Glory receive development boost via NPL
Perth Glory's development pathway will receive a boost when the A-League club enters a team in the new WA National Premier League, which starts next year.
State leagues around the country have been rebranded under the NPL banner as part of a national restructure devised by Football Federation Australia.
The restructure was a direct outcome of the national competitions review, completed in May 2012.
The revamp of second-tier soccer has been implemented to assist in creating a more consistent national structure for the country's various State league competitions.
It is intended to raise the standard of the game nationwide through structural reform, increased coaching standards and better community engagement, while boosting the commercial position of State league clubs.
The NPL rebrand has already been implemented in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
Football West will follow suit next year, with 11 current State league clubs joining Glory in the WA NPL.
Glory coach Alistair Edwards was heavily involved in developing FFA's national curriculum, which was a key driver behind the NPL.
Edwards said Glory's NPL team would provide major benefits for the club's developing stars, while also adding to the fabric and structure of the club.
"It will allow the younger players in our squad to play year-round football," Edwards said.
"They need to have an environment - and the State league is a very good environment - for them to play year-round football so that they can stay in the country.
"It's in line with every other country in the world, because nowhere else is there only a six-month season."
Football West received 25 applications for entry to the NPL, of which 20 were for next year and five for the first phase of expansion.
The strength of club applications has prompted Football West to consider bringing forward to 2015 expansion plans initially scheduled for 2016.
Of the current State Premier League clubs, only Bunbury were not granted a spot in the NPL when successful clubs were approved by the Football West board yesterday.
The WA NPL will include Glory, Armadale, Balcatta, Bayswater City, Cockburn City, ECU Joondalup, Floreat Athena, Inglewood United, Perth SC, Sorrento, Stirling Lions and Subiaco.
State League Division Two club Subiaco were granted entry and have committed to playing home games at the WA Athletics Stadium, which opened in 2009.
WA's inaugural NPL senior winner will play off against top clubs from other States in a knockout format to determine the Australian NPL champion club.
