Soccer young guns: Illawarra Premier League’s 12 standout young players

The Illawarra is a famous hotbed of soccer with the region’s Premier League continually feeding players through to higher levels. Check out each club’s most exciting youth-grade eligible player.

The Illawarra is one of Australia’s most highly-regarded soccer nurseries having produced Socceroos icons such as Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilkshire.

This year, Joel King (Shellharbour) and Kye Rowles (Kiama) joined the Socceroos honour board, continuing the region’s proud history of developing talent.

The production line, which feeds through to all levels of the game, is propped up by one of the best association leagues in the country – the Illawarra Premier League.

Here is each club’s best youth-grade eligible player.

APWE – Mitchell Cooper

Albion Park White Eagles youngster Mitchell Cooper playing against Bulli. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Mitchell Cooper has impressed since arriving at Terry Reserve in 2021 after growing up in Orange where he was playing first grade for Western Premier League side Panorama FC.

Cooper is an all-effort midfielder with his leadership seeing him named vice-captain of the second grade side, though his ability hasn’t gone unnoticed by head coach Alvin Ceccoli who has called upon the county kid on a few occasions.

Bulli – Flynn Martin

Bulli midfielder Flynn Martin on the ball against Tarrawanna. Picture: Graham Brown

Flynn Martin is a pivotal player in the Bulli youth grade side with the young gun setting the tempo in the middle of the park.

Martin is an adept passer, willing to put in a shift and his club’s local rival Woonona would be keen to point out he’s a Sharks junior.

Bellambi – Liam Empson

Bellambi’s Liam Empson isn’t one to shirk a tackle. Picture: Kiah Hufton

Liam Empson is a physical presence in the Bellambi youth grade side with the Coledale junior capable of playing in midfield or at centre back.

Empson was part of the University side who made the 2019 District League youth grade grand final after which he spent a season with Community League’s Coledale before joining the Rosellas.

Coniston – Sami Benten

Coniston’s Sami Benten (a striker) making his first grade debut as a goalkeeper in 2020. Picture: Richie Wagner

Coniston Sami Benten scored 11 goals in 14 games in youth grade before the season was cut short due to Covid last year.

The curly-haired striker made his first grade debut in bizarre circumstances in the final round of 2020, being brought on to play in goals after goalkeeper Blake Horton was sent off – Benten making a couple of solid saves to deny Wollongong United the league title.

Corrimal Rangers – Reid Calloway

Reid Calloway on in possession for Corrimal. Picture: Richie Wagner

Reid Calloway has been on the cusp of first grade for a couple of years now and this year he’s started all bar one game for the Corrimal Rangers.

The hard-working fullback played at Dapto, Lakeside and Cringila before settling in at Memorial Park.

Cringila Lions – Liam Hoyn

Cringila forward Liam Hoyn has been in good form this year. Picture: Denis Ivaneza

Liam Hoyn came through the Football South Coast youth system before playing for the Sydney FC Academy side.

Hoyn, a dynamic attacker who usually operates off the left wing, is now making an impact for Cringila’s youth grade side having scored three goals in three games including a late winner against Corrimal.

Port Kembla – Harrison Anagnostopoulos

Port Kembla youngster Harrison Anagnostopoulos on the ball. Picture: John Carusi/JC Sports Photography

Harrison Anagnostopoulos came through the Wollongong Wolves juniors before joining Wollongong Olympic in 2020 where he was an important member of the side that reached the youth grade grand final.

The midfielder joined Port Kembla the next year where he’s gone from strength to strength including scoring his maiden first grade goal against Tarrawanna last month.

Tarrawanna – Daniel Merola

Tarrawanna up-and-comer Daniel Merola. Picture: Graham Brown

Daniel Merola has featured on Tarrawanna’s first grade team sheet due to his exploits in youth grade with the young gun scoring four goals in four games.

Prior to joining the Blueys in 2021, Merola was in the Wollongong Wolves system.

South Coast United – Luca Loncar

Luca Loncar playing the ball forward for South Coast United. Picture: Richie Wagner

Luca Loncar has worked his way through the grades at South Coast United with the youngster a regular feature in the club’s first grade side.

Loncar has played most of his career as a central midfielder, but this year he’s slotted into South Coast’s backline with his long and short range passing becoming a key asset for the side.

Woonona Sharks – Levi Starr

Woonona Sharks rookie Levi Starr. Picture: Kiah Hufton

Levi Starr is one of the standouts in the Sharks’ youth set up with the defensively-minded redhead a tenacious player and always willing to make a tackle.

Starr played at a couple of clubs in his junior days including Fernhill and Corrimal before moving into men’s football at Ocean Park.

Wollongong Olympic – Jordan Kizi

Jordan Kizi (right) looking to win the ball for Wollongong Olympic. Picture: Kiah Hufton

Jordan Kizi has been with Wollongong Olympic for a few seasons now and this year he’s starting to make an impact in first grade.

Kizi has started featuring for Olympic’s heavyweight first grade side at fullback this season which is impressive given he spent most of his youth career further up the park – including in 2020 when he scored nine goals in 15 games on the way to the youth grade grand final.

Wollongong United – Will Nattrass

Wollongong United’s box-to-box midfielder Will Nattrass. Picture: Richie Wagner

Wollongong Wolves junior Will Nattrass joined Wollongong Olympic in 2019, before moving across to Macedonia Park the following year.

The box-to-box midfielder scored and was named player of the match in the 2020 youth grade grand final and has since started featuring in United’s second grade side.