In the 1990s there were changing student and parent demographics and changing teachers. There the realisation that football opens many more business doors than rugby.
Football has been growing in GPS and CAS schools for a while now with the number of teams outnumbering the rugby sides in many GPS CAS schools.
Since the A-League, player numbers have exploded. The schools were once the exclusive domain of rugby.
Football has been steadily growing from small beginnings in the 90s. In the 2014 grand final Adam D’Apuzzo [WSW] and Matt McKay [Roar] started on opposing sides and both are private school graduates.
Newington College began talking to Sydney FC to develop a partnership a few years ago, and it is said that the next Harry Kewell will be from this program.
His name is Jamie Gorgovski and he has just made the Borussia Dortmund side as a junior. Australia should cap him if he is a talented as the below link indicates.
According to his school, they played a key role in his development.
“Jamie’s exploits with the GPS winning Newington College team played an essential part in his development. Playing with older players and some excellent fellow football technicians under the tutelage of Mr Justin Verco and Mr Brian Baker, honed his combative side against the might of Scots, St Ignatius’ and Joeys.”
“A real measure of his fanatical drive to succeed is that Jamie embraced challenges beyond his years. This will stand him very well in the heartland of industrial Germany”.
Scotts college is also boasting about its football programs. “In recent years, the College has employed a significant number of highly experienced coaching staff. These coaches are made up of a combination of teaching staff, Old Boys and professional coaches who are extremely passionate and dedicated to improving the standard of Scots Football.”
“Our focus is on the development of technical skills, physical attributes, fitness and the boys understanding of the game. There is also a strong emphasis on developing a sense of resilience and determination to do well and the importance of teamwork and social responsibility “
These schools are providing excellent coaching and provide brilliant facilities. I could go on and on.
A few years ago, many GPS/CAS schools entered the Bill Turner Cup and Trophy and in recent years the schools have done well. The Bill Turner Cup and Trophy is Australia’s biggest school competition, determining the top school in Australia for boys and girls football.
There are some Combined Associated Schools in Sydney where football is now bigger than rugby, including Cranbrook, Knox, Trinity and Waverley College. The Kings School at Parramatta often have football folk as key speakers and they had a partnership with the Mariners that has shifted to WSW.
Massimo Luongo went to private school and went back to see them during the Asian Cup. Tom Rogic is also from a private school. The funds these schools have to develop facilities has no equal and they have over the years provided many talented players to rugby union and to rugby league.
With the growth of football generally, I can only see football growing in these schools.
I will close with a quote from Craig Foster, “At an end-of-season breakfast for St Aloysius College this week, one father said to me that he played and loved rugby, and was surprised when his son expressed a wish to play football.”
“Now, after a year of being involved, he gets what all the fuss is about. The game is amazing, he said, it had been so good for his son’s growth and his new-found love of football had opened his eyes”.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
In relation to NZL, this article caught my eye over the weekend. Club rugby in New Zealand is facing a major crisis with teenagers turning their back on the game and local institutions struggling to survive. A move to football is one of the reasons behind the decline in NZL rugby participation. Auckland club rugby facing crisis as player numbers take significant hit Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/69752802/auckland-club-rugby-facing-crisis-as-player-numbers-take-significant-hit
Midfielder
Guest
Barry Very interesting post and in many ways historical in how tradition is developed I would argue the AFL over here is similar..
Barry
Guest
In NZ same all this is true, I remember my father saying in the 50's he had big crowds for football when he played at the highest level, something happened some where in between and I think it has to do with the old boys network that had a lot to say in the media and some business leaders in high places that could dictate what they want to see on TV, it has been like this for decades now so it has many tentacles in many pies which they now call tradition, it can change but it will be very slow to claw back - Nzer
Bondy
Its interesting when Midfielder writes an article, I find them to be enlightening or optimistic for the future of football in Australia its a shame others see it as almost disappointing ? ..
conchie
Roar Rookie
LOL passive aggressive.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Hmmmmm, wrong spot LOLz
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Some people need Prozac. Just sayin'
Midfielder
Guest
Be kind he is a very sad person, first he attacks a poster then brings up information that has little connection to what the thread is about.
Bondy
Guest
conchie And you only hop onto the Football Tab to whinge and bemoan the sport ....
Midfielder
Guest
conor I must clap your post ... however just a couple of minor errors ... I have not attacked or even commented re Brett over the KPI in fact we quite often have discussions please post and ask him ... second I went out of my way not to attack Rugby in fact I said many times Rugby was King and by a long way... what I said was Football is growing in these schools ... and I actually think that is correct ... Yes I did say Football opened more business doors than Rugby .... I think the statement is correct... I never said Football had more players who had gone on to greater honours simply that Football now had some ... I am glad some Rugby players earn more than Football players show me anywhere I said differently... or even mentioned it .. Just to correct another minor error re my thoughts on Rugby I mostly support it however for a while I have believed the running of Rugby has been very poor [ on this point I am not alone]... also just for the record my oldest son played Rugby at both school and on weekends where he made rep sides [about 12 years U 12 to his mid 20's] ... I have even acted as a kicking coach at my local park team and when time permits go and watch the Woodies play ... I am totally lost by anger in your post as I went out of my way to try and keep it to Football is growing in the GPS/CAS schools ...
conchie
Roar Rookie
Mid fielder will be a code warrior to the end, like his mate fuss and several others on here. I know some about private schools and i know many kids play soccer because of parental safety concerns, not really interested in sports but have to play something, they are to small, not athletic or are just simply unco. I think it is indisputable that kids are softer these days than in previous generations and are molley coddled by the nanny state, so it makes sense that they will play a game in large numbers that offers them this. The fact is, that no matter how many articles midfielder writes or what he wishes the status quo will remain, soccer people have been saying the same things over and over again for, in fact since before World War 1, in 20 years, in 20 years, in 20 years. The world game seems to have a very big chip on its shoulder in this country.
conor
Guest
So Midfielder are you saying that to achieve business opportunities you need to play football instead of rugby at GPS/CAS schools and therefore reap all the benefits of old boys networks in the finance industries or are you saying that the only way to make money overseas is to play football not rugby. You seem to take an inordinate amount of time on the Roar website knocking rugby ('damning with faint' praise according to Alexander Pope) and praising the latest FFA 30 year plan and attacking Brett McKay because he can't answer your KPI questions .May be you should ask David Gallop for KPIs, who from his Canberra ALP days, seems to hate rugby with a vengeance. I presume David Gallop never made the first XV at Canberra Grammar.. You make it as a badge of honour for football that Massimo Luongo from Waverley College is playing overseas - first at Swindon Town in 3rd Division and now in with Crystal Palace in the Championship League (behind the Premier League). Do you understand that Matt Giteau from St Edmund's College, Canberra, the sister Christian Brothers College to Waverley, is the highest paid rugby player in France, earning more than $ 2million per year playing for Toulon in the south of France - certainly a much more attractive location than Swindon in England. Other rugby players who went to GPS/CAS as well as state high schools who are reaping the benefits as the same amount of money as Australian football players overseas but also a better quality of life and team environment - there is no comparison between living in France as a rugby player and living as a football player in terms of community interaction; are Digby Ioane - Stade Francais, Paris - 80,000 spectators at Stade de France 2 weeks ago in their final against Clermont Auvergne Hugh Pyle - Stade Francais Brock James - Clermont Auverngne Matt Giteau - Toulon Drew MItchell - Toulon Blair Connor - Bordeaux-Begles Ben Mowen - Montpeliier Anthony Hegarty - Grenoble Ben Hand - Grenoble Nick Vanderglas Grenoble Kane Douglas - Leinster Ben Teo - Leinster Dean Mumm - Exerter and after the Rugby World Cup Adam Ashley-Cooper - Bordeaux- Begles Sekope Kepu - Bordeaux- Begles Quade Cooper - Toulon Cliff Palu - Japan Will Genia - Stade Francais James Horwill - Harlequins And your confrere Rob Gremio might not know that Berrick Barnes (ex Ipswich Grammar) who was named Japan's Top 14 Player of the year last year earns more than Josh Kennnedy did in the J-League. So I don't think every rugby player in Australia has to change to footballifthey don't wanr to.
Midfielder
Guest
Nail head pertaining to getting kids off computers… oldsmallno5 TBH I think the GPA/CAS schools have in many ways been detrimental for Rugby with the key reason the school programs have taken preference over the local park clubs especially parents making it very hard for local park Rugby clubs to compete with other codes local park teams. As you suggest maybe on the Rugby thread someone should write something about the future challenges faced by Football and AFL willing to pay for fields and coaching staff… Thanks for your information it was interesting to see from a Rugby person eyes.
oldsmallno5
Guest
Midfielder, Thanks and until now I had never heard of the Bill Turner Cup/Trophy! That looks like a tremendous comp for both boys & girls. Lots of 'logistics' for Mums & Dads there! How about an international footnote? During the school holidays Real Madrid (even I have heard of them) will be holding coaching clinics (for both players and coaches) on the Newington soccer pitches. Of course Ronadlo & co will NOT be there but there is a fair chance of "upside" for all concerned. Didn't Chelsea (on an end of season party trip) sell out the Olympic stadium a couple of weeks ago? Tradition will evolve and no point in trying to turn the tide. Know what........we all probably just want our kids to get away from the play station, run around, get some fresh air and if they display natural ability give them the chance to develop it if they want. He he......if the ball is the wrong shape and there are no scrums/lines-out then this Dad (and others) are just having to deal with it! :-)
Midfielder
Guest
oldsmallno5 That's a great post and I understand when you said Rugby in the GPS/CAS should be in a Rugby thread not a Football thread... I put this in a Football thread and wrote only or mainly about Football to explain the growth of Football and how A-League teams especially in Sydney are working with the schools . Further although maybe lost in discussion but the effect of the Bill Turner Cup and Trophy [ http://www.billturnersoccer.com.au ] has had. The same client I spoke about who is a + 25 years teacher at Barker told me he thinks as the Bill Turner Cup & Trophy becomes better understood and accepted ... this will become the competition all GPS/CAS schools will most want.. But as for how this effect Rugby I agree this is for a Rugby thread as most on the Football thread would have little appreciation of the connection and ties between Rugby and the GPS/CAS schools.
oldsmallno5
Guest
As a matter of record Newington this term fielded 22 RU teams across all age-groups. They fielded 35 football/soccer teams. Of course RU is 15 per team & soccer 11 a side BUT every soccer team has 4 or 5 reserves for every team. The RU teams always need lads to 'stay back' to cover reserves. There are more boys at Newington playing the round ball game. Per my pevious posts I'm a rusted on RU ex-player/fan and do not want to see GPS rugby slowly fade into oblivion. It will though, unless something is done about the whole GPS rugby comp but that is not a discussion for a football/soccer forum. Football is building 'old boy networks' and we are seeing GPS boys in the A league. WSW defender & OZ U20 rep Johnathon Aspropotamitis.........ex Newington. Who is youth coach or something at WSW? Ian Crook who was fairly briefly on the staff at Newington. I'd venture to suggest Jon A's stature as an 'old boy' rivals that of Tepai Moeroa. Over time GPS old boys playing pro-soccer will have an honour board to rival say GPS Wallaby reps, there is a lot of catching up to do (about 150 years worth) but Soccer is going in that direction.
oldsmallno5
Guest
I'd agree with Nicholas Rupolo re Joeys and the strength in depth they have in RU is indicative of strength of the tradition (and possibly the number of 'boarders') Joeys would likely field say 5/6/7 U14 RU teams where they would expect the A XV to play A XV GPS opposition. However Joeys U14 D XV might well be matched against other GPS B's or C's and in my experience would win far more often that they would lose! Managing the fixture lists for the GPS RU comp must be a nightmare for the school staff as they try to find fair & safe matches for all teams in all age-groups. Safety is critical of course in all sport but the scope for a dangerous mis-match in RU is obviously much greater than in football. With the age-group lower grade GPS football (soccer) that I watch, being as far from a soccer fan as it is possible to get, a couple of things strike me 1. The boys are getting their compulsory sport representing the school in the 'traditional way' but doing it largely with smiles on their faces. As a long retired RU player there is nothing worse than watching lads playing RU that don't want to be out there. 2. There is a developing culture of admiration for the lads that play in the school 1st XI. RU 1st XV players have always been school 'heros' but the soccer lads are catching up fast. Who knows the day may come when the main GPS 'ovals' sport soccer goals rather than RU posts but I kinda hope the RU tradition is not completely lost. As I posted previously I think in some GPS schools RU will become a niche sport. Still strong at top level but niche. Football/Soccer has arrived and has not finished its developement!
Midfielder
Guest
Rob Interesting it appears to be the same in Brisbane as well as Sydney.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
A mate of mine did his teaching prac at Ipswich Grammar School in Qld, and told me that his supervising teacher was almost in tears as he realised that Rugby was no longer the most popular sport at his school. He was devastated, by all accounts. The trend will continue, I reckon. I recall reading articles about the Brisbane GPS Rugby competition where most of the young home-grown talent was being frozen out by the scholarship players from the Pacific Islands. If that isn't addressed, then there is a very good chance that those kids will move to football as they see their prestigious First XV become unattainable, while football continues to grow in status. I no longer live in Brisbane, and it was a long time ago that I was at school, so can anyone provide an update on that situation? In short, I think Midfielder is onto something. He normally is...
Midfielder
Guest
Nicholas The schools I have been advised are Cranbrook, Knox, Trinity and Waverley College were Football has greater player numbers than Rugby ... and even at these schools Rugby is still the King... Please understand I am in no way saying Football today is even close to challenging Rugby in the GPS/CAS schools however its position relative to say 2000 and say 1990 is mega... Further facilities and coaching at these schools is excellent and that will help Football...