August 21, 2019

UOW footballers begin University World Cup campaign led by star coach

Luke Wilkshire to prepare UOW’s best for international tournament

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is positioning itself as a footballing powerhouse in the lead up to the FISU University World Cup in November.

The University has recruited Socceroos veteran Luke Wilkshire to coach the 22-man squad on the road to Jinjiang, China.

The UOW squad will represent Oceania in the inaugural international tournament.

Over the 15-day event, they will be pitted against 15 teams from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.

UOW qualified for the World Cup in 2018, when they won gold at the UniSport National Championships.

UOW's winning team at the UniSport National Championships in 2018

Open trials will be held on Monday 26 August and Thursday 29 August, and then 30 of the best players will return by invitation to play a trial match, from which the 22-man squad will be chosen.

The squad will then undergo 10 weeks of preparation, training three times per week, and playing together on the Gold Coast at the UniSport Nationals in late September.

UOW PULSE Head of Sport and Fitness Tony Wrightson said the prospect of training under Wilkshire would likely draw out the best talent on campus.

“That’s going to be a drawcard, there’s an allure around him,” Wrightson said.

“Anyone who can be there will be there at trials.

“Luke Wilkshire was the natural choice, he’s done great things in terms of the culture he’s brought to the Wolves.”

Appointed Head Coach of National Premier League club the Wollongong Wolves in 2018, Wilkshire’s influence has been notable. Drawing on lessons learned through a 19-year professional career in England, the Netherlands, Russia and Australia, Wilkshire helped the Wolves men’s side to secure the minor premiership in 2019, a squad tipped to perform poorly.

Students enrolled at UOW and alumni who graduated after 1 Dec, 2018 are eligible for selection.

UOW is set to be a hotbed of football talent, with the first intake of the UOW Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program starting in February 2020.