March 3rd 2010
United Nations in Byron Bay to play the world game.
Byron Bay has been attracting tourists from all over the world for many years and as we know many stay and settle. This season the Byron Bay Rams Premier League football squad has attracted gifted players from all over the planet to play what is called the world game. It's still called Soccer by many here in Australia and the US however the rest of the world is passionate about "their" game called Football.
The Rams have just signed players from Singapore, Ireland, Brazil, Switzerland, New Zealand, United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and 2 brothers from Sudan in Africa. They've also been trialing a player from France and one from Spain.
Head coach Peter Ware (originally from Scotland) commented it is fantastic to have such a diverse squad that has so much combined international experience. The new squad has been training together for over a month while the coaching staff has been doing selection trials. The local lads love playing with the 'internationals" and can learn so much from each other's different playing styles.
With a few top-flight players going overseas or interstate in the off season to pursue careers in professional leagues and some other lads moving, Byron Bay FC took the decision to build their ranks with talented youth players from the region and develop them to the highest level. "Peter Ware said "we did the same thing several years ago, restructured the squad and had five exceptional lads aged only seventeen in the top grade Premier team, then went on to win the Championship!"
This season the club pushed hard to attract talented youth age players from all over the Far North Coast and to become a centre of excellence for developing youth football. The word got out and a host of ex-representative and other talented youth players from Lismore, Ballina, Alstonville, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Ocean Shores and rural areas everywhere in between will now playing for the Byron Rams.
"We are looking to the future so this year we want our Premier League reserves team to be all aged under 21 if possible." Peter Ware added. "I'm really happy with the new squad and we've been surprised with the huge array of emerging talent that we have found. "Its great to see them all pushing the envelope at training with regards their skills development. There is a really enthusiastic vibe with everyone really enjoying playing the best football they can amongst other young talented players."
"I'm also pretty happy with the new patterns and combinations we've been working on and now we are just "tweaking" the younger lads' mental and physical toughness in readiness for the pre-season Anzac cup".
In another new development for the Rams, the Premier League squad will enter in the Northern NSW FA knock out competition in the next few weeks. The Club is "buzzing" with the way the new squad is shaping up so far and looking forward to a great season.