WODONGA Diamonds cup and league-winning gaffer Jimmy Bell was one of six United junior coaches named ahead of its first NPL season.
Bell, who will coach the under-15 squad, was joined at the future home ground by Azar Balbul, under-18 boys; Daniel Foden, under-16 boys; Ian Johnson, under-14 boys and Jeff Ryan, under-12 boys.
James Dexter (not pictured above) will coach the under-13 boys.
The club will soon name its senior and under-20 coaches.
Murray United president Mark Byatt said yesterday that the junior coaches would be the ones who would produce the senior footballers of the future.
“This moment represents a point when the Murray United starts to take shape,” he said.
“Selecting the right coaches has been critical to the club’s future — under-12s, under-13s in four or five years time are our senior players.
“To have an elite group of coaches who are experienced and well qualified allows us to provide a platform to create interest among young players who want to be a part of this and ensures we have an elite standard of coaching.”
Byatt said it had been a rigorous selection process.
“Not only did they have to submit formal applications but had to go through practical and training exercises and one-on-one interviews by the sub-committee,” he said.
“They now have some pretty tight timelines but it is up to them to cultivate the players and their squads to be game ready next February.”
Story and image thanks to The Border Mail.
