The establishment of the NYL has created a clear pathway for elite young footballers to professional football.

Already, the competition has produced many promising footballers: Sean Rooney, Brendan Gan, Scott Neville, Rhyan Grant, Kofi Danning and Michael Marrone, to name a few, and with around 150 quality players tied to NYL contracts, the future of the A-League is bright.

FourFourTwo's resident youth league expert, Arabella Vaughan, caught up with some of the stars of the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC youth teams last weekend...

 FFT: So, what's a typical week like in the National Youth League?

Sam Munro (Sydney FC): Exactly like a professional team. We only have one day off a week and we train every afternoon. We're only a semi-pro team but really we're actually a professional team. We train every day just like the A-League and we just try to follow exactly what they do.

Nathan Sherlock (Central Coast Mariners): For us it's probably three or four days of training. We've got a good bunch of guys together so it's a good intensity. The last couple of weeks we've been fortunate enough to have the [A-League] guys here and Graham [Arnold]. The more time we get with them the better.

Panny Nikas (Central Coast Mariners): We train differently depending on the week and the days between each game. There's a couple of days rest and we just build up to the game. Luckily enough if have a home game we don't have to travel but if we do [have an away game] we're probably travelling the day before and coming back on the same day.

FFT: Coming into the season, did you feel any pressure because Sydney FC won the NYL Premiership last season?

SM: I didn't feel any pressure but I know some of the other boys coming in did. Every game we played this season we were a chance to win.

Iain Ramsay (Sydney FC): We had a great start but about midway through we went a bit flat. Towards the end we started getting results but it was disappointing today [March 6] to draw.

FFT: Have you seen any signs that new Mariners coach Graham Arnold will be bringing in any youth players next season?

NS:  Obviously Graham's got his own plans and hopefully we're part of that. Everyone's excited he's here with the experience he brings.

Brady Smith (Central Coast Mariners): I haven't had a talk to Graham Arnold and I don't think anybody else has so I don't see any signs

 FFT: What about Sydney FC, do you think Viteszlav Lavicka is looking to bring up any NYL players next season?

SM: I'm hoping so but last year they signed a lot of young boys. Hopefully I can get my chance but if not I can look somewhere else.

FFT: You've qualified for the finals, do you think you can go through and win the grand final?

NS: Oh definitely. We sat down at the start of the year and thought we wanted to finish [in the] top 4. But we've done that one better. You've only got to win two games to win the final so I think we really can do it.

BS: I think we can. We've got that depth in our squad. On our day we can beat just about anyone.

FFT: This is your second season in the NYL, do you think the standard has improved?

NS: Definitely. Not taking anything away from season one from our team or the other teams.

BS: Yeah, I know our squad's improved.

FFT: What are your football goals for the next few years?

NS: The first one is to get fit again and stay injury free. A pro deal somewhere would be nice.

PN: I think for every player the main thing is to improve every year. I'm not eligible for the youth league next season so I'm now looking for a professional contract in a good environment under a good management.

SM: Definitely to get a pro contract. And just to keep playing. I play it for the love of the sport and that's the main reason I get my drive.

IR: Obviously to get a pro contract in the A-league. Work hard and stay there for a couple of years. Who knows what the future holds.