Talented young footballers from the Shire will have another pathway to the elite level after Endeavour Sports High School was formally anointed as a Sydney FC football school.
The agreement, to be launched today, will see Sydney FC Academy coach Jim VanWeeren stationed at Endeavour full-time.
The school’s footballers will be taught under Sydney FC’s football philosophy as part of Football Federation Australia’s national curriculum.
The school’s principal, James Kozlowski, is hopeful the arrangement will help young players make the eventual jump to elite football.
Endeavour already has a strong reputation for producing top level footballers, with Sydney FC W-League captain Teresa Polias and Socceroos striker Tomi Juric among its former students.
The link with Sydney FC was piloted in term four last year and, given its success, was locked into a long-term agreement.
Kozlowski told The Leader it was a great opportunity for the school’s students.
“It’s so exciting,” he said.
“We said we were happy to adopt Sydney FC’s method and happy to have a coach based at the school who also has that link with the [Sydney FC] youth academy.
“We saw it as the opportunity to get the very best coaching and work with one of the premier A-League clubs in the country, using their expertise and resources.
“They’re a high profile sporting club with an excellent reputation so obviously it was beneficial to us.
“But this is primarily about providing opportunities to young kids to combine their school education with the best possible football education.”
Endeavour, which has about 80 girls and boys in its football program, will see its students have a better chance of making the elite level having already trained under an A-League academy structure.
The plan is also beneficial for the Sky Blues, who will be able to keep tabs on the development of the Shire’s most talented players.
Sydney FC begin their AFC Champions League campaign tonight when they face Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Stadium in Japan.
Kick-off is at 9.30pm.
