Tara Murray
Upfield is confident it is up for the challenge in the FV state league 1 north-west competition.
Having been promoted after winning state league 2 north-west last season, Upfield president Wally Hanna said there was plenty of excitement about the club.
“State league 1 is the highest that we have ever been,” he said.
“We’re the second highest team in the municipality and we want to keep pushing up the ranks and pushing [Hume] council to upgrade our facilities.
“The success of our senior sides has seen our junior numbers grow. We now have more juniors than seniors.”
Hanna said their senior side would be very different looking to the team that won the state league 2 north-west title last season.
He said while they wanted to add some fresh faces, rule changes meant they had to look to bring in others.
“We’ve got about 10 new players,” he said.
“Last year we had a lot of players on visas, this year the requirements are clubs can only have four and the rest have to be local players.
“We’ve signed some good players from the NPL [National Premier League]. We’ve signed players from Heidelberg United, Northcote, Manningham City. Quality players that a lot of programs are after them.”
Hanna said it hadn’t been the easiest pre-season with their ground not ready and having to train elsewhere
He said on field they have big expectations, while still keeping the community feel at the club.
“The squad is looking good and we should be strong this year,” he said.
“We are looking at the top four, top two. We want to be an NPL side.
“If we can get promoted this year, we’ll be an NPL side which is good. We want to have a junior NPL program as well.”
Upfield’s first official match will be this weekend as it faces Hoppers Crossing in the third round of the Australia Cup.
After a deep run last year in the competition, Hanna is keen to see a repeat.
“We played Hoppers Crossing two weeks ago in a friendly, winning 2-0.”
Meanwhile in other round three matches, Hume United has been drawn to face the Doncaster Rovers, while Greenvale United is hoping to continue its run against North Melbourne Athletic.
Epping City enters the competition with a match against Rosebud, while Whittlesea United will face Albion Rovers and Lalor United will play Monash City Village.
La Trobe University and nearby Uni Hill Eagles will play each other, while Mill Park will host the Casey Comets.
Whittlesea Ranges, which was relegated from the National Premier League competition, will play Endeavour United,
