Palm Beach Currumbin reveal the key to producing more college footballers as they prepare for their SPL campaign

More than a dozen Palm Beach Currumbin State High school products are already lighting up college football in the United States but women’s football coach John Costello believes their upcoming Brisbane Schools Premier League campaign could produce even more. SUBSCRIBE TO READ FULL INTERVIEW.

MORE than a dozen Palm Beach Currumbin State High school products are already lighting up college football in the United States but women’s football coach John Costello believes their upcoming Brisbane Schools Premier League campaign could produce even more.

The Gold Coast Bulletin is set to live stream SPL action this year as Palm Beach Currumbin State High and Helensvale State High school prepare to fly the flag for the Gold Coast in one of South East Queensland’s most competitive leagues.

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Palm Beach Currumbin’s female side had a blistering round run in 2019 before being knocked out in the semi-finals but now boasting one of the younger and most talented lists in the competition, Costello believes even more of his pupils could make an impact at an international level.

“There’s a really big opportunity for girls to go on and play in colleges in the United States and over a dozen of our girls have gone and done that,” he said.

“It (live streaming) is really exciting for the competition.

“It creates a better product for the girls to help them get a spot at an American college as they can go and put together highlights packages so it’s an incredible opportunity for girls to shape and achieve their goals.

“The whole squad is buzzing about the idea.”

The Palm Beach Currumbin State High football team have high hopes for their SPL side this year. Pic: Supplied.

Beyond individual development, Costello is also confident his current squad has what it takes to challenge for a 2020 championship.

Graduating students and long-term injuries to three crucial players including an ACL to Brisbane Roar rising star Jorja Welch and captain Christina Mussell, are enough to decimate any side but Costello says Palm Beach Currumbin’s youth are more than apt replacements.

Palm Beach Currumbin open their SPL campaign against Aspley in Brisbane on Wednesday.

“We have big ambitions of going on to win the competition which is something we’ve been building towards for the last three years,” Costello said.

“We’ve had a big intake of younger Year 10 girls so there’s a bit of inexperience but what we’ve lost in experience, we know our key players will still be able to get the job done.

“Last year, we went into the semi-final in really good shape but our opposition was better and we didn’t function how we wanted to as a team so we’ve been working on how to perform in those high-pressure moments.

“We’re confident in the longevity of our football program (when compared to Aspley) and we know the areas of the park to get the ball to.”

Costello said Palm Beach Currumbin also boasts one of the best off-field programs in the competition, players working with strength and conditioning coaches and the program employing research to educate players on how they’re more injury-prone at different times of their menstrual cycle and how to avoid it.