Tara Murray
Everything Upfield touches is turning to gold in the FV state league 2 north-west season.
Having earned promotion at the end of last season, Upfield has made an instant impact in the higher division.
The side sits in second spot undefeated, but has a game in hand on ladder leaders. The club is also still alive in the Australia Cup.
The side is one of two state league 2 sides left in the competition, the lowest ranked.
Club president Wally Hanna said they were thrilled with how the season was turning out so far.
“We’re currently the most successful team in Hume,” he said.
“It’s going really well. It’s our first year in state league 2 and we’re sitting undefeated. In the cup, we have a game this week in round six.
“It would be good to win and if we get through to round seven we are in the top 10 clubs in Victoria [outside of A-League sides].
Hanna said they weren’t surprised at how they had taken to playing at the higher level. He said the aim this season was to get promoted.
“We think we are good enough to win the championship,” he said.
‘The team has been together two or three years and we’ve added some quality to it. We’re gelling really well.”
Earning promotion this season is the start of their long term plan. Hanna said they had big ambitions.
“We are excited and we’re pushing to be promoted and become semi-professional,” he said.
“In a few years we want to be an NPL [National Premier League] club. That’s our plans for the future.
“We’ve worked to build a good reputation for the club and there’s lots of people talking about good things about what we’re doing.”
The state league isn’t the only focus for Upfield, making it deeper in the Australia Cup than it has ever been before.
Upfield will play state league 1 side Whittlesea United on Wednesday night at Gilwell Park in Lalor.
Hanna said they would take plenty of confidence into the game. He was also expecting a big number of their fans to be at the game as it’s nearby.
“We want to show the investment that we’ve made in the club,” he said.
“We’ve beaten two state league 1 sides to get this far, we fear no club. It will be a good experience to be there.
“Football Victoria is streaming the game and it can be watched Australia-wide.”
Hanna said not only was the senior program going well, but the juniors and women’s sides were also thriving.
The side will face Epping City on Friday night in round nine of the state league season.
