Palm Beach Sharks are eagerly anticipating next year’s NPL Queensland women’s senior division, with Technical Director Gary French saying he expects the Gold Coast’s female footballers to shine against the state’s best.

French, who was honoured as Women’s Coach of the Year earlier last week by Football Brisbane for his efforts guiding the Sharks’ Diamond League side, believes the glitter strip has more than enough talent to thrive in the NPL next year.

“We’re very confident because we have so much talent in the Under 18 and Under 19 age groups,” French said when asked about Sharks chances of success.

Recent results support the claim, with Palm Beach’s Under 18 Girls winning all 21 of their fixtures this year in their debut NPL Queensland season.

The Sharks struck 93 goals in total through the campaign, including an impressive return of 20 goals for top scorer Ellie Pobar.

Pobar was joined by teammate's Ellie Papalexiou, Beth Lavender, Teleya Reynolds and Kiri Dale in the Queensland Under 19 schools team, in just reward for the team's outstanding NPL season.

“The hardest part is that I have to try and merge two outstanding teams to make one team,” French admitted in reference to the NPL Under 18’s and the Diamond League team.

“As much as it is great to have that much talent, there is obviously a lot of talented girls that will miss out. But I still think we can have a big squad and make one outstanding team.”

“Just to be able to play in a good competition is the most important thing for our programme. It’s only going to make the players better,” he surmised.

While former A-League club Gold Coast United provided a pathway for the men through their National Youth League team, the absence of a W-League side meant the Gold Coast’s female footballers had to seek opportunities elsewhere.

“Honestly, for girls on the Gold Coast it was sad that Gold Coast United didn’t have a W-League team,” French said.

“There is so much talent on the Gold Coast that a W-League team was what was needed. And, even now, it still needs a W-league team,” he continued.

“Brisbane Roar have got four Gold Coast girls already playing for them and they indicated that they would’ve loved to have played for a Gold Coast team and not do so much travelling to Brisbane.”

While Roar have embraced Gold Coast talent, those unable to crack the star-studded squad in the capital have travelled further afield to earn their chance at the next level – local products Eliza Campbell and Rosie Sutton making their mark with Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, respectively.

French said he believes the NPL will fill the gap for players on the Gold Coast to further develop their game, while maintaining the support network of family, friends and a home town club.

“I think what they’re going to find is that the NPL is just going to get bigger and bigger all the time,” French explained.

“It is now recognised as the next step before moving up to A-League and W-League, so for players – boys and girls, men and women – then the pathway is the NPL.”

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
Image: Palm Beach Sharks