It’s been a rollercoaster ride for football on Queensland’s Gold Coast in recent times, but Palm Beach Sharks believe the National Premier Leagues is delivering the elite player pathway promised to the region’s up-and-coming talent.

The advent of NPL Queensland is rapidly changing perceptions of the code’s future on the glitter strip following the troubled tenures of Gold Coast clubs in both the A-League and former Queensland State League over the past five years.

Recently returned Palm Beach junior Roman Hoffman, who linked up with Sharks for the 2014 season and spent last year at the Queensland Academy of Sport, signed a youth deal with A-League club Newcastle Jets earlier this month.

He said that NPL Queensland continues to gain recognition amongst the Gold Coast’s footballers as the path to follow if they aspire to play the game at the highest level.

“If you’re in the NPL, pretty much no matter what age you are you’re going to get looked at because it is considered to be the best league in each state.”

“Before there wasn’t a clear pathway unless you were at the QAS pretty much,” he said.

Hoffman is not the only Sharks player to progress in the past 12 months, with Under 16’s player Jordon Lampard recruited to Brisbane Roar’s youth setup while Lauren Brown signed on with Newcastle Jets for this summer’s W-League campaign.

Club President Peter Williamson admits he was initially sceptical about entering his club into the NPL at first, but the results are proving the NPL Queensland model is significantly different to what came before it.

“When I first heard about the new Australian Premier League as it was known then, I wrote it off as just an expansion of the QSL, of which I was not a big fan,” Williamson said candidly.

“Having been involved with many so-called state leagues in Northern New South Wales and Queensland over the past 38 years, and seeing them all fail, I thought this was just another regurgitation of a bad idea.”

“When I discovered that (Football Queensland Chief Operations Officer) Ben Mannion was heading up this new concept, and knowing Ben well enough to understand that he is not a man to take up anything that may fail or let fail, I decided to do more investigation into the model.”

After meeting the criteria for an inaugural five year NPL Queensland licence in 2013, Sharks are now surging ahead both on and off the pitch in the competition’s second season.

“It has been really tough getting this thing off the ground. As a club we have made many mistakes, but we are fixing them,” Williamson elaborated.

“This, I believe, is something that all NPL clubs will admit to, but if we are producing success stories now, just think of what we can achieve when we get it right.”

Williamson summed up the ethos of the National Premier Leagues in the Sunshine State and what it means for Gold Coast best players and coaches.

“The point is that good players with the right attitude and ambition will be attracted to the NPL system no matter what level or age, our job is to provide opportunity and a clear pathway for players who want to take their career further and, you know what, it really works.”

“The Gold Coast, and in particular Northern New South Wales, is a hot bed of good young talent and given good advice, direction and opportunity at Palm Beach, players will always be developed here.”

Leading the development programme at Sharks is Technical Director Gary French, who said he was encouraged by the next generation of talent in the club’s NPL ranks, which totals over 160 players across all the competition’s age divisions.

“We’re maintaining the structure of the National Coaching Curriculum but at the same time not stifling their individuality,” French explained.

“I’m at all the games and I’m watching all the junior teams and we follow the curriculum, the 1-4-3-3, as well as any team in the NPL.”

“We’re always trying to play out from the back and we manage to keep possession very well with all our junior teams and I’m really pleased with what I am seeing.”

“The kids at the youngest age groups are improving every week and we’re starting to see a lot of good individual players now from our Under 14’s upwards.”

The club’s older squads are turning development into results at the start of this season and are looming as genuine title contenders in their respective divisions.

The club’s senior men’s team, which includes former Gold Coast United players Kristian Rees and Chris Lucas as well as promising new recruits Troy Ruthven and Shane Vitigankas, are undefeated after four rounds under the steadfast guidance of rising head coach Grae Piddick.

The Under 18 Boys are also just a point away from top spot while still holding a game in hand on their rivals.

Despite being pleased to see the progress of the club’s players on the pitch, Williamson was also eager to highlight the club’s more holistic approach to role football can play in the region, including a new initiative to promote the game in partnership with the nearby Elanora High School.

“Engaging with the community is a big factor in this story so far. We have current deals - and more to come – with schools for development of players and their coaches,” Williamson explained.

“We have held community functions for the Breast Cancer Foundation with more (initiatives) in the pipeline.”

“These programs are not only a major benefit for our club and local community, it enriches one’s life and helps in a small way to enrich our community and promote good social behaviour,” he concluded.

 

Words & Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)