Canberra Youth Team Deferred

A black day for all football fans, and young players in Canberra. After the initial excitement it seems we will have to wait at least twelve further months for top grade pathway football in Canberra.

Full release below from Capital Football.

National Youth League Deferred


Capital Football regrets to announce that the Wellington Phoenix’s proposal of basing a National Youth League team in Canberra for this coming season has been deferred for 12 months at the request of the Hyundai A-League franchise.

The Phoenix outlined in a letter to the Football Federation of Australia that their main priority for the 2008/09 season will be to “develop the club within the A-League and Wellington and grow their membership, sponsors and revenue before embarking on the project”

Capital Football CEO, Heather Reid, is disappointed by the decision but understands why the decision was made.

“It’s a shame that the Phoenix came to this decision but we have to remember the Wellington franchise only made their Hyundai A-League debut last season so they’re looking to further settle themselves before joining the National Youth League,” Reid said.

It was proposed last month that the Phoenix were interested in expanding their franchise by setting up an Under 21’s team in Canberra for the inaugural year of the new development league.

Capital Football will continue to fully support and build on this application of a proposed National Youth League team in Canberra for the 2009/10 season.

“It’s unfortunately but it’s not all bad news, Capital Football has since established a close relationship with the Wellington Phoenix and together we will to continue to work towards establishing a youth team in Canberra next year,” Reid confidently said.


Focus can now turn towards this weekend’s Project Coordination Federation Cup finals and the commencement of the Men’s Premier League and Women’s Club Pink Premier League kicking off on the 19th and 26th April respectively.

“Football must go on in the nation’s capital and what better way to do so than celebrate at the final of the longest running football tournament in the ACT this weekend, the Project Coordination Federation Cup on Sunday, and the season kicking off for an expected 17,000 registered participants in the next couple of weeks,” Reid said.