are eager to be crowned Australia’s best in Saturday’s National Premier Leagues Final Series Grand Final at Albert Butler Park.

The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 2019 Premiers earned the right to host the decider after triumphing 5-1 over Canberra Olympic and 2-0 over Perth SC in recent weeks.

They take on the NPL Queensland Champions Lions FC, who have progressed courtesy of wins over South Australia’s Campbelltown City SC and Northern NSW side Maitland FC.

Luke Wilkshire has overseen an astounding turnaround in the historic club’s fortunes during his maiden season as head coach, as the Wolves cruised to their first Premiership title in 31 years.

They may have crashed out of the NPL NSW Finals Series with back to back defeats, but the former Socceroo revealed that spirits remain high as his squad chase one last piece of silverware.

“As I’ve said to the boys these opportunities do not come around every day,” Wilkshire said.

“After what the club and these players have done throughout the season there’s no surprise that we’re in this position.

“For everyone involved it would be a massive tick to be crowned with the (NPL Finals Series) title.

“We have a hungry group of guys, and all their attitudes have been fantastic throughout the season and are now.

“It’s been a long year and after the year we had, we have a great chance to finish it off in the best way possible: with a victory.”

For a season that has now exceeded 12 months in length, the Wollongong squad can almost finally enjoy a well-deserved break.

But first, they are 90 minutes away from national glory.

Their skipper Justin Pasfield has been impressed by his teammates’ commitment and determination to achieve just that.

“It’s always hard playing post-season, especially where you have to be fully focused because you don’t know what your opposition are like,” the shot-stopper said.

“But I’m proud of the way the boys have conducted themselves.

“I know it’s been pretty hard for them because we didn’t finish the season the way we wanted to, but the chance to be crowned the best NPL team in Australia is massive.”

The title also offers automatic qualification for the 2020 FFA Cup Round of 32.

After Wollongong failed to reach the last 32 in 2019 with defeat at the hands of the Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the ultimate Preliminary Round, Pasfield and Wilkshire admitted the prospect of bypassing that stage will act as a “carrot” this weekend.

In the six previous iterations of the National Premier Leagues Finals Series, two NSW clubs have emerged victorious: Sydney United 58 in 2013 and 2016, and Blacktown City FC in 2015.

Standing between the Wollongong Wolves and a position on this honour roll are Lions FC, who are back seeking redemption after a 2-1 defeat to South Australia’s Campbelltown FC in last season’s decider.

Taming the Lions will be no easy task for the Wolves.

This season they won 24 of their 28 league games, conceding only 20 goals in the process.

However, in a similar twist of fate experienced by Wollongong, the Premiers fell at the Semi Finals stage to Olympic FC and will be eager to extinguish those memories with success on Saturday.

They boast a talented squad coached by former Brisbane Roar foundation player Warren Moon, including some of Queensland’s most exciting youngsters.

Notably, Josh Brindell-South and Adam Sawyer have previously tasted A-League action with the Roar and Wellington Phoenix respectively.

The Queensland Premiers saw four players included in the 2019 NPL Queensland Team of the Season squad, including front man Marek Madle who notched an impressive 20 goals in 27 games this campaign.

The Lions will also be fired up by the fact that Saturday signals Moon’s final match in charge, as he steps into the Brisbane Roar Academy General Manager position after a successful five-year tenure at the NPL club.

Interestingly, Wollongong are focused on optimising their own game-plan rather than combating the Lions’.

“I haven’t seen or heard too much about them,” Pasfield revealed.

“I’m sure the coaching staff will do their research, but we didn’t take too much notice about Perth either, to be honest.

“We just focus on what we need to do and go out there and produce what we have been doing in the last few weeks, and I believe we’ll be okay.”

“It is the national final so we’re expecting a tough game.” Wilkshire anticipates.

“As we’ve done all year, we’re mainly focused on ourselves and producing the performance we know we can do.

“It’s a massive opportunity.”

Having recently been crowned the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Coach of the Year, Wilkshire has treasured his first season at the helm.

He looks forward to an off-season of reflection, before the tall order of preparing to match or exceed this campaign’s hefty feats sets in.

“You learn every day and are never too old to learn; especially now as a coach in my first year,” Wilkshire reflected.

“I will sit back and reflect, but I’ve still been involved in it so I haven’t really had time to take a step back and do that yet.

“It’s been pretty full-on, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with this top group of players.”

Pasfield echoed Wilkshire’s praise towards the Wolves squad and is hoping that Saturday will bring worthy conclusion to what has been a historic season for the club.

“It’s been a fantastic season for the players and the club,” the Wolves skipper said.

“I don’t think I will play in a team where we have started the year in first and stayed there until the end.

“That’s a huge achievement that most clubs around the world don’t even do.

“The boys should be very proud of that, and this weekend could be the icing on the cake.

“But it’s not going to just be handed to us, so we have to make sure we’re on our toes and do everything right in preparation for what is sure to be a tough game.”

The National Premier Leagues Finals Series Grand Final between the Wollongong Wolves FC and Lions FC kicks off at 2:30 pm AEST at Albert Butler Park, on Saturday 5th October.

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Reporter Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)