Playford City Patriots young guns, Brody and Levi Fowler, Tyler Evans scouted by EPL club West Ham
Three junior soccer players from the same northern suburbs club have been scouted by an English Premier League outfit ahead of the 2023 season.
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Three junior soccer players from the same northern suburbs club have been selected to trial for an English Premier League outfit this April.
Playford City Soccer Club brothers Brody and Levi Fowler – 14 and 12 years old – have been selected alongside Patriots U14s player Tyler Evans to compete in West Ham United trials in Scotland and London this April.
The three boys attended an SA-based West Ham development camp – set up in a partnership between the English juggernaut and SA clubs – early last year and caught the eye of talent scouts enough to make the cut for a national camp in the Gold Coast.
They performed so well at the national camp that they were then invited back to the UK.
“The whole experience was a bit nerve-racking but they were motivated to make that final cut and to be told we’re going overseas to tryout was really exciting,” Brody said.
“There were a heap of strong players there so I’m really happy to have made it,” Levi added.
Brody, a talented goalkeeper with elite reaction time and efficient distribution, has played at the Patriots for six years now, while 12-year-old brother Levi, a dominant midfielder and forward, has played the sport since he was four and has spent four seasons at the club.
14-year-old Evans was picked up by Playford last season and has also shown versatility through the middle.
“I’ve had a lot of fun with Playford and the club has been really important in developing my skills – all the coaches continue to push me to improve,” Levi said.
“Each coach and teammate at the Patriots has helped me to become the player I am in a different way, they’ve all helped to advance my reaction time, my ball handling and my kicking so I’m really thankful,” Brody added.
“We want to continue to develop our skills and achieve as much as we can.”
Brody, Levi and Tyler will depart for the UK on April 4 for the final stage of West Ham trials.
The two brothers said it would be a surreal experience to be picked up by a Premier League club.
“It would be very, very exciting, I’d be ecstatic to make it, it’s everything we’ve worked for,” Brody said.
“It means the world to us to get this far but to finally get through would mean all our hard work for so many years has paid off,” Levi said.
“It would be a dream come true.”
CATCHING ENGLAND’S EYE
The Fowler brothers performed right from the start in West Ham’s talent camps, quickly gaining the attention of scouts.
Brody, who has played well above his age at club level, impressed former West Ham player and current international coach George Cowie with his reaction and save time, clean hands and ability to distribute quickly and efficiently.
Levi, who has also played above his age and kicked 27 goals for Playford City last season in the club’s U12s competition, impressed scouts with his passing ability and skills on the ball.
The 12-year-old rising star scored some of the fastest times in the national camp for passing and receiving drills, surprising coaches with his clean touch and quick decision-making with the ball at his feet.
Tyler Evans was also a standout for his technical ability on the ball, as well as with his ability to play multiple roles.
A BREEDING GROUND FOR SOCCER TALENT
This is not the first time young talent has been poached from the northern suburbs, with multiple Socceroos also coming out of the region in recent years.
National team guns Craig Goodwin – also Adelaide United’s star player – Riley McGree and Awer Mabil have all developed in the north, playing for Munno Para, Gawler Eagles and Saint Augustines respectively as juniors.
Despite a history of potential stars coming through northern suburbs clubs, the region still does not have a side in the National Premier League.
Playford City senior head coach Ben Moore believed the area would benefit from having a club in the NPL, whether it be by traditional promotion from State League One, or by a change in competition set-up to include a northern side.
“I’ve been at the club for six years now and we know how strong the region is for talent overall, not just at Playford City,” Moore said.
“As well as having conversations with established players and being able to recruit them to become stronger at the senior level, being in that top competition would allow clubs to retain young talent and further develop it, not lose it to surrounding outfits.
“We’re really committed to building a better club and continuing to develop young players so hopefully we can continue to build from strength to strength.”
The families of Brody and Levi Fowler, and Tyler Evans have opened fundraisers to assist in the travel and accommodation costs of their England and Scotland journey.
To contribute, follow these hyperlinks – Brody and Levi Fowler, Tyler Evans.
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