Canberra City: An innovative approach

City Coach Rob Graham talks the talk.

photo by Arthur Huggins, President CCSC

Football in the Capital caught up with Canberra City's Chairman Geoff Perry and Coach Robbie Graham this week.



We discussed their thoughts on winning in the men’s Premier League, player wages, and Canberra City’s innovative approach.


To many people football is all about winning.


But at what price?


In my day, over 15 years ago, I earned a total of $20 from twenty years of football in England. When I arrived in Canberra it was $100 a win. That’s why I played alongside Baz Giampaolo!


In Canberra today, one player is rumoured to be on $450 a week in our local league. Some clubs are rumoured to be spending close to $75,000 to win this year’s men’s Premiership.


Great for the players but is it sustainable for all clubs. And after all, no matter how much you spend, only one team can win. And does such a payment strategy produce better footballers and better teams?


Canberra City has chosen a different path.


Canberra City is currently struggling near the depths of the ACT Men’s Premier League. Most clubs would be in despair. But the optimism within the club, and strategies laid down, gives hope for the future quality of the league.


City Chairman Grant Perry is not unhappy with his club’s league position, “We’ve thought long and hard about this and we are three years into our current strategy. We have younger players than most clubs and spend way less than most other clubs.



We decided we wanted to build a relationship with the players and develop a style of play that encourages attacking football.”


At the start of the season City brought in Robbie Graham former Weston Creek and ACTAS Coach to achieve these aims.
“I learnt a lot with Mike (Milanovich) at ACTAS and I’m trying to get the current senior sides to play in the same way. Some boys came and joined me as they liked what we were doing. We’re focusing on possession, the basics and improving techniques,” said Graham.


“Belconnen, under Steve Forshaw, have done a fantastic job with their young guys, and are ahead of us. Their current side has a core of experienced players. But next year I expect us to push hard for a top four place.”


“We’ve discussed our strategy and league position with the players. We have some excellent young players here. Zak Maybury, James Perry, Kev Room, James Ward, Damian Mahon and Pat Ross-Magee are just some of our outstanding young talent. Our squad is full of players nineteen and younger.”


But surely money talks? Good players will be snatched up by the wealthier clubs, won’t they?


“Well, we can’t stop that. We’ve discussed this with the players. One guy said why would we go to another Premier League side to sit on the bench or play in the PPL for $100 a week. We want to play,” said Graham


“And if we do lose one, we may pick up another as they know they’ll get the chance to play Premier League with City.”


City seem united in their plan


Perry adds, “We sat down with Senior Coach Robbie Graham and put a plan in place to develop the players as footballers and also as people. We have a no dickheads policy. No matter how good a player if they don’t fit the mould we don’t want them. We also refuse to pay vasts amount of money. Some guys offered to help our younger guys for $350 a week. We said no thanks.”


Graham says, “A player getting that sort of money should not be in this league.”


A young player policy is admirable, but no-one wants to lose forever. Will City persevere with this policy?


“We will. Next year we may bring in a couple of experienced guys, but I expect us to be pushing hard for a top four spot,” adds a confident Graham.


And who would bet against him. Success with previous unfancied sides, like Weston Creek many years ago, suggests Graham is a wise investment for any club.


Perry is confident about the strategy, “We’re trying to build a future. A group of players who really enjoy playing and socialising together so it makes it difficult for a club like Canberra FC to entice them away with more money.”


“As a club we have a strong development focus. We’ve linked in with Majura Juniors. We’ve started the Limestone Academy which enables all 14+ Majura players to train in the Academy come November. Majura and ourselves are working together to provide a Pathway for the juniors. And we don’t just take the best. We work with all comers.


Radford Colleges George Huitker who wrote a book, ‘How to succeed without winning’ would surely endorse Canberra City’s philosophy.


Graham concludes, “We don’t judge our success by our position on the ladder. We judge it by how we perform on the field.”


How many other Premier League Coaches can say the same?






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