The Maitland Magpies have appointed former Newcastle Jets A-League Championship winning coach Gary van Egmond to oversee the club's new football academy in an exciting venture aimed at taking the Magpies to the forefront of junior development in the Hunter.
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The Maitland FC Academy Centre of Excellence will be in place for 2021 season and will oversee development programs for both boys and girls.
Van Egmond was in Maitland yesterday to finalise arrangements with Magpies management over his role as football ambassador within the Youth and Premier (formerly SAP) sections of the ambitious Academy program.
"Gary is well known within this region, based on his experience as head coach and head of youth development with the Newcastle Jets and roles at the Australian Institute of Sport," Maitland Magpies president Ray Watkins said.
"Gary is also currently in charge of the Australia's Under 20s Socceroos.
"He joins us with a task to continue to enhance our development programs and bring them to a 'World's Best' standard.
"Gary's role with the Academy will encompass not just player development programs and reviews, but also pathways and support for coach development."
Watkins said van Egmond would work closely with the club's two new technical directors Keelan Hamilton, who will oversee the women's section, and Chris Gallagher who is in charge of the youth men program.
Hamilton, an A-licence coach with extensive experience with the Jets, will be head coach of the Maitland Magpies WPL team in their inaugural 2021 season.
Gallagher comes to the Magpies after achieving great success in the technical director role at Broadmeadow Magic. A B-licence coach, he also gained valuable experience from several years working in the Jets Youth program.
Watkins said the Magpies Premier (formerly SAP) Boys and Girls groups would continue their outstanding development profiles under the control of Jason Hackett.
"We had our best season yet at youth level. Our combined efforts over the four youth age groups placed Maitland fourth out of the 12 clubs and regions in Northern NSW," Watkins said.
"This is a substantial leap forward in our levels of success and the growth of our credibility.
"Just six years into the NPL structure of Youth Development and our rise to near the top has been phenomenal.
"Our goal is to provide the resources that develop the finest quality players from this region. Players that will go on to play in our first grade side, and perhaps even higher honours."
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