COURTNEY TO COACH 15A ‘BURNERS

THE Blackburn Football Club has announced Courtney Young as its Under 15A coach for 2014 – and she is just 19-years-old.

Young has a fantastic coaching CV, coaching Blackburn’s Under 12 girls’ team for the past two years while also assisting with the Club’s Under 14A team this year.

Young, an accredited Level 1 coach, was the first female player at the club. She became one of the best female footballers in the country, highlighted by her inclusion in the All-Australian Under 18 Youth Girls team in 2012.

Blackburn president Mick Johnson says the club was thrilled to have someone of Young’s calibre at the club and is proud to appoint her as the Under 15A’s coach for 2014.

‘Courtney has already gained huge respect of the players and parents at the club, with a number of parents recommending that the club appoint her as the coach of their boys in 2014,’ Johnson said.

‘The Blackburn Football Club has an active program of promoting female involvement in football, with a large number of girls playing at the club and females involved in administrative roles.

‘This appointment is a further step in the recognition of the important role that females can play in football.’

Young’s coaching skills have been acknowledged well beyond the club.

She was named the AFCA Central Region Female Coach of the Year in 2013 and was a finalist at the recent Victorian awards, where she was acknowledged as one of the best female coaches in the state. Well-known coach Mark Williams, the guest speaker at the awards, acknowledged Courtney’s achievements in his speech.

The Oakleigh Chargers have also appointed her as an assistant coach to their Under 15 program.