The trials for the girls/women’s Western Mariners side will be held on Sunday, November 4, at Police Paddock Bathurst at 10am, with a second trial held at Jack Brabham Park in Orange on Wednesday, November 7, at 6.15pm. 

The Western NSW Mariners offer girls and women the opportunity to play soccer at a high level and be coached by some of the best coaches in the Western area.

The Mariners currently play in the National Premier League 2, which is the second highest level of soccer in NSW, and compete against teams such as Apia Leichardt, Central Coast Mariners, Inter Lions and Nepean. 

Western NSW Mariners Women’s Coaching and Development Manager, Glenn Stedman, said playing with the Mariners is a fulfilling and enjoyable experience and can be an important step  to further representation for state and nation as well as the W League.

“From here there’s the chance for players to potentially move into the (Football NSW) Institute team and have a crack in NPL1,” he said.

“Our 15s goalkeeper Lily Smith from Mudgee, will move to Sydney at the end of the year and will line up for Blacktown Spartans in NPL1 in 2019.

“Mariners 15s striker Anna Hunt from Grenfell played for the Junior Matildas in September and she scored two goals for her nation. She is an outstanding talent.”

Stedman said there has been a lot of players from Western Branch go on to the top level over the years.

“The Sykes sisters (Ashleigh and Nicole) from Dubbo, Ellie Carpenter from Cowra, Lyndsay Glohe, Karina Roweth and Erica Halloway is [33] and still playing for Western Sydney,” he said.

“Our U15s coach Jasmin Courtenay also has W League experience having played with the Newcastle Jets and the knowledge she was able to pass on to her team and to her team mates in first grade proved invaluable.”

In 2019 the Mariners will field teams in the U14s, U15s, U17s, Reserve and First Grade.

Any girls and women who would like to play football at a high level, improve their game, compete against some of the best players in NSW and enjoy the team atmosphere are welcome to trial.  

Stedman said over the last few years there has been a lot of negativity about the Mariners and the amount of travel that players have to undertake.

 “There’s been a bit of negativity toward the Mariners, a lot about the fact we do play in Sydney. But last season the Mariners played only seven games in Sydney and had 14 home games,” he said.

“We are even looking at having the players train a couple of times in the own home town and only getting together as a team once a month to reduce strain on families and the travel.”

The Skills Acquisition Program (SAP), which is for U10s and U12s girls and involves a shorter season and teams do not play every Sunday, are also having trials on Sunday, November 18 at Police Paddock at Bathurst with the U10s girls trial at 10am and the U12s girls at 11.30am and again Wednesday, November 21, at Jack Brabham Park in Orange at 6.15pm. 

Any one wishing to trial from U10s through to seniors need to register using the WNSWMFC trial online registration form.

Anyone wanting any more information, can visit the Western NSW Mariners Women Facebook page or call Glenn Stedman 0400 975 740