Marsden SHS now a Roar junior and academy base; six boom youngsters revealed
The Brisbane Roar will ramp up Logan junior football development after choosing a local school as a youth academy base; plus six boom Roar youth players revealed.
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The Brisbane Roar will ramp up Logan City junior development after Marsden SHS was secured as a historic youth training base in the region.
Marsden SHS, one of the three biggest schools in the state, will be the venue for some of the Roar’s academy teams and also a “Skill Training Centre’’ for footballers aged 9-12 years.
Marsden SHS was chosen as a base for region wide talent to attend because it was centrally located and had the appropriate on field and off field training facilities.
“We are very pleased to elevate and grow our partnership with Marsden State High School,’’ said Brisbane Roar technical director David Abel.
“Marsden is a school with a progressive, holistic philosophy towards player development, state-of-the-art facilities, and a proven track record of developing Queensland talent.”
He said Marsden SHS would also become a Roar accredited High Performance Football School.
“Our great relationship with the Schools Premier League (SPL) schools has provided the framework for this exciting program, with Marsden as the pilot school,’’ Abel said.
“The long-term vision is to officially approve and accredit further schools that align with our principles and belief in the importance of investing in Queensland’s young footballers.”
Marsden SHS principal Andrew Peach said his school “has a great history of developing elite student athletes, and the opportunities that this partnership provides are second to none’’.
“We have a world class teaching and coaching group, coupled with amazing facilities, so we are really excited to see the outcomes for our kids.
“Logan has so much amazing talent, and we have been working hard to ensure that our local kids get to learn and develop at their local school in Logan.
“This partnership provides another way to reassure our families that students can get the very best by staying close to home. ‘’
Logan is a haven for elite talent across all four codes and sport in general, as evidenced this year at the Tokyo Olympic Games when the region watched three athletes - decathlete Ashley Moloney, swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan and BMX exponent Logan Martin - secure Olympic medals..
Meanwhile, six brilliant youth talents are progressing at pace for the Brisbane Roar.
In the girls’ program, Cavendish Road SHS goalkeeper Mia Bailey, 17, and 18-year-old Jamilla Rankin were leading female talents.
A defender, Rankin was selected in the last two senior Matildas squads and was a 2020 Young Footballer of the Year nominee.
Bailey has advanced her game at pace and this year signed her first A-League Women’s contract with Brisbane Roar.
From the Roar’s boys academy, Charlie Gibson, 16, is a QAS player and junior Matildas squad member. The defender is also a Brisbane Roar train-on player.
Like girls’ star Mia Bailey, Aleeah Daverne, 17, is originally from Cairns. The midfielder players with QAS.
Sunshine Coast midfielder Sam Klein has impressed at both under 23 and NPL Men’s level this year, and has spent time training with the Roar’s first team in preseason
Forward Luke Broderick, who is originally from Toowoomba Grammar School, scored his first NPL Men’s goals this year after shining at under 23 level.
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