Gold Coast Football Representative Program
GOLD COAST GIRL’S FOOTBALL REP PROGRAM
In 2008 Football Queensland established the Rebel Sport Junior Premier League (JPL) to provide clear,equitable pathways for talented young players to be identified and developed in line with Football Australia directives.
The Gold Coast entered a representative team in the girls’ U13 competition, playing weekly against rep teams from Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and Northern NSW. The Gold Coast team took out the inaugural season premiership and impressed state selectors, with seven of the girls making the Queensland team that competed successfully at the Nationals in Canberra the following year.
In 2009 the girls’ competition was expanded to include U12’s, U14’s and U16’s division. Once again in 2010 the Gold Coast excelled, being U12’s and U16’s premiers and finishing 3rd in the U14’s.
But winning premierships has never been the focus of what we are trying to achieve. Our vision goes well beyond what one can gleam from a points table. We want to establish a highly credible girls’ football program on the Gold Coast that not only ensures those with talent and potential are given every opportunity to achieve their dreams, but which also works to develop football and lifelong love of sport in general. The girls’ are respected as individuals as we strive to lay solid foundations upon which they can go on to achieve great things.
Those of our girls’ fortunate enough to gain selection in State and National teams are exposed to invaluable learning, competition and networking opportunities that build confidence and help them forge pathways for successful futures.
In the four years that the Gold Coast has fielded teams in the JPL, the identified players have included:
Queensland State Team members: Annie McCleary, MacKenzie Arnold, Britney Barry, Brittany Lewis, Chelsea Teveluwe, Hayley Raso, Eliza Campbell, Jamie Stanton, Lauren Brown, Amy Morland, Tess Keeley, Chelsea Harper, Alicia Van Laarhoven, Bronte Rose, Harriet Withers, Brianna Moore, Laura Sevil, Rosie Malone, Rita Marshall, Jade Horcicka, Veronica Ptak-Zylka Erin Pobar, Gemma Hicks, Lucy Ioannou and Eden Jones
2010 - Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Selections: MacKenzie Arnold
2010 - Football Australia U13’s Girls team (toured Vietnam in June): Rosie Malone
2010 - Football Australia U17’s All Stars (top 20 players): Lauren Brown and Chelsea Harper. Both players are currently training with the QAS and Australian U17 squad.
2011 - Queensland U13's Rosie Malone, Laura Sevil, Jade Horcicka, Rita Marshall, Veronica ptak-zylka. Rosie Malone made the All Star team.
Queensland U14's - Ellie Pobar
Queensland U15's - Bronte Rose, Gemma Hicks, Eden Jones, Lucy Ioannou - Bronte Rose made the All Star team.
These are amazing achievements for such a small region and I am confident that with continued commitment and support the Gold Coast program will establish itself as one of Australia’s leading entities for the development of excellence in girls’ football.
I believe our current U16 Gold team is the benchmark for the program, with more than half the players having already represented Queensland at a National level. With financial support and continued improvement I feel sure the hard work they’ve put in over the years will see many more of our girls’ named in State, W league and Open National teams.
Gary French
