Football: Northern reps out in force

NFF development officer Dave Alabaster trains a group of up-and-coming junior Northland footballers. Players from left: Malcolm Young, Meg Clements, Anya Gross and Jayde Reynolds. Photo / John Stone

The latest group of Northland footballers to travel to the National Training Centre has reached new heights, despite a slight decrease from last year's record of nine players which represented the region.

Fielding three boys in the Under-15 age group for the latest camp - four including non-travelling reserve Finn Diamond - is the highest concentration of Northlanders to ever feature in one particular age group according to Northern Football Federation development officer Dave Alabaster.

"We've never had three kids in the same group before, the most we've ever had is two. So we've actually got three Under-15 boys and Finn Diamond as a sub," he said.

"For a small region that's pretty good I think. We certainly punch above our weight."

Down slightly from the previous year's record, which saw 9 youngsters attend the camp in Auckland, seven players were named in this round.

The lone girl this time, aspiring goalkeeper Meg Clements, participated at the Under-14 girls' training centre, while the boys' camp was attended by Noah Boyce, Under-13; Malcolm Young, Under-14; and Louie Greenaway, Lewis Miller, Bobby Ramo and Finn Diamond representing the Under-15s.

One reason for the lift in success for the Under-15 boys could be the recent success of the North Force Under-15 Boys, who took out the AFF 15th Conference League title this year.

Completing their season in victorious fashion, the North Force side secured a convincing 5-1 victory in the final to soundly dismiss Three Kings' hopes of a win.

Greenaway, Miller, Ramo and Diamond all played a part in the successful season, which was coached by Northern Football Federation development officer Dan Johnston.

"The boys were in celebration mode as they were finally able to lift the trophy as champions on the last day of the season. Totally unexpected for us to finish near the top this year, never mind win the league," Johnston said.

The result, the second AFF title secured by a North Force youth side this season, means the North Force Under-15 team has gained promotion to the 16th Metro league for 2016.

The National Training Centre is held twice a year, in the April and October school holidays.

Thirty players are selected in each age group from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Auckland, and Northern federations.