Words: Garry McKenzie
Image: Albert Perez/Football Queensland

Palm Beach SC has announced Dave Thompson will coach the club’s Women’s team for the next three PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland seasons.

Thompson, who last season coached the club's Youth Women's team to a top-of-the-table finish, replaces Gary French in the role, who has since moved to Souths United after guiding the Sharks to the inaugural PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Grand Final.

The club stated Thompson will implement a new strategic plan for the club’s female football program in the role.

General Manager Rob Morris said Thompson's experience with the youth team will allow for a seamless integration into the top team for the club’s next generation of talents following recently announced changes to age restrictions in the Women’s division for next season.

“Our ultimate goal is the development of players and make Palm Beach a club where girls’ and women’s football is respected and played with style,” Morris said.

“Dave has shown again this season he has all the qualities to help us reach this goal.”

Thompson and Sharks Technical Director Jim Gelagotis are now tasked with realigning the coaching structures and girl’s development pathways to be consistent with the new competition rules.

Morris said the three year plan will also look to bring the girl’s program under the same structure as the boys, while looking at wider issues such as sponsorship and registration fees.

“This plan will allow us to increase our focus on the girl’s pathway to bring it further in step with and treated as equally as the boys,” Morris said.

“With this in mind we gave Dave the certainty of a three year contract to allow him to see this plan fully implemented.”

Morris said Thompson’s first duty was to assemble a Senior Women’s team for the 2016 season.

“Dave is looking forward to seeing as many talented players as possible at the upcoming trials which start on the 24th October,” Morris said.