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Women's National Premier League NSW

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Manly United honour Kristie Crawford’s 20th season

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What a remarkable season it’s been for one of Manly United’s most dedicated and passionate footballers, reserve grade star Kristie Crawford was honoured over the weekend by the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s club at its annual awards evening having completed her 20th successive year with the Northern Beaches side.

Having first represented the club in 1998 as a fresh faced fourteen-year-old in the North Harbour Competition, Crawford has continued to don the famous blue kit of Manly since and has not looked back as the talented attacker has become a regular fixture at Cromer Park.

The CC Strikers junior and keen surfer adores her football and explained that her favourite part about playing the world game was the thrill of Game Day.

“I am a very competitive person and always look forward to a Sunday to get out on the pitch and play my best for my team and hopefully score goals,” Crawford stated on the official Manly United website.

“I grew up watching my Dad and Brother play, so I just followed suit.”

Asked what Manly United meant to her, Crawford promoted that the club was like family.

“I keep playing because once you retire there is no coming back and Manly is my club – the friendships that have been formed over the years it keeps me coming back. I will keep playing as long as I am good enough and get selected, how much longer that is we will have to see.”

Congrats Kristie, twenty-years for one club is an amazing achievement and one that needs to be celebrated.

Epakis swaps Sydney Uni for Perth Glory

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In an exciting coup for the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition, former Championship winning Sydney University SFC coach Alex Epakis has been appointed as Perth Glory’s new W-League manager for the upcoming 2020/2021 season.

After guiding Sydney University to three consecutive NPL NSW Women’s Premierships as well as working as a senior assistant coach at Canberra United, it was only time until a W-League club was set to seek Epakis’ services.

Holding an A-Licence as well as a Masters Degree in Sports Coaching, Epakis was excited with the opportunity of working with the Glory with the aim of promoting local young Western Australian talent.

“We want to build a culture and environment that we are all proud of,” he said.

“It needs to be based on core outcomes that give us the best opportunity to develop as a team and be competitive in each match.

“A commitment to weekly improvement and working towards a style of play and process are important pieces in what I would like us to achieve as a team.”

Glory CEO Tony Pignata is confident that Epakis is the man to drive the club’s W-League side forward.

“Alex definitely has the range of experience, knowledge and passion required to be a successful W-League Head Coach,” he said.

“He is an outstanding coach and individual who will leave no stone unturned in his efforts to ensure that we have a strong, motivated and competitive W-League team this season.

“We will be fielding a young, hungry squad with a strong WA flavour this year and I would urge all our Members and fans to get along to the games and get right behind them.”

Alexander Epakis Fact File

– Current FFA/AFC A Licence Holder

– Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching

– Led Sydney University Women to NPL Premiership titles in 2018, 2019 and 2020

– Senior Assistant Coach at Canberra United in 2017

– Sydney FC Academy Head Coach 2015-2017

Costantini and Cansdell-Sheriff to lead Women’s and Men’s First Grade in 2021

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Bankstown City Lions are delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Costantini and Shane Cansdell-Sheriff as the National Premier League NSW Women’s and National Premier League 3 NSW Men’s First Grade coaches for the 2021 season.

Matt Costantini has worked as a Football Analyst at Sydney FC since 2015, and joins Bankstown having coached APIA for the past two seasons.

“Bankstown has put faith in my staff and I to deliver on our goal of being the leading development club in women’s football over the next couple of years. I am excited to help the club continue to build on its achievements and to realise its potential in the NPL1 Women’s.

“I have had the privilege of working with two great mentors at Sydney FC in Rob Stanton and Giancarlo Italiano, who both helped me grow and learn a lot as a coach, and my father Paul who has developed my passion for coaching.

“I am looking forward to the exciting challenge of joining a historic, family orientated club like Bankstown City Lions. The Club has some exciting plans for 2021 and I can’t wait to get this project started” said Costantini.

Shane Cansdell-Sheriff will be replacing Sash Tirovski as the NPL3 Men’s First Grade Coach, who had to step down due to work commitments. The Club is thankful for the fantastic work of Sash Tirovski in 2020, who led the Lions to 2nd place and a Runners Up finish.

Cansdell-Sheriff joins after coaching at Adamstown in the Northern NSW NPL, and an impressive playing career in England, Denmark and Australian junior national teams.

“I am very excited to be at Bankstown for the 2021 season. After spending 5 minutes with the Lions Board, it was clear to see from their enthusiasm, professionalism and passion that we both shared the same positive expectations for the future direction of the Club”, said Cansdell-Sheriff.

“As a player, I always wanted to be involved with a club that was focused on winning and moving forward.

“Bankstown City Lions has a proud history as one of the powerhouse Clubs in NSW, with a passionate fanbase. I can’t wait to drive home a winning mentality and culture across the NPL Men’s playing group and throughout the whole Club.

“With the right discipline, work ethic, and culture, I have no doubt that we can achieve our goals in 2021.”

Spencer Prior appointed APIA Leichhardt Women’s NPL NSW Head Coach

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In a massive coup for the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition, Former Matildas assistant and Thai Women’s National Team coach Spencer Prior has been appointed as the new 2021 APIA Leichhardt FC Head Coach.

A former English Premier League footballer playing for the likes of Norwich City, Leicester City, Derby County and Manchester City, Prior holds a Pro License coaching qualification.

Having taken some time off coaching, Prior saw this is a huge opportunity to challenge himself once more.

“I’ve been away from coaching for a few years and when I got the call it didn’t take long to get everything sorted. APIA ticks all the boxes.

“The club has a rich history in the game.

“The Women’s program has come leaps and bounds over the past few years.

“I’m really keen to pass on my experience of having worked with National teams both in Australia and Thailand.

“There has never been a greater need for NPL clubs to support female football development and ensure those that don’t go overseas are provided with the right environment.

“The club is extremely focused on providing the girls with a first class set up, the facilities are great, they are motivated, ambitious and have the right mentality.

“I feel APIA are best placed as a club to provide this for all ages and I’m really excited to get started.”

Manly United hope to send Williams off a Championship Winner

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It will be an emotional day for Manly United’s well admired National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s coach Chris Williams who will manage his final game after announcing he will take a year off football as his underdogs face Premiers Sydney University SFC at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday.

After spending a solid sixteen years at the Northern Beaches club involved with the Boys as well as the Women’s programs, Williams was over the moon with how his fearless Manly United side knocked out the highly fancied Sydney Olympic side in thrilling fashion.

“I think the victory in the semi-final showed another side of our game, resilience, character and adaptability.

“To be honest it wasn’t our best footballing performance all year and we know we can play better.

“But we adapted really well to the challenges that Olympic set us and I’m really proud of the players for working so hard for each other, for remaining calm and for believing right until the end that we could win that match by staying true to the way we want to play the game.”

Taking over Manly United Women’s head coach role in 2013, Williams understands that his squad will need to produce something extra special to defeat a silverware hungry Sydney University SFC outfit full of current W-League and Matildas stars.

“We’re really excited by the challenge of playing Sydney Uni in the Grand Final this weekend.

“They have been the leaders in the competition for the last few years and Alex and his squad have really pushed everyone in the league to raise their standards, so we can’t wait to test ourselves and play them on Sunday.

“Sydney Uni play some great football and I know everyone looks at us as underdogs, but I’ve got so much trust and belief in my players and we’re really confident that if can play at our best we can push them all the way and maybe spring what many people might consider a surprise.”

Asked which of the many female superstars Sydney University SFC will be ones to watch out for, Williams stated that they have match winners across the park.

“It’s really hard to pinpoint one or two players form their squad as the reality is they have internationals, and current and ex W-League players across the park and on the bench.

“The fact that they could call on the likes of Michelle Heyman and Rach Soutar off the bench against the Northern Tigers last weekend says it all.

“However we really believe that no matter who we play, we can beat anyone if we stick to our plans, work hard for each other and play our football.”

With Manly United carrying the underdog tag come Sunday, the one-time Tongan Men’s National Team coach stated that both teams have played a pivotal role in the further development of the female game in the state.

“I think both clubs have done a lot to push and raise the standards of women’s football in the NPL over the last few years. Both clubs have great youth development set ups, we both have a core group of players who have been at the club for a number of years.

“For example, depending on injuries/availabilities up to 9 or 10 of our matchday squad on Sunday could be Manly United juniors and both teams like to get the ball on the ground and play what I believe, to be some of the best football in the competition.

“Alex has done an amazing job there over the last few years and I’m really looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great game of football on Sunday.”

Following the match on Sunday, Williams’ legacy will be carried on by his long term assistant Tom Hopley, but first things first, the Manly United girls will be hoping they will be sending off their ‘supercoach’ a Championship winner come Sunday afternoon.