COACH: DUMPING WILL HURT REGION
COACH Samuel Young believes Football Victoria’s decision to dump Galaxy United from the NPLW is a “poor” decision and predicts it will have a significant impact on the development of the region’s rising soccer stars.
The state’s governing body earlier this week decided to relegate the region’s premier women’s soccer club to State League 1 next season, leaving the area without a presence in the top flight.
It will force many of the region’s talented players to ply their trade in Melbourne.
“Personally, I think it’s a poor decision. There’s a lot of talented girls … that are now having to make some tough decisions about whether to give up the game, whether to travel an hour-and-a-half three times a week for training and games,” Young said.
“I think the decision is only going to make it harder for the girls to play. We should be making it easier for women to play our game. From that perspective it’s really disappointing.
“We’ve got to accept it, we’ve got to move on. I’m sure in the next year or two Geelong will have another team at the highest level. They deserve it, there’s quality girls, quality people, a massive catchment area. I feel for the players.”
Tomorrow’s clash with premiership favourite Calder United will be Galaxy’s last in NPLW for the time being, but the door is open for a potential return in 2021.
It’s a sad finish for the club, which in 2017 played in a NPLW grand final and was seen as a genuine powerhouse of the league.
A string of W-League players have pulled on the Galaxy shirt, while Matildas defender Laura Alleway has also represented the club.
Young called on Galaxy’s stars to end their season on a high.
“Yes it will be the last game. But I’m very, very sure it won’t be the last game for most of these players in NPLW football,” he said.
“It’s one of those games where, we for one last time, play as a group, do the best we can and just look forward.”
Young, who stepped in after current Geelong coach Gabriel Markaj left the club, has also confirmed he would not lead Galaxy in State League 1 next year.
“The role was always until the end of the season when I took over,” he said. “I came in to steer the ship and hopefully I’ve done that. I’ve enjoyed coaching at this level.”