Youth open training starts on Wednesday at 5pm at Wodonga’s La Trobe University for under 16s down to under 12s

Further sessions will be held on November 1, 4, 11 and 18, with the aim of filling teams in the under 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s.

Open training for players looking to play in junior age groups (under 11 and below) will be held at a separate time and location.

Newly-appointed senior coach Elliot Jones will begin the hunt for players for the under 18s, under 20s and senior squads, with training to begin on Tuesday, November 7 at the Cadell Street fields in Albury.

Sessions will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in November, concluding on Thursday, November 30.

Senior players must be registered by November 3.

Murray United Technical Director Adam Carty said the club’s junior and youth program only exists because players have a dream of becoming better footballers.

“Murray United wants to actively support the development of the next NPL, A-League and national team superstars,” Carty said. 

“The club is the region’s only official national pathway, with strong relationships with both Football Federation Victoria and A-League clubs.”

An added boost for the young talent next season is the fact Murray United’s under 15s and under 18s sides will be playing against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory teams.

“There is no better pathway, platform or opportunity than to place yourself in front of youth coaches at A-League clubs on a regular basis,” Carty said.

The junior season commences in March and concludes in September across 27 rounds.

All Murray United junior teams will only travel to Melbourne on eight occasions, with 18 matches played at home and one away match at another regional area. 

Jones’ aim for the senior team is to promote and support local talent.

“I’ve spoken to a number of players outside of the Murray United fabric that are local, and I’m hoping to get some guys down who want to test themselves and see how they go,” Jones said.

“I’d like to think I have a good relationship with all coaches from the AWFA and would like to work with each AWFA club and its coaches.

“It’s certainly not an ‘us versus them’ mentality, we’d like to strengthen relationships with those clubs and that will be one thing I’ll be trying to do.”

Carty added Murray United also wants to support the growth of regional coaches. 

“Not only for those that want to move their career further, but also coaches who want to grow and stay regionally,” Carty said.