Brisbane Roar has confirmed it’s youth academy squads with 36 of Queensland’s most exciting young footballers locked in to represent BRFC for the 2024 NPL Queensland season.
The club’s youth academy program aims to provide a platform for Queensland’s best young talent to make the step up into professional football.
The program has welcomed nine players who shone for local clubs in the NPL in 2023 with Ivan Ozzi (Lions FC), Jack Benham & Zac Fowler (Brisbane City), Forbes Porter & James Durrington (Gold Coast United), Rhys Williams & Charlie Parkin (Moreton Bay United), Jac Parrot (Olympic) and Caleb Butler (Rochedale Rovers) all coming into the Roar set up for the new season.
Goalkeeper, Tyler Roche returns to Queensland after spending time with Melbourne City’s Academy.
Amongst those continuing as part of Roar’s Academy program in 2024 are Edward Ince, Lucas Herrington and Zane North, who have all been part of the Joeys set up in the past 12 months with exposure to BRFC first team environment.
Roar’s NPL sides will be led by a new look academy staff in 2024 made up of a combination Queensland’s best young coaches an ex-Roar legend who will ensure that all aspects of player development and talent ID align with the club’s philosophy and long-term vision.
The program will be overseen by Youth Technical Director Ben Cahn with Richard Greer (NPL Head Coach) & Mitch Nichols (NPL Assistant Coach) taking charge of the BRFC NPL team.
Andre Bennett (u23 Head Coach) & Sekou Jomanday (u23 Assistant Coach) will lead the U23’s while Robbie Kruse will work as a Development Coach and Mentor/ Youth Talent ID for both NPL & u23 teams.
Thomas Waddingham, Rylan Brownlie and Quinn MacNicol have all made their Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s debuts this season after playing for the Roar’s Academy sides in 2023.
Youth Technical Director, Ben Cahn said he was excited by the quality in the current group of BRFC Academy players.
“It’s an exciting group of young players, there’s lots of potential in the group and we look forward to assisting them in this important phase of their football journey,” Cahn said.
“We’re very thankful to the clubs who have recommended players and have supported their progression in to our academy program.
“We also plan on undertaking a thorough talent ID process with Football Queensland, the clubs and all other key stakeholders in the Queensland football community to ensure our recruitment is of the highest-level moving forwards.”
Pre-season has commenced for Roar’s Academy sides ahead of the 2024 NPL Queensland season which is scheduled to kick off in February.
Goalkeepers: Lachlan Duke, Sean O’Connor, Henry Blackledge, George Plusnin, Tyler Roche
Defenders: Cameron Anderson, Dylan Meinicke, Nathan Geyer, Eremugo Debele, James Murphy, Andrew McLeod, Isiah Quinn, Ethan Jones, Jac Parrot, Zane North, Kobi Griffiths, Lucas Herrington, Charlie Parkin
Midfielders: Noah McGrath, Riley Gill, Damon Gorrell, Jack Benham, Tinotenda Madau, Tate Baldwin, Edward Ince, Dominic Amaya, Caleb Butler, Declan Warnes, Rhys Williams, James Durrington
Forwards: Ivan Ozzi, Tuquiri Beckett, Ty Cobb, Kade McDougall, Zac Fowler, Forbes Porter
