Club eye big league return

New Wanganui Athletic 1sts coach Bryan Mackie, left, receives the header from club spokesman Peter James, watched at rear by club patron Bryan Stewart and new sponsor Bernie Reuters. Photo/Stuart Munro

For the young guns of Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic 1sts, the time has come to return to the big leagues.

After a self-chosen sabbatical to the lower Western Premiership grade in 2013 to develop new players and rebuild the squad, Wanganui AFC will be returning to the Lotto Federation League this season with a new coach, major sponsor and a couple of pale-faced academy players straight from the English winter.

The eight-team Federation League features teams from Wanganui, Taranaki, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, with the winner given the chance to qualify for the Central League of the greater Wellington area.

Bryan Mackie, a former coach of the Wanganui City development team, is taking over as Athletic 1sts head coach from Memo Musa and Mike Cronin.

The goal for 2014 was at least a Top 3 finish in the Federation League, then aiming to push for the top spot in 2015.

Pre-season training is starting as he will look to build on the positive efforts the Athletic team generated in the second half of their 2013 Western Premiership campaign - scoring a lot more goals and lifting themselves off the lower end of the table.

"I've seen a lot of them play, I know they've got potential and they've got the skill level required," Mackie said.

"With just seven weeks until the start of the season, we need to be out on the park now to give the boys enough time to get match fit and playing like a tight knit unit as a championship-winning side needs to."

The squad will be bolstered by the return of ex-National league players Josh and Troy Smith.

Mackie said he has planned where the nucleus of the squad will start, but will reserve final judgments until he sees what steps off the plane on Monday.

Wanganui AFC have entered an arrangement with a football academy in Surrey, so joining the squad will be Liam Roberts, 22 and Joseph Thomas, 23.

While he has yet to ascertain their abilities, Mackie said the pair have come straight from the English winter season and will be match fit.

"They bring a lot of experience to the squad, there will be a lot of people looking up to them."

Cronin said the pair have been set up with accommodation and a vehicle, and the club will look to involve them in coaching and related activities, helping them earn some "pocket money" by finding local employment.

Club spokesman Peter James is in no doubt the imports will strengthen the club's prospects.

"These young men are virtually professional footballers as they eat, sleep and drink the game at the academy."

James was an Athletics 1sts player when the team last competed in the upper echelon in the early 2000s.

"In the Central League days we brought out the Wye brothers - Shane and Lloyd - and they lifted the playing standard of the whole squad with the professionalism they brought.

"We are looking to repeat that effect with these lads.

"This is where the club has to be to provide the level of football Wanganui needs to promote the game in our town.

"It is our aim to be in back in Central League within one or two seasons."

Wanganui AFC confirmed Devon Homes as naming sponsor with owner Bernie Reuters pledging his support.

"I quite like the game and what better way to showcase it in our beautiful city than by helping a team like Athletic reach the highest level they can," Reuters said.

The men's 1sts team will look to follow Wanganui AFC's outstanding women's 1sts squad, who were brought together for the 2013 season and dominated the Manawatu league.

Coached by Dave Downes and containing standouts like Ella Wiebe and her German compatriot Tanja Grunworld, alongside a host of promising youngsters, the Athletic women scored 151 goals on their way to beating Wellington Stop Out in the home and away series for the 2014 Central League.

The men's Federation League kicks off April 5.