In skool for weekend

 

November 22 2014

Shepparton News

It might be November, but soccer will overrun three venues across Shepparton this weekend.

The Australia Football Skool is bringing its gala tournament to Shepparton for the second year running and more than 60 teams have entered.

Skool director Patrick Thompson said it was a pleasure to bring the tournament back to Shepparton.

‘‘We’ve had great support from the Shepparton council and the access to facilities has been great,’’ Thompson said.

‘‘From what I understand, (McEwen Reserve) is one of the few in Victoria that has so many soccer pitches available at the one venue.

‘‘We’ve got over 60 teams coming and we’ve probably had to knock back another 15, so the interest surrounding the tournament is getting bigger and bigger.

‘‘We had 40 teams last year, so we’ve increased that by 50 per cent.’’

Thompson said the skool had big plans for the tournament in future years as well.

‘‘We have an agreement to bring it back in 2015 and we’d like to try and knock up 100 teams for that one,’’ Thompson said.

With 64 teams competing — each with a squad of about 15 players — Thompson is expecting about 960 children to be competing at the tournament and 2000-plus people to be involved as coaches or spectators.

A host of local sides, representing the Goulburn Valley Suns, Football Institute and Shepparton United, will be involved, as well as other local teams put together especially for the event.

The Suns have entered sides in the under-10, 12, 14, 16 and youth (under-18) teams, offering trialists a chance to impress in a match scenario.

Football Institute will also be hoping to implement the principles its pupils have been taught since the program started last month on game day as well, with a team in the under-12 tournament.

Shepparton Gunners (under-12s) and Shepparton Eagles (under-10s) have been specially formed for the event.

National Premier Leagues Victoria champions South Melbourne have a host of teams travelling to Shepparton for the tournament.

Teams from Adelaide and NSW will be involved, while there will even be an international presence as well with former New Zealand and Wellington Phoenix coach Ricky Herbert’s academy travelling to take part.

The action will take place from Saturday morning with the first matches to kick-off at 9 am at McEwen Reserve, while games will also be at Rumbalara Reserve and Wanganui Park.

Finals will be tomorrow and kick-off from 8 am, with grand finals starting at 4 pm.