Neil Kilkenny joins Football West to oversee FA Academy

Football West is delighted to announce the appointment of former Socceroo Neil Kilkenny to oversee its new Football Australia Academy.

Kilkenny joins Football West in a full-time role as a Football Development Officer, bringing his vast knowledge from two decades at the top.

Kilkenny began his professional career in the English Premier League with Birmingham City before making over 350 appearances for clubs such as Leeds United, Bristol City and Preston North End.

He returned to Australia in 2016 to join Melbourne City, played over 80 times for Perth Glory then moved to Western United where he helped the fledgling club win the 2021-22 A-League grand final in only its third year in the competition.

The past season he has been integral in Sorrento FC’s unbeaten State League Division One title success, pulling the strings in the Gulls midfield while doubling as assistant to head coach Steve McGarry.

Holding a UEFA A-Licence, Kilkenny coached at this year’s National Youth Championships for Boys and will take a WA U14s representative side to Jakarta next week for the Asiana Cup.

“I’m very excited about my role at the Academy and looking forward to the challenge of overseeing the coaching and development of the young players coming into the program,” he said.

“I began doing my (coaching) badges when I was playing as I knew this would be a natural progression for me.

“I know what it takes to be a professional footballer and it’s now my job to pass on that experience to all the youngsters coming into the Academy and help WA produce players for the national teams.”

The Football West-Football Australia Academy was launched last month. It aligns with Football Australia’s new 10-Year National Technical Strategy and is integrated with the advanced pathway program across the country.

It will cater for boys aged 12-15, with each team playing up a year in age, and the four Hyundai NTC girls teams for players aged 12-18.

The Academy marks an important step in the progression of Australia’s male and female player development pathway system.

It includes:

• the FIFA Talent Development Scheme
• National Youth Championships
• selection for the Australia U17 boys and girls national teams
• the identification, progression and mentoring of talented coaches within the program, and for those within local clubs across the state

Football West Policy and Advocacy Manager Gareth Naven, who will oversee the Academy with Kilkenny, said: “Neil brings his expertise and understands what it takes to be a professional footballer. 

“He has experience you cannot buy – he knows what it’s like to be one of the small number who make it, so he understands the journey. 

“The other acumen Neil brings are his skills and his attitude to football. There are so many benefits for the young players who will join the Academy and Football West is lucky to have him. Make no mistake, it gives us a lot of credibility in the type of people we want to bring into this program.”

Football West recently concluded trials for the first intake of players for the Academy.

It will soon announce its team of coaches for both the boys and girls programs.