Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory have announced a partnership with Auckland’s Mt Albert Grammar School that will see coaches from the club’s academy working alongside school staff.
The school has been working with Victory’s academy and A-League men’s side for several years but the new partnership is aimed at broadening the scope of the relationship.
In a statement on the Victory website, Melbourne Victory Football Pathways Manager Gareth Turnbull said:
“We’re proud to be able to welcome Mt Albert Grammar School to the Academy Pathway Partner program and to help them deliver a range of programmes with our coaches and staff.
“Our growing family of Academy Pathway Partners allows us to reach football fans and programs that are after support and we think the capacity to apply the Victory methodology at all stages of a player’s football development is exciting.”
Mt Albert Grammar School Director of Football Peter Smith said the partnership would enhance the school’s football programme with the support of the A-Leagues’ biggest club.
“We are very excited and proud to extend our working partnership with Melbourne Victory giving us a clear and identifiable pathway and progression for our most talented footballers in both the male and female space,” Smith said.
“The partnership also allows us to continue the development of our coaching staff in alignment with the Victory methodology.”
Melbourne Victory coaches will deliver a three-day development camp in October to Pre-Academy, Elite Girls and Academy students including online sessions with senior coaches and talent identification matches.
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