Young Australian footballer joins Nelson Suburbs

Tasmanian right back Ilan Mastrocola-Simon is a timely arrival for the Nelson Suburbs ahead of the Mainland Southern League which starts at the end of next month.

“We have the smallest and youngest squad in recent years,” reveals Suburbs’ director of football and co-coach, Ryan “Skippy” Stewart.

By small, he means numbers, with just 20 players in the senior squad.

“That is good and bad, but they are a versatile bunch”, adds Skippy.
He first spoke to Ilan about six months ago, saying he could give the Tasmanian-born player a platform in Nelson to help push him to where he wants to be.

“We know in Nelson, we are a stepping-stone for our players and want them to go bigger than us,” insists Skippy.

Already well-travelled, Ilan is on the same page. He was with the Brisbane Roar in 2022 and last year went to a third division club in Holland then on to Portugal, where he trialled for a first division team.

“It was a brilliant experience. The culture is completely different there. I loved it,” enthuses Ilan, who likes to get on the ball, distribute and push forward and score a goal every now and then.

As for culture, the 19-year-old confirms he is a real mix. “Mum is Italian, and dad is English-Jamaican.”

That certainly helps with passports. Ilan received good reports about Suburbs and Nelson from former Brisbane teammates including Samoan international Dauntae Mariner, who has returned from Australia to play here again this season.

“I wanted to try somewhere new with the aim of eventually getting a national league spot.”

Getting to training on time shouldn’t be a problem as he is literally staying across the road from Suburbs’ Saxton Field base.

“It is pretty convenient,” he concludes.

Also new to the club is strength and conditioning coach Ciaron Beasley. He hails from Rugby, in Warwickshire, and after encountering the Nelson College first XV in England two years ago, moved here.

“I asked if I could come out and started working at the college, then the Crusaders Academy and the Tasman Mako,” says Ciaron.

He now splits his time between the Mako, where he is an assistant strength and conditioning assistant coach on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Suburbs on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Footballers attention to those aspects are definitely improving. The conditioning required for on-field is different as they obviously run over a lot more distance each game. They need to be smaller than rugby players and probably fitter. Their attitudes are changing and they are really buying into it,” enthuses Ciaron.

Skippy says they are lucky to have him as he has certainly added some improvements to his squad’s fitness.