Bruce McGhie (left) and Matt Kilsby get in some practice at Wembley Park, which is to host training programmes. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO240913WCSMCENTRAL - FOOTBALL1
A passion for football is a major tool newly appointed development officer Matt Kilsby will employ to grow the game from the grassroots in Wanganui.
English-born Kilsby was headhunted from the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region by Central Football to act as game development officer for Wanganui specifically.
Central Football deputy
chairman Bruce McGhie said in the past development officer duties had been stretched to cover far larger portions of the organisation's catchment area.
While Kilsby had played "a little" back in his homeland, he had learned his coaching craft in New Zealand since arriving seven years ago. His latest posting was coach of Waikato-Bay of Plenty.
"We headhunted Matt from Waikato-Bay of Plenty and his job will be to concentrate solely on Wanganui grassroots football through the schools and clubs," McGhie said. "Wanganui is a sleeping giant for talent and Matt's job will be to expose that talent and guide it through the grades." Kilsby will alternate between hosting training programmes on school grounds and the Wembley Park football complex. "Wanganui has some excellent sporting venues and I've seen many other football complexes around the country, but none compare with what you have available at Wembley Park," Kilsby said.
