Preparations for the upcoming 2018/19 season continue at Southern United FC.  One exciting change at the club is the merging together of the ISPS Handa Premiership and National Youth League squads into ‘One Environment’.  It will provide the best opportunities and further encourage the pathway that young players across the region have from the Southern United Academy, into the Youth Team, and onto the ISPS Handa Premiership.

This change will see the Youth Team training regularly alongside the ISPS Handa Premiership squad under the same coaches, standards and philosophy.  

Football South CEO Chris Wright said: “We have repeatedly spoken about the importance of developing our own home-grown players and the Southern United Player Pathway is a significant part of our young player’s development in the Southern Region”.

Terry Boylan, a former New Zealand U20 international and Otago United FC Captain, will lead the Youth team with support from assistant coaches’, former Southern United FC player, current Southern United Academy coach, and current Mosgiel AFC player Cameron McPhail, and former Southern United FC captain and current Roslyn Wakari AFC player Harley Rodeka.

Boylan will also continue to be an integral part of the ISPS Handa Premiership coaching staff alongside Paul O’Reilly in an assistant coach capacity, as he has been for the past two seasons, and he also helps coach the 16s group at the Southern United Academy.

Boylan said: “It's an honour and a privilege to lead Southern United FC’s National Youth League team.  Along with Cam and Harley we are all looking forward to working with the younger players as they develop through the Southern United Player Pathway.  As coaches, our success will be measured from any youth team players that push for a place in the ISPS Handa Premiership squad. Progressing from the Youth League to the Premiership is a massive step, but we will be working really hard with the players both on and off the pitch to encourage them to make this transition.”

Southern United FC would like to thank and acknowledge outgoing coaches Kevin Scouller, who was unable to continue as an assistant coach, and Richard Kerr-Bell, for their efforts last season and express our support of the work both coaches do with youth players in Dunedin.  The club wishes them all the very best for the future.

Article added: Wednesday 01 August 2018