TOM HAYES
SOCCER
By TOM HAYES A YOUNG local from Newborough will have the experience of a lifetime at the end of this year, after being selected to tour England as a part of a soccer academy. Twelve-year-old Oakleigh Noppert will get the chance to play against prestigious football academies such as Liverpool and Manchester City while in the UK. Oakleigh’s dad, Al, helped him find the opportunity. “The set-up is called Global Football Network, and the guy that set it up originally did it for his own son years ago, because he wanted him to get the opportunity to be recognised in the big leagues in England,” Al said. A trial process would take place, and from there, only 13 kids would be selected from the two trials in Victoria and New South Wales. “We just came across it on the internet, and thought ‘Oh, we’ll give it a go’, did a three-day trial in Melbourne,” Al said. “They did the trials between Sydney and Melbourne.” Al and Oakleigh estimate that hundreds of kids would have tried out for a spot in the academy side, as around 100 tried out in Melbourne, and Sydney is a bigger state for soccer. “There was at least 100 (kids) in Melbourne, and there would’ve been more in Sydney,” Al said. “They just did like some training drills, testing your basic skills and stuff,” Oakleigh said. Oakleigh has played soccer for most of his life, starting as young as four or five-years-old, this year he began to play with Gippsland United. “He done all of his juniors at the Monash Miniroos,” Al said. “I’m now playing for Gippsland (United),” Oakleigh said. “He’s meant to be in the Under-12s pre-NPL, but they wanted him up an age, so he’s in (under) 13s this year.” Upon finding out, Oakleigh was excited about the opportunity. “I was playing upstairs with mum, the power went out, so I was excited. When in the UK, Oakleigh will get to face off against some big academies, visiting multiple cities in the meantime. From October 7 to 20, Oakleigh and his dad will not only be going to academy games but will hopefully be able to get some sight-seeing in, potentially visiting their beloved Anfield. “I think there is eight to 12 games, there’s teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, (Manchester) City, Fulham, Leicester (City),” Al said. “We’re flying to Manchester, and just working our way down to London, and play all of the academy teams in between.” While in action, English club academy scouts will be watching the Australian squad for potential draftees. “That’s what it’s all about,” Al said. “Last year, one kid got picked up by Liverpool in this program, so the opportunity is there.” If Oakleigh was approached by an English academy, he would be over the moon, but he isn’t giving too much away. “I’d be happy, I’d be surprised,” he said. There won’t just be the opportunity to try and make a name for yourself, but the Australian squad will be put through their paces against potentially the hardest opposition they might have faced to date. “It will be a good challenge to play against different teams, with higher skill levels,” Oakleigh said. “You can watch their players as well, from the bench and even watch how they move the ball around as well.” “It will be a different level, that’s for sure,” Al said. Oakleigh hopes to continue to develop, no matter what happens on the other side of this European trip. “I’m hoping just to join any academy team,” he said. “He could go for (Victoria) Country or play for Victoria, or something like that,” Al said. “He was in the Melbourne Victory academy this year, but we pulled him out of it because (the travel) was too much. “He’s training five days a fortnight with Gippy (United).” The costs of getting to Europe are in the hands of his family, so to help out they are accepting donations to help get Oakleigh to Europe and pursue his dream. Donations can be made at tinyurl.com/3j86us9y
