Max Hatzoglou
Calder United has started off their National Premier League campaign strongly as it focuses on succeeding at all levels this season.
United had a 0-0 draw in their first game against Box Hill United although they came out strongly in round two, defeating FV Emerging 4-0 to put them in second position on the ladder.
Club president Amanda Stella, who has been at the club since it was established in 2016, said that the club is pushing for success in the junior levels as well.
“As always (we are pushing for the cup), everyone wants us to win premierships and cups but we also have a bit of a focus this year on developing junior players,” Stella said.
“We promoted about eight of our under 19’s into our senior squad this year so the focus is also towards developing players for the future.
Stella said the club has also grown in recent times.
“I love the club, we have a great pool of volunteers and committee and coaches,” she said.
“This year we’ve expanded our football department so our juniors are probably in the best shape that they have been in for a long time, getting a lot of success on the pitch and a lot of happy families and players off the pitch.”
United is going for its fifth straight Nike FC CUp this year after dominating the tournament in the last four years.
The club also won the NPL’s last home and away premiership in 2019 before Covid interrupted the competition.
Stella said this preseason period had been long for the players after last season was brought to an end early due to Covid.
“The preseason seemed to be very long with 2021 interrupted and canceled early on and then preseason starting a lot earlier just because the girls wanted to come back, it felt like preseason went forever,” she said.
“Many teams probably had a lot of interruptions over that Christmas, New Year period, we had a lot of players who unfortunately did have covid and it took a few weeks for them to get back to their normal sort of fitness.
“By mid-February, we were back to practice games and all the squad was back so it’s been good.
“Although it’s been long, it’s been great to have the girls back playing.”
