Ben Herron has been appointed head coach of the ACE Under 23s for next season.
He replaces Paul Mikula who has stepped up to take charge of the ACE senior men.
Ben was coaching at North Brisbane last season, but has NPL playing and coaching experience when living in Newcastle, NSW.
“North Brisbane was local to me and good to meet people in the Brisbane area,” Ben said, “but I think the time had come to challenge myself again.
“When you speak to people around Brisbane they all say ACE is a strong club, so I was keen to join.
“The first task is to touch base with Paul and get an idea where last year’s players are looking to be next year.
“The toughest part is always to rebuild, so I want to see if we can retain as many players as possible.
“It’s easier to work with players who understand each other rather than introduce too many new people.
“If possible, I hope we can maintain as much of the core group as possible heading into next year. Previous playing relationships are very important.”
Ben grew up in Newcastle and played most of his football in the area and Northern NSW NPL as a central defender, until a serious knee injury forced him to stop.
He says he was “lucky to stay involved through coaching and has around 20 years’ experience from juniors “all the way up”.
“It’s always something I enjoyed,” Ben said, “if I can pass something on, spark something in a player’s mind which they can take forward and improve their game … that’s what I enjoy.”
He also saw the potential in ACE’s proposed merger with Moreton Bay United.
“I think it’s going to be a new exciting aspect to coaching, being able to bounce ideas and see how others work,” Ben said.
“No-one knows everything, so having a club with a coaching unit that is close together gives everyone a chance to help.”
Any players wanting further information on the ACE Under 23s plans for next season can contact Ben through the club email admin@acesoccer.com.au, marking the email for Ben Herron’s attention.
