Colours picked

Damen Francis

February 22 2014

Shepparton News

Orange and navy blue are the colours of the newly formed Goulburn Valley Suns National Premier Leagues teams.

Talented young players Cody Sellwood, Zac Paraskevas, Jake Keating and Rocco Papalia each donned a prototype of the Suns playing kit at Shepparton’s Maude St Mall yesterday.

Football Federation Victoria finalised the licences and structure for the inaugural season, following Wednesday’s deadline for the return of signed licence agreements.

Two clubs — Eastern Lions and Surf Coast — chose not to accept their offers to join the statewide competition.

As both clubs were placed in NPL1 at senior level, the two senior divisions will feature 14 teams each.

The split is also even between the junior conferences, with the Eastern Lions initially drawn in the eastern conference and Surf Coast the west.

Senior trials started on Monday night, followed by junior trials throughout the week, with the start of the season just three weeks away for seniors and five weeks away for juniors.

Details of a women’s and girls preparation program for teams to enter the competition next season are expected to be released soon.

Former West Bromwich Albion academy coach Melvyn Wilkes has been assisting with the process.

Wilkes and Suns interim chair Geoff Dobson are due to meet with Goulburn North East Football Association clubs on Monday night to address concerns about the viability of the Shepparton-based NPLV club and its impact on local competition.

Wilkes encouraged clubs to throw their support behind the project and backed the Suns to be competitive.