Junior Club in Focus - Metro United Women's Football Club

After a year of transition in 2011, Metro United Women’s Football Club is back on its feet in 2012 and its junior ranks are thriving.

MUWFC Magic shifted their home base from Glenunga to Pooraka in January 2011 and due to the circumstances lost much of its junior base.

But, after a strong recruitment drive last year, in 2012 the club can now boast teams in the Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 age groups.

“The Club was always looking for a place to call Home and finally we found one. Unfortunately with the move we lost quite a few juniors as most of them were from Glenunga and surrounding areas,” said MUWFC Club Delegate Nicole Leonardis.

“Our aim was to field at least one Junior team in our first year and we sent some of our Senior players to attend School Clinics in the local area, we did letterbox drops in Pooraka and surrounding suburbs, we advertised in School newsletters and within a month we managed to put an U13 team together.

“Fortunately the Senior group followed the Clubs move and we were able to retain all three senior teams for 2011.”

At the start of this year, MUWFC Magic held junior trials and the success was immediate and Club Delegate Leonardis is confident of increasing junior numbers in the future.

“Once the Club was established in the North area our junior trials for 2012 proved to be successful,” she said.

“We recruited via a letter box drop, we advertised in school newsletters and the FFSA website, as well as soccer clinics at primary schools.”

“The Club’s junior teams nearly doubled in size and we were able to field an U11, U13, and U15, as well as our Premier, Reserve and Division 1 and Division 3 teams. The Club is now focused on fielding an U17 in 2013 so that it will cover all age groups in the juniors.”

The Magic are also looking strengthen its juniors by providing opportunities to former players with a handful already leading by example.

Marie Spagnoletti and Dani Dickinson both played at Metro last year and are now coach and assistant coach of the MUWFC U13 squad while Christina Tziortis who spent her junior days with the club is now coaching the U11s.

Spagnoletti applauded the efforts of MUWFC Magic in assisting her transition from player to coach and admitted she is delighted in helping develop some of the club’s juniors.

“Metro United allowed me to complete my senior coaching licence and I took on the role as U13 coach,” she said.

“I have an amazing group of girls, who are eager to learn and develop their skills. I have amazing support from my fellow coaches at the club, it’s a wonderful environment to be working in. I am contributing in developing our juniors and I recommend this to any retiring player.”

Each week we are putting the spotlight on a Junior Club. If you are interested in having the focus put on your club, email info@ffsa.com.au