NSWPL to be graced by a genuine star in 2009
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
MANLY United FC this week confirmed former Manchester City star Spencer Prior will play in the 2009 TeleChoice NSW Premier League.

In what will be a massive boost to the profile of the progressive club and the league in general the big central defender – who played more than 230 English Premier League games with City, Norwich and Leicester as well as several seasons in the English Championship with hometown club Southend United – has been training the house down with the peninsula club.



Head coach Phil Moss said Prior would combine playing with his assistant coaching duties.



“When I approached ‘Spence’ about coming on board as my assistant, he flagged the idea of having a run as well and we both went away and thought long and hard about it,” Moss said.



“He has nothing left to prove after a fantastic career but his desire to play and win is still as strong as ever. He wanted to play last year but things didn’t work out.



“We have lost a few defenders from last year in Roberto Hamad, Pascal Julliard and Adam Israel so I was looking for a central defender who could bring some experience to the backline and the dressing room.



“I don’t mind saying I feel like we have hit the jackpot with Spencer – he is already having an incredible impact around the place both on and off the field.



“Everything he does is done with intensity and a winning mentality and that is right up my alley. I want the other players to feed off that.



“He will definitely be a drawcard at Cromer Park and around the grounds in the NSWPL and is probably one of the biggest stars to play in the league for a long, long time. He will be the NSW Premier League’s very own marquee player.



“We have kept things a little quiet to see how he got through the first few weeks of pre-season but he has been leading the way in all aspects of our program from fitness to ballwork and I’m extremely confident he will take the field next season.”



Prior, 37, came through his first real test this week during Manly United’s 3-1 victory over the Sydney FC Youth team at Macquarie University.



While young midfielder Jamie Garside and strikers Robbie Cattanach and Craig Midgley grabbed the goals, it was Prior’s performance at the back – including a pinpoint 60m pass that set up the first goal of the game – that was the talking point.



Moss said while Prior will bring plenty of experience to the squad, one of his main objectives was to ensure that all young players learnt from a club-mate who has been to the very top level in club football.



“We are big on youth development at Manly United FC and a massive part of that is learning from senior players who have been there and done that,” the Manly United boss said.



“Our young defenders in particular will learn an incredible amount off someone like Spencer and I’ll be encouraging every player in the club to get to our games and study him on and off the field.



“He is not doing this coaching and playing gig for the money – I can assure you – he is doing it because he loves football and still has the legs, enthusiasm and passion to do it.”



Prior last played in the UK for Southend United in the English Championship in 2007, coached local Manly-Warringah Football Association premier league outfit Mosman in 2008 and has opened his own football gear distribution business – aptly named LoveFootball.



The game against Sydney FC was a chance for Manly United to run out new signings Prior, Scott Thomas and Josh Sama as well as have a look at some trialists including former AIS and Newcastle United NSL product Joel Grenell and ex-Manly United junior Joel Korocz.



Sixteen-year-old Lucas Neill Scholarship winner Joe Gibbs – who attracted interest from Ipswich and Blackburn during a recent trip to the UK - also made his first grade debut for the club during the match as well as playing a spell for the Sydney FC youth side earlier in the game.



“It was a great that (Sydney FC youth coach) Steve O’Connor agreed to the game during what is a busy schedule for them because it gave me a chance to run the eye over a few boys,” Moss said.



“I wanted a meaningful game to do that and Sydney certainly offered us that. Young Joey Gibbs is coming along nicely and I thought all our new players and trialists did well.”



Manly will now hit the beaches for a fortnight of intense soft-sand conditioning before a two-week break for Christmas and New Year starts on December 21.

bahahaha
not anymore now spencer prior is playing for the a-leauge:lol:

hahaha

Since when was there a team called A-League? :-s

Must be in the Romanian 5th division or something.