The Targeted Sports program at Endeavour Sports High School offers students a unique opportunity to combine their regular course of study with regularly scheduled training delivered by professional coaching staff from Australia’s most globally recognized and successful football club Sydney FC.
Under the unique partnership technical training is provided by qualified Sydney FC Academy coaches with academic and well being support offered by school staff dedicated to providing a first class coaching and learning experience for young players.
The program is fully aligned with the vision and philosophy of Sydney FC and is designed to provide additional training opportunities to support young players motivated to reach their potential while at the same time pursuing a first class education.
As part of the curriculum players participate in over 30 hours of practical content each term. The practical sessions are embedded into academic timetables and the program is underpinned by a culture of high expectations and academic excellence designed to support each player in reaching their full athletic and academic potential.
The program
- An Official Sydney FC Academy School
- Develops and Identifies talented student/athletes
- Has a full time football staff and resources
- Works closely with Sydney FC staff to ensure coaching reflects principles pursued by Sydney FC
- Designed to complement team/tactical training at clubs
- Fills in observable gaps of FFA National Curriculum
- Helps provide increased training volume to reflect World’s best practice.
Inclusions
Players receive:
- Up to 120 training sessions per year with content designed and delivered by qualified Sydney FC Academy Staff and scheduled around a rigorous academic program and supported by outstanding wellbeing and pastoral care programs.
- Sydney FC Under Armour branded training Apparel
- Flexible timetabling and academic support via a dedicated learning support program
- Access to the Sydney FC Academy digital player development and training load monitoring platform.
- Exclusive access to the Endeavour Sports High Performance Unit gym through dedicated football only and girls only strength and conditioning sessions
- Sport specific, age appropriate and individualised functional strength and conditioning programming
- Specialist Goalkeeper Coaching
- Opportunities to participate in Sydney FC Talent ID days, the Sydney FC Academy School Cup and Talent Monitoring Matches
- Opportunities to represent the school in the Puma Cup, Bill Turner Cup and Zone and State Futsal competitions
- Dedicated A League and W-League match day visits
- Opportunities to represent Sydney FC Academy schools at domestic and international tournaments
- Sydney FC Training ground visits to observe training and meet the players
- Access to HD tactical match footage on a dedicated online platform
- On site Physiotherapy services delivered by Jubilee Physiotherapy
- Access to the Endeavour Sports High Performance Unit and associated Student Athlete Support services including preferred providers and discounts on massage therapy, sports nutrition, podiatry and sports medicine services.
Facilities
- International size synthetic pitch
- 10 mini pitches for street football, 5 a-side or Futsal
- Indoor Futsal Court
- Fully equipped gymnasium
- Change room facilities
- Lecture rooms
- Multi mode purpose built football hub
Eligibility/Trials
Any student eligible to attend a NSW public high school can apply.
All students must complete an application to enrol in a NSW government school and a Targeted Sports Program (TSP) application form.
Trials for acceptance into the program are held in Term 2 for incoming year 7 students and on a rolling basis for students transferring into higher grades
All students are required to sign a annual student athlete agreement and meet rigorous academic, behavioural and attendance standards.
Fees and uniforms
The program costs $1350.00 per annum/player Players are issued with an Endeavour branded TSP uniform upon enrolment and a Sydney FC branded uniform annually. Additional uniforms may be purchased.
Coaching and development staff
Director of Football
Peter O’Riordan (Mathematics Faculty)
Bachelor of Education Secondary Maths and Computing Studies
Boys Mentor
33 Years Teaching Experience
Management of our staff and players to ensure the wellbeing of TSP Football students
Head Coach Sydney FC Schools Academy Program
Liam Fitz-Gerald
- UEFA & AFC A Licences
- U/20 Sydeny FC Head Coach
- TD ESHS
- Bachelor of Science Honors Sport & Exercise Science
- Academic researcher in skill acquisition, motor learning and elite youth football development
Lead Coach Girls Program
Charlotte Young
- UEFA A Licence
- Bachelor of Science Nutrition
- Master of Science Exercise Science
- Professional playing career Brighton and Hove Albion, Youth England National team
- Sydney University SFC Technical Director
- 12 Years Experience teaching
Assistant Coach
James Slaveski
- Masters of High Performance sport
- Bachelor of Sports Coaching
- AFC A Licence
- Sydney FC 2023- current
- 2025 NPL Assistant Coach
- 2024 U18 Head Coach
- 2023 U18 &U16 Assistant Coach
- Football Australia - Lead Analyst
- 2015 & 2019 U17 FIFA World Cup
- 2021-22 u20 Young Soceroos
- Scouting Analyst
- 2023 Womens World Cup
- 2022 Olyroos Olympic Games
- 2018 Soceroos World Cup Qualifiers
- A-League Men - Head Analyst
- Melbourne City 2016-2017 (FA Cup Winners)
- Western Sydney Wanderers 2017-2018
- Melbourne Victory 2018-2019
Chris Bradley
- AFC/FFA B Licence
- Former NSW All Schools Coach
- Former NSW State Team Coach
Petr Sestak – Goalkeeper Coach
- AFC/FFA C Licence
- FFA/AFC Level 1 Goalkeeping Licence
- FFA/AFC Level 2 Goalkeeping Licence
- Goalkeeper Coach – UOW Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program
Bruce Hopkins
- Performance Manager
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
Notable Alumni currently competing professionally
Tommy Juric – Adelaide United
Teresa Polias – Sydney FC
Ben Folami – Melbourne Victory
Dylan Fox – Northeast United (Indian Super League) TampineRovers, Singapore
Demi Koulizakis – Canberra United, Perth Glory
Daniel Wong – Beijing Renhe (CSL 2, China)
Presley Ortiz – Sporting Lisbon (Primeira Liga, Portugal)
Hayden Matthews - Portsmouth UK, Socceroos
Jake Girdwood-Reich - St Louis City FC
Peta Trimis - Central coast Mariners FC
Max Vartuli - Adelaide United FC
Ayman Gulasi - U/19's Schalke FC
India Breier - Newcastle Jets FC
Ava Piazza - Newcastle Jets FC