Earlier this month Stanton’s youth team collected the NSW NPL 2 League and Championship double and in the process gained promotion to NPL 1 after finishing top of the Club Championship.

But while the silverware makes the trophy cabinet look full, Stanton says the more pleasing aspect is that three of his players have the opportunity to make their A-League debuts this season.

“The trophies are nice,” he said,” “But the highlight is we have George Timotheou, who is inside the 23-man senior squad as well as Charles Lokolingoy and Bai Antoniou who are scholarship players for next season so they are part of the squad as well.”

“We’ve got players who can progress further up the ladder and are going to be involved in training with the first team and if they do really well maybe play games.”

Sydney FC head coach Graham Arnold said the Sky Blues have a few more in the youth team who have the ability to make the step up to the senior squad.

“The last two years I’ve worked hard to build a culture at Sydney FC in and around the team and in the club to bring kids through,” he said.

“It’s the same as what I tried to do when I was at the Mariners. It was to bring through the Maty Ryans, Bernie Ibinis, Mitchel Dukes, Mustafa Aminis, Trent Sainsburys – all of them.

“I’ve worked closely with Rob Stanton, and he has done fantastically well in the NPL. And I confidently say now I’ve got six or seven kids that could easily play first team football from next week.”

One of those players who could progress is 19 year old Congolese-born striker Charles Lokolingoy, who after finishing the NPL 2 season with 27 goals in 25 games, is hoping to take his game to the next level.

“In the long term I want to play first grade and be a professional footballer,” he said.

“I just need to keep scoring and doing well for the team. If I do really well then Europe is also a dream. I just have to do the simple things here first and then be ready for Europe.”

Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata said the ultimate goal of the youth academy is to have players from the youngest age group progress to the senior ranks.

“Our whole strategy was about having Sydney FC boys from 13 onwards eventually playing in our first team and becoming home grown players,” he said. “That hasn’t happened before and it’s a big investment by the club.

“The academy has been going now for 12 months it’s been a big success, we ended up winning the U20’s, we won the seniors as well and we got promoted to NPL 1 as club champions. It’s just gone very well and that’s what we wanted.”

Image courtesy of Football NSW