FFV's president talks NPL, FFA Cup
FFV's president Nick Monteleone sits down with Neos Kosmos for a one-on-one on the NPL season and the FFA Cup


26 Feb 2015
1. How did you see the NPL in 2014 and were you happy in its first year?

Given the short time frame it was an outstanding success.

The average age of players decreased significantly, whilst maintaining and increasing the quality of the football.

There was stability at coaching levels with many clubs supporting and helping the development of their coaches.

The media coverage through FFVTV and the use of social media was first class and well received.

The NPL goals were about building clubs and not just male teams. For the first time in the history of football in Victoria you cannot compete in the top tier unless you have the full complement of juniors from Under 12s to Under 18s, proving a complete pathway at each club.

The NPL embraced Victoria and travelling around the state you realise how much the state government and councils have invested in top-class facilities.

2. What do you expect in year two of the NPL ?

The NPL is a journey that will see the bar raised every year. We need stability and continued improvement on and off the field.

We need to build on the excitement of the Asian Cup by having increased investment in the game by clubs, FFV and FFA in attracting commercial sponsors and greater media coverage.

We need clubs to continue to support the development of coaches who are the football educators of the next generation.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has shown that Australia can produce world class coaches.

3. A lot of clubs are excited about the FFA Cup this year after its success last season. How do you see it?

It is particularly rewarding for me and the FFV. We have lobbied the FFA for a number of years. Seeing the benefits of connecting all levels of the game from amateur clubs to semi-professionals and the A league.

FFV management worked extremely hard with clubs to ensure that games in Victoria were of the highest standard.

The coverage in the Herald Sun and The Age was terrific, ABC radio and the commercial TV interest was unprecedented.

Watching Foxtel broadcast the Bentleigh Greens games and knowing that it was being broadcast across Australia was something to behold. As was the 3XY commentators perched on scaffolding broadcasting and sharing the excitement with over 3,000 spectators on a beautiful Melbourne evening.

The publicity for football and everyone at Bentleigh Greens including players, coaching staff, administrators and volunteers was well deserved.

I hope that greater sponsorship will flow to Bentleigh Greens as their major sponsor Zaparas Lawyers are now better known than Slater and Gordon.

My particular highlight was watching South Springvale play St Albans at Olympic Village in the Docherty Cup. The game went to extra time and penalties with the South keeper saving a penalty and then taking the next one to win the game with supporters singing to midnight. Only football can produce such magic.

On a final note, in my view the FFA should consider the winner of the FFA Cup being allocated a Asian Champions League place as a just reward.

Julius Davies scoring for Port Melbourne tonight.

It was actually Kamal Ibrahim not Julius, he did have the assist for the second goal though

North Geelong beating equal record holder of most Victorian championships Green Gully 6-1.

6-1= Regional clubs OUT?

Regional clubs who have earned promotion to the top level = fine...

Regional clubs parachuted into the top level = out.

Did Sarf Malbon end up winning?

Was 2-0 when I checked.

-PB

Get round the FFV! Amazing improvement on coverage this year with the outsourcing of filming to clubs and centralised highlights package.

Clubs were given a camera courtesy of the FFV to film games this year and submit footage, many clubs have extended highlights available on their own channels so support your team!

NPL1 last night

MV 3 Springvale White Eagles 1

Too easy.