Young players at the St George Football Association’s school holiday coaching clinics got a surprise when former Socceroo Craig Foster dropped in last week.
Foster, who is now the head of football for prospective professional club Southern Expansion, outlined how the new franchise plans to provide local juniors with a direct pathway to A-League and W-League teams.
Foster briefed SGFA technical director Aytek Genc and SGFA coaches on Expansion’s plans and interacted with more than 100 young players who took part in the two sessions at Kyeemagh RSL.
The franchise, which would represent St George, Sutherland Shire and the south coast, is being led by football icon Les Murray and Foster and financially backed by Chinese property giant JiaYuan Group.
Southern Expansion are hoping for inclusion in the 2018-19 A-League, W-League and National Youth League seasons, with the franchise to build an elite football academy to provide a pathway for local junior players to professional football.
“This grassroots engagement with our three supporting associations is crucial to us. Clinics like these are a great way for us to get out into the community and share our vision for a new professional football club here in the southern region and importantly what it means for our next generation of players,” Foster said.
“Southern Expansion is committed to working closely with our local associations to develop and implement free junior development programs which will be supported by the success of a new professional football club.”
