Phoenix Football Academy?

Phoenix Football Academy?

I have had this on my mind for a while and only recently signed up to YF online so not sure if it has been discussed previously.  Does anyone know if there is any plans for a Wellington Phoenix football academy?  If not, where are we going to get our up and coming talent from (apart from Brazil)?

I think it would be great if Phoenix had an academy and should be one of the next steps in world football domination. I mean...look at the All Blacks. NZ is a great sporting nation with great facilities. There is no reason why they can't excel at football too.

Also, I think youngsters should be exposed to more football on television to develop thier talents and mimic those of the professionals so maybe there needs to be some investment in 'marketing' football to youngsters.

I would imagine it's a low priority for the Phoenix.  It's a major expense.  There's no league to play in.  Wellington is one of the few Federations with a meaningful and quality youth academy system already.  Team Wellington now has a youth side, which does have a league to play in.

Unless they sort out funding for joining the Youth A-League, and convince the FFA.
Hard News2008-01-10 15:17:08

That would change things for sure; but I can't see it happening.

I think the only chance is with an injection of funds from the NZPFA. They get funding from FIFPro (so you can play as Leo Bertos at the Perth Glory in the A-League on FIFA08). That has previously been spent on arranging additional overseas All Whites fixtures but I know that NZPFA weren't entirely happy with the funding returns and revenue sharing arrangements. They had proposed establishing a scolarship scheme with NZS/the Phoenix for talented juniors that could eventually progress into an academy. This was all at a very early stage when I left Wellington. Pure speculation but the youth league is exactly the kind of thing I can see the NZPFA getting involved in, and they get serious coin from FIFPro (in the regions we are talking about). That's the only way I could see it happening.

They should make Waterside Karori the feeder team to the Nix.

You mean the karori park cafe can feed the Phoenix?

Haha, what about if Terry was prepared to give a few more resources to existing academies and structures to add the Phoenix name to it to keep the Phoenix brand in the forefront of young football fans? Unfortunately, it's always been a case for young kiwis that the best way to improve as a young footballer is to get out of ther country as young as possible!

Realistically, the only way it will happen is if we get let into the youth A League I think.

I can't see why SPARC can't hand out a bit of dough to football. If I'm right, traditionally they have very much favoured other sports traditionally funded well in NZ. Well, the tide has turned and it's a football country now (finally), so maybe they should re-consider where some of that funding goes.

Football used to do alright from government funding when it was based on participation.  But now it's based on participation and "likelihood of international success" which of course takes no account of the difficulty of international success so sports like League, Rugby, Cricket, Rowing, Yachting, Cycling etc do quite well while others like Football, Tennis and Athletics struggle.

At least I believe that to be the case.  I'm no authority.

Re the Academy.  I'm sure if Terry wanted to throw some money somewhere we'd all be exceptionally grateful.  Ditto if he wanted to bring in a world class coach.  As long as it's not a random foreigner like Pim Verbeek.  Who?

Yeah if you go on SPARCs website they openly say they only fund sports that have a "likelihood of international success", and define that as reaching and getting in the top 4 or so in  their respective world championships. So yeah rugby, cricket, rowing, netball and basically any sport that nobody in the world plays get funding.

The SPARC mentality towards "likelihood of international success" is silly. Let just invent a sport that no-body else plays and win the world champs. Great weay to get some dosh off the government.

Does the Nixs have a reserve team? I mean the guys that don't get picked in the select XI would need some game time right?

No they don't have a reseve team.

As has been pointed out by many it is absolutely vital that the Phoenix have a youth team in next years A-League under 21 comp. NZF have said they don't have the money so I guess it is up to Terry and/or sponsors to get the $$$. They were talking about $300,000 per year.

Its not really fair to expect Terry to pick up the tab for youth development in NZ though hopefully it could lead to NZ players feeding into the top Phoenix team.

My reading of how it would work is that the Phoenix squad would expand to include the under 21 players. They would train and travel together and the youth team would play the curtain raiser to each Phoenix game. It would be a tremendous shot in the arm for NZ football. Essentially we would have the NZ under 21 squad training and playing as professionals week in week out.

Handled correctly it could be the best thing to happen to NZ Football since...well...the Phoenix I guess.

Actually they fund a coach in each Federation for coach development mostly.  The intention of the NDOs was really to identify potential elite players and to develop grass roots coaching standards. smithy2462008-01-11 11:07:24

On the topic of a Phoenix youth team. A while ago when NZF was looking at expanding the NZFC one idea the Seatts was big on was a NZ Development team being added. Could the Nix in partnership with NZF put a reserve/developemnt team into the NZFC?

Then you run in to the problem of international transfers between the sides though ricardo.

im pretty sure sparc dont fund the 'mainstream sports' league rugby and cricket, i think they mave give a bit to netball because it hasnt traditionally been professional. sparc money has gone to rowing and yachting (olympic class) cycling and at a stage equestrian. i think sparc, quite rightly in my opinion, are reluctant to fund sports that have a strong proffessional body. but in saying that i think funding for an academy would be the right type of thing sparc should be looking to invest in, the money would have to go to nzf not the nix though because they cant and shouldnt fund private clubs

They already have one. It's based in Perth....

Don't show Jesse Fink, he'll be calling it a Nazi symbol.

There is no reason why not, since the youth a-league has not named a Wellington Phoenix U21 side for next season, we need another avenue for club youth development and the actual national youth league is a not suitable level for the U21 elite.

Besides, isn't Team Wellington is beginning to be like the Phoenix Reserve team in disguise with Stu in charge?

As a youngster myself... it'd be nice if they could run youth programs over the summer / winter. Also an easy way for them to scout talent.

If they did get out there and scout youngsters, all they'd need to do is run a training squad 5 times a week :P It wouldn't be that hard.

They can't run an actual reserve side in the NZFC because the player transfer rules mean players wouldn't be unable to switch from one to the other.  TW is effectively their NZFC side as we're seeing with the new Brazilian.

As for youth programmes, there are already programmes for elite youth.  Phoenix are unlikely to be interested in 15/16 year olds - too young - they need 18-21 year old almost-pros playing in a meaningful league (like the Youth A League for example!). 

The only reason the nix would get into youth stuff is to make some caaaaash. 

Unlikely.

That's the problem, they have to look at the young ones and develop them.

They need the Almost Pros to
Michael2008-01-13 22:03:21

There are already very good programmes in wellington for elite young players.  Phoenix would be duplicating.  They already have a link with Capital Football so they'll be aware of any stars coming through the Academy ranks.

Where they could really make a difference is getting a squad of 18-22 year olds training in a full time environment, but whether they can afford that i do not know.

I still think the best hope for youth development is if the Phoenix can get a team in the A-League under 21 comp.

How fantastic would it be for all the young NZ talent to train with the Phoenix and then travel and play each week in a semi professional environment.

Problem is the $$$$. Apparantly it would cost around $300,000 per year.NZFA said they can't afford to help. Its a big ask to expect Terry to pay for it. Maybe they can get some sponsors to help.

I think you're right.  I also think it should be something SPARC should look to fund.

james dean2008-01-14 12:02:50

Sydney and Central Coast don't have full time academies. 

My understanding is that Sydney is linked in with the NSWIS setup at Valentine Park that they don't pay for and Coast just have links with their local Premier Youth League club.

Well said Smithy!

Although I love being right, in this case I'm not...

Funny how when we have any initiatives involving kids, you are keen to be involved Smithy...

smithy goes back to showering with the boys back at wellington college we all know that.