George Cross FC Make Coaching Deal With DF Football

Caroline Springs George Cross Football Club have announced a collaboration with advanced coaching group, DF Academy for the 2026 season.

DF Academy (aka DF Football) is specialist football training group with programs run professional ex-footballer, Western United coach and Pro Licence Coach, Diogo Ferreira.

The deal will see DF Football players enter the DF group and participate in George Cross’ Youth Premier League program in the 2027 season.

Also, George Cross FC will also gain access to coaching resources and assistance from Pro Licence/A-League coaches to enrich the club’s players’ development, and coaching standards across all levels.

DF Football Founder and Head Coach, Diogo Ferreira decided to collaborate with George Cross FC as he comes from the area the football club called home.

“The type of coaching we do is similar to what goes into professional level football,” he said to Soccerscene.

Diogo Ferreira has an extensive career in football, with roles in present and past professional football which he translates into his coaching and training of players from junior to senior to professional football.

DF Football are offering programs as young as U8s all the way to U14s for young footballers to attempt to enter DF Football, and U18s for some programs, however, not every footballer who receives training will transfer to the DF Football team.

DF Football and Sydenham Park Soccer Club have an exclusive partnership where they train junior footballers across the country.

The DF Football Academy Program

The DF Football Academy Program offers young football players weekly training set during the school terms, providing professional training based on skill level.

The program is designed to let footballers express themselves while in a challenging environment to achieve the best conditions for personal development, advertised on the DF Football website.

Players will develop their strength and speed on-field, ball manipulation, injury prevention, movement and mobility in each session with an hour dedicated to a specific aspect of the game per week.

The final term of the year of the Academy Program has already begun and will end in mid-December.

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Scalzo and Wilks Join Marconi Stallions as Back of Shorts Sponsor

The Marconi Stallions FC have confirmed that Scalzo & Wilks Group will be their back of shorts sponsor for their Australian Championship campaign. 

The announcement was posted on Facebook on the 10th of October, ahead of their inaugural Australian Championship match on the 12th of October against Heidelberg United FC. 

This is yet another exciting collaboration from the club ahead of the Australian Championship season, with the Marconi Stallions also posting on their Facebook a partnership with Bialetti as their front of shorts sponsor. 

“With a strong reputation built on trust, quality and innovation, Scalzo & Wilks Group joins us at a defining moment in our club’s history as we continue to build toward a new era of Australian football excellence, “ said the Marconi Stallions via social media post. 

“We’re grateful to the team at Scalzo & Wilks Group for their partnership and commitment.”

Scalzo & Wilks Group is a company based in New South Wales, who provide various concreting solutions, and have done so since 2018. 

Scalzo & Wilks Group are involved in many projects across New South Wales, ranging from residential, commercial, aged care facilities, educational, and industrial projects. 

“At Scalzo and Wilks Group, we collaborate closely with clients to achieve high-quality concrete finishes using modern equipment and expert techniques,” can be found on their website. 

Scalzo and Wilks have yet to release a statement about their partnership with the Marconi Stallions, but have previously spoken about their view on collaboration.

“We believe in building lasting relationships and creating strong foundations both on-site and with the people we work with,” therefore explaining their mindset in terms of collaboration. 

With Scalzo & Wilks and Marconi Stadium only being 30 minutes from each other, this alliance also creates a sense of community around the area, as it is a local sponsorship. 

This collaboration being so local will boost both organisations amongst the community they are located, and will therefore be a beneficial agreement to both Marconi Stallions FC and the Scalzo & Wilks Group. 

Off the Pitch Podcast: Chris Shen on Martial Arts and Mental Strength

On Episode 14 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, sports psychologist and martial arts master Chris Shen explored the topics of mental health in athletes, his long martial arts journey and the psychology behind returning from injuries or a mistake in a particular match.

In what was an incredibly fun and insightful discussion, Shen spoke about Martial Arts and its connection with sports psychology, and explaining its importance particularly for footballers.

“Martial Arts and psychology bundle together really wonderfully. There are so many mental health benefits when practicing the Martial Arts but specifically for athletes there are so many both physical and spiritual benefits that come with it,” he said on the podcast.

“Whilst professional football sometimes prevents pro footballers from practicing so-called dangerous pursuits like rock climbing and mountain bike riding to prevent injury, I highly recommend footballers practicing martial arts of any kind.”

Combat sports have a role to play in the community as well as in the sporting realm and Shen explained this in more detail.

“Combats sports provide the opportunity for individuals to be able to really lead a life of virtue. You can take people off the streets, enrol them in a combat sport or martial art and as long as there is a good leader and a good culture, that individual comes out a better person than before.”

“It can lead people away from pursuits such as crime or even being a bad person in the community because of the rigorous practice, the camaraderie, and the virtues.”

Martial Arts has many benefits and purposes for athletes already engaged in another sport, particularly football, where discipline and a good mental state are keys to success on the pitch.

Click hear the full interview with Chris Shen, on Episode 14 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast – available on all major podcasting platforms.

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