A product of Cowra District Soccer Club, Clayton Hayes has been playing in Western NSW Mariners for the last two seasons.
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He has again been selected to play centre back for the Under 14’s Country NSW squad to compete at the Football Federation Australia Nationals, being held at Coffs Harbour in late September.
Hayes had another strong year as captain with the Mariners in his favoured centre back position, playing in every match for his team.
He also had the opportunity to play a further 20 matches ‘playing up’ for the Under 15s and Under 16s squads.
At the Western NSW Mariners presentation held last weekend, Clayton was awarded as Players’ Player.
Alongside his Mariner’s committments, Hayes attended three camps at Sydney throughout the 2018 season.
Here, 30 invited players from across Western, Southern and Riverina NSW are cut back to 17 over the course of the camps to make up the NSW Country Squad.
This squad then travels to the National Youth Championships.
The National Youth Championships represents the highest level of competition for our State teams.
It provides a pathway and opportunity for NSW players to become identified for any of the Hyundai A-League clubs and the various National Youth teams.
Hayes is excited to be playing again with the best players from across Australia saying he couldn’t wait to get to the championships.
I really want to play my best there throughout the week and score a goal.
- Clayton Hayes
“I really want to play my best there throughout the week and score a goal,” he said.
Also in 2018, Clayton was selected as one of 16 players for the NSW Football Talented Sports Program (TSP).
As a result of this program Clayton trains weekly in Orange and has be invited to attend several FFA ‘elite games’ which form part of identification for the National Joey’s program.
These elite games will enable FFA and NSW to establish a database of talented players for current and future national teams and to serve as further talent identification opportunities.
Clayton will enter camp on Friday, September 21 in Sydney and will head to the National Championships in Coffs Harbour with the NSW Country squad, beginning on Monday, September 24 for a week of games.
Hosted by Northern NSW Football, the FFA National Youth Championships for Boys have been held in Coffs Harbour since 2006.
The Championships are an integral part of the FFA National Youth Development program and identification process providing a showcase for the best 13 and 14 year old boys from all States.
