Football: Force optimistic for next season

Thomas Berry has been dubbed as one to watch out for next season by his North Force coach. Photo / File

Even though the representative football season is officially over as of last Saturday, North Force's coach is already excited by Northland's youth for next year.

North Force played their final game on Saturday - losing 5-1 to Forrest Hill - in what was a learning experience for Northland teenagers, something which left coach Russell Baddeley optimistic.

He says he believes players like Marcus Crum, Taylor Bell-Booth, and Thomas Berry are particular players to watch out for next season.

"I would expect them [along with North Force] to do well next season," Baddeley said.

"It was an awesome learning experience for our young ones. We've come a long way this year. We're obviously disappointed to not get promotion after such a good start but the signs are good."

Teaching Crum, Berry and Bell-Booth a lesson on Saturday was former All White David Mulligan, who played in the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa with Winston Reid, who has Northland family ties.

Baddeley agreed Mulligan has, in a way, set the standard for the trio of Northlanders, showing the teenagers how to lead the way for their team.

Baddeley added Mulligan led from the middle of the park and taught the Northlanders a few lessons, saying that it is not a bad thing looking forward.

"Mulligan just ran the show, even in the awful conditions. We were 4-1 down at half time but the boys showed a lot of courage to hang in there in the second half.

"Forrest Hill are stronger now than when we played them earlier [losing 6-4 in a thriller].

"There's a definite gap between us and Forrest Hill, no doubt about that, and it's quite a big gap, but we can see where we need to go."

For Baddeley and the North Force players, while Saturday's game was the last for the season the team would stay together during the off-season with an eye on gaining promotion and winning the league next season.