MURRAY United has continued to establish itself in both the Border soccer community and National Premier League, affiliating itself with A-League club Melbourne City.
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Senior coach James Coutts will conduct clinics in a number of local primary schools with the assistance of the A-League franchise.
Melbourne City have provided equipment for the club, leaving Coutts excited about what was to come for the growing NPL franchise.
“It's a massive step forward for us,” he said.
“We sat down at the end of last year and made a conscious effort to plan the upcoming season both on and of the field.
“Forming those links with a massive A-League club is a big off-field development.
“Getting into the schools as much as possible and promoting the game in the region is something we really believe in.
“We want to be involved with the community as much as we can in the future, we place a lot of importance on it.”
Coutts said the affiliation was another way for regional players to progress through to the highest level of football in Australia.
“The long term goal would be for a Murray United player to be playing A-League football with Melbourne City,” he said.
“These small steps that we're taking now are something that will really benefit the club in the years to come.
“It's also a part of the long-term stability of the club and football in the region.”
In further good news for the club, recently re-signed senior player Ashley Dunn has signed on as coach of the under-18s for the upcoming season alongside Jeff Ryan.
Dunn brings plenty of experience for the role, including time spent under the watchful eyes of the famous ‘Class of '92’ during his time at English club Salford City.
“I hadn't really been interested in coaching when I was back in England,” he said.
“But seeing the way United are going about it, it became something I wanted to get involved with.
“Obviously training under guys like Peter Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes was a bit of an eye-opener as well.
“Hopefully I can put some of the things they taught me to good use.
“There's a great group of young players coming through the ranks.”
Murray United will play a practice match against the Moreland Zebras on Saturday at La Trobe.
