The South West Phoenix Football Club ladies team "The Firebirds" are on track to join the Football West State League First Division in Perth, for the 2018 season.
Appointed head coach, Stephen Suttie, a former Phoenix junior coach and respected past SWPFC player, is excited for the challenge and hopes to give girls in the South West a wonderful opportunity to develop and play at a higher level.
“I've received a lot of interest from 15 to 18 year olds from the South West region already, which is a perfect age to establish better skills, technique and playing styles,” he said.
“My aim is to get those players to a higher standard, be it a State Team, NTC team or ideally Perth Glory.”
Joining Stephen in an Assistant Coaching role will be his wife, Nicole "Spinna" Suttie, who represented Western Australia at senior level before Perth Glory had a women’s team and was the 2017 SWSA Premier Ladies Top Goal Scorer and Fairest and Best winner.
"I am very excited with the opportunity of being a positive mentor for the young girls coming through, and will lead by example on and off the pitch. It's an exciting step for women's soccer in the South West,” she said.
The Firebirds have had three seasons in previous years playing in the State League, but sustaining numbers for a league and reserves team was an ongoing issue.
"I'm very hopeful we will have a good foundation this time around and create a great pathway for talented girls from the region,” He said.
Phoenix have had struggles in the past with launching Firebirds and making it sustainable.
Stephen Suttie hopes, and believes, this time around can be different.
"We are sending the message that this is not about team domination. The goal for us, and the measure of success, is how many girls we have that get scouted to trial at a higher level,” he said.
“We want our players in WA teams, and currently at junior level we have good representation among girls in WA squads.
We have to ensure that is translated to success as adults-and that means our players progressing with the aim of one day getting in to Perth Glory. That is this team’s goal.”
The South West Phoenix Football Club will hold an Information night to outline the 2018 vision on Tuesday, December 19 at 6.30pm in their Clubrooms on Rotary Drive, Bunbury.
Any interested players and parents are welcome to attend and find out more about playing for the Firebirds.
Questions and expressions of interest can be directed to Stephen and Nicole at n_spinelli@hotmail.com
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