Nearpost Local - 29/12/09

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The closing program is given to a lengthy "fireside chat" with John Mitchell, Coach and technical director of the ANU Premier League club, the U20 Elite program, which broke new ground in the Capital Football Premier League in the 2009 season. For the first time we saw a Premier League club take a whole of year approach to football and players, much like the AIS. John and ANU lifted the bar considerably and good thing they did if we are to see a significant improvement in the standard of Premier League football in 2010 and beyond. In fairness, Capital Football gave them the thumbs up to proceed. The ANU program is aimed at giving talented players under the age of 20 years, who have missed ACTAS and AIS, a chance to pursue serious football. So should every other Premier League club and the question remains as we close the year - what will Capital Football do to address this "tragic vacant space" (to quote John in an earlier interview) in our football development process? Perhaps this is the way? The new HP program has left it a vacant space (excluding the Summer 20s comp - club based anyway) and it looks like staying that way. For all the other PL clubs - if you want to keep your best - do as well or better than the ANU program. Who could argue with that?
In this discussion, much of which has not been broadcast before, John ranges across several football topics pertinent to the ACT and region. Its very interesting and he leaves you in no doubt about how he sees things. We need more of this.

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Nearpost Radio Podcasts: John Mitchell Canberra Visionary

Nationally download Who are the last seven teams to qualify for the last SIX world Cups (not England) and we tell you why Paddy Bordier thinks Nicky over Holman and Eamonn says no way.

Russ Gibbs W-League wrap, did they count the Gold Coast Ambo's who attended to Clive Palmer in the crowd numbers at the Roar game on the weekend.

We dedicate the show to former SBS and 2Ky commentator Paul Williams. Farewell Paul



Locally we're all action!
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Peter Funnell talks to John Mitchell. One of Canberra football's leading football thinkers and Coaches, and like all visionaries he has his knockers....(who else is ahead of him though and which club....can't see anyone myself). John is not just talking the talk he's doing it. If you have a young player serious about his football, post 16,...I mean serious....ANU...is the only program worth consdering in my view and the other "big" clubs need to match the intensity.

As Belco and Canberrra FC Under 20's head to Hawker to play Woden and Tuggies this summer, have a listen to the ANU program and why indeed this isn't being promoted and supported much more strongly by Capital Fooball as the Premier Development program for our young boys particularly if as rumours suggest there will be no HP program for our 17 and 20 boys.....do we say good bye to future Luke Pilkington's at just 16 or 17 or say hello to ANU....anyone got a better plan going in Canberra?????

Anyone even got a plan to develop our boys post 16 in Canberra?

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Finals football is here: ANU 5ths..will they make it.

Across Australia that uniquely Australian exercise of "finals football" is on.

At Club level across Canberra it's no different. Men and Women's Grand Finals take place next week, in it must be said, the shortest football season in the World out side maybe Siberia.

Focus usually is on the Premier League's but I bumped into a couple of 5th Graders this week from the ANU FC (Australian National University). They were still playing this early in September. It could only mean one thing. Finals football.

Peter Papathanasiou, he's the keeper, and a noisy one at that. He's also also author of the 20 page weekly ANU football club publication called "The SCUM."

Nice name lads!

Anyway Pete and Lee Gordon, guess Lee's a full-back, if not he should be. They popped in after training this week. Straight from the hallowed home ANU North Oval.

"Why are you training in September?"

"Finals football." Straight face from Pete as well.

"ANU in the finals?" I raised my brow.

"Top of the league, we finished." replied Pete. You can feel the pride a little more in the older guys. Have you noticed that?

"So how did you go last weekend," I knew it was the second week of the finals you see.

"Well we lost! 1-0." added Lee.

"Against?"

"Olympic, we'd beaten them twice this season, and it was Poops fault and the ball came in and he didn't clear it....."

Gotta love how the 5th Grade any grade means so much...even to these old soldiers. And they are old.

Other names in the side are like a who's who of elite local football 15 years ago. Canberrans may have been skinned by the likes of now 5th Grade Coach Pete Baker, or Dutch striker Chris De Reuyter or felt the verbal lashing and goal strike of Michael Wiseman.

Apparently Wisey, former Belco blast from the past is still knocking em in.

So undefeated all year. Final football comes and the old guys have run out of puff.

But the second chance. Thank god for the Aussie second chance. I still have no idea if they are playing a semi-final, minor semi, preliminary or even lesser Grand Final, but they assured me this week they could do it.

Although they waivered at the thought of backing up against younger faster guys..again.

Still ANU 5ths run out this week determined to make the Grand Final.

Good luck to your team if you are still in the mix. If you're not isn't your football season too short? And how does any amateur player keep fit and their skills up between now and April when the competition starts again.

And for the record, Robbie Bennett, yes he's in the team too, that's right former Soccer Canberra CEO, he was supposed to write the match report for this weeks SCUM.

But he didn't.

Bet he writes it if they win this week:)

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On the Nearpost this week

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First part National Show:

Arif's Hossein and Michella Bertrand talk A-League Expansion...or lack of.
With Melbourne Victory and Adelaide off to Asia, we talk to Victory's Matthew Kemp
and Matildas star Caitlin Munoz joins us in the studio.

Local show:
Capital Football Technical Director Ian Shaw discusses the FFA's plan for the Youth League.
All Federation Cup news with interviews from Tuggeranong's Coach Scott Conlon and ANU Coach Kathy St Laurent on their weekend games.
My Football journey: With Caitlin Munoz.

Quiz questions, dedications and all the local news.

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