SASFC & Ōtākaro FC work together across Youth Football

Alongside five other East Christchurch clubs, St Albans Shirley FC have teamed up with Ōtākaro FC to offer a really exciting option for our Youth players to try out for a Canterbury Development League (CDL) team playing at the highest regional level. As a founder club, SASFC has embraced this collaboration as the best possible pathway for aspirational Youth players in the region. See the Ōtākaro FC website for full details.

Team selection is based on open trials for U13 to U19 players, typcially taking place between December and February, and publicised both on the SASFC Facebook page and the Ōtākaro FC Facebook page. All players are welcome to attend.

SASFC continues to field Youth teams in the lower leagues 

Teams generally play under the SASFC badge, however collaboration with our Ōtākaro FC partner clubs is always an option, based on:

• level of competition players wish to play at; Div 1 and Div 2 teams are often a joint enterprise with another Ōtākaro partner club
• location for players who want to play Div 3+ and train locally with their mates as SASFC
• balance of player numbers, which ultimately dictate whether a team plays as SASFC or another Ōtākaro FC partner club

Team selection is made following Open Training events taking place in February. See the Youth Football page for details.

Non-CDL Youth teams normally train together once a week throughout the Winter Season and may enter regional end-of-season tournaments.

Ōtākaro FC & SASFC work together to enter Girls teams in the Mainland Football Winter Season Girls Youth Competition, for players born between 2008 and 2011  

The expansion of Ōtākaro FC in 2024 to include Girls Football provides an entirely new option for our female SASFC Youth players to try out for a 14th or 16th Grade Girls team playing at the highest regional level. Girls remain welcome to try out for the (mixed) Ōtākaro Youth U13 to U19 teams – see above – however, for all-girls teams, the Ōtākaro FC partnership is the springboard for girls to follow a pathway that leads all the way to the Womens Premier League.

As a founder member club, SASFC has embraced this wider collaboration as the best possible option for aspirational Girls Youth players on the east side of Christchurch. Trials take place mid-February and players should complete an Expression of Interest form with Ōtākaro FC as soon as possible by clicking here. 

SASFC continues to field Girls Youth teams in the lower leagues 

Players aged 16 years and older are eligible to play in the Coastal Spirit SASFC Canterbury Womens Championship League (CWCL) squad. You can find out about the success of our CoastalSAS teams here. 

SASFC are proud to have a history of a strong presence in the Girls Youth leagues and welcome all enquiries from players who would like to join an all-girls team. 

Team selection is made following Open Training trials taking place in March. You can find out more about these teams, trial dates and contact details on our dedicated Girls Football page

We are really happy to have new players along, regardless of where you played last season, whether you are new to the area, or even new to the sport. Bring a mate, everyone is welcome!