Football: Academy growth delights

Paul Ifill, third from left in back row, with some of those who attend his Masterton academy. Photo / Supplied

Former Wellington Phoenix star Paul Ifill didn't quite know what to expect when he established a football academy in Masterton in June.

The construction of an artificial turf at Memorial Park was always going to make that an ideal venue but there was always the worry that interest among the district's younger players wouldn't be sufficient to make it a viable proposition.

Six months down the track however and Ifill not only expresses delight at the popularity of the academy but is starting to think he might have to increase its running from one day a week to two, or even three.

"I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone and it's got to the stage where we need to look at how we can build on what has already been achieved, another couple of days per week could go a long way towards doing that.".

The Masterton academy operates in three age groups, 11 to 13 years, 14 to 15 and 16 to 17, and there have been 35 players involved since its inception.

Ifill has taken a very much hands-on approach in a coaching sense and, along with the two other coaches who assist him, has focused on enhancing the skills, both physically and mentally, of those under their tutelage.

And if there is one thing the academy has taught Ifill it is that there are a very healthy number of young Wairarapa footballers with the drive and enthusiasm to make a decent name for themselves in the sport.

"Those who are there really want to learn, and they are prepared to work hard to get where they want to go. The improvement in some of them has been quite dramatic, you see them growing every session they have."

The Masterton academy is the second Ifill has established, with the first being in Nelson about 12 months ago. He regularly travels south to attend coaching sessions there and has already had a notable success with one of his pupils, 15-year-old Tullamore McFadyen, set to link with the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy next year.

McFadyen is fulsome in his praise of Ifill, rating his academy as one of the best things to have happened to Nelson football and labelling Ifill as a "real good coach".

"We both play striker and he's taught me a lot about what it means to be a professional and to be a better striker. " McFadyen was quoted as saying.

Ifill is now planning for a three-day school holiday programme to be held at Memorial Park from January 18 to 20. It will run from 9am to 3pm on all three days and be open to children aged from 9 to 11 and 12 to 14. This programme is not academy-based with Ifill hoping to attract many youngsters who have little, or no, knowledge of football but would like the chance to experience it in a fun atmosphere.

"We will be teaching the fundamentals but in a way which doesn't turn anybody off because we are too serious.The fun element will play a big part in how we go about things."