Box Hill United have kicked off preparations for the 2016 NPL 2 season with the addition of goalkeeper Keegan Coulter.
The 20-year-old makes the switch to Box Hill after spending last season with Nunawading City, where the former Melbourne Victory Youth Team shot-stopper made 28 league appearances.
Coulter, who earned a call-up to the Young Socceroos in December 2013, made his senior debut aged 17 for the Bulleen Lions in 2012 having spent much of the year as understudy to Alastair Bray.
He took over the number one jersey at David Barro Stadium the following season after Bray’s move to Bentleigh, with his good form seeing him feature for Victory Youth under Darren Davies.
He was subsequently called up to the senior team squad ahead of their 2014 Asian Champions League campaign, where he was back-up to Nathan Coe and Lawrence Thomas respectively.
Following his departure from the club, Coulter missed the NPL transfer deadline and was forced to spend 2014 in State League 1 with Clifton Hill before a mid-season move to fourth tier Nunawading City, who were in the process of applying for the NPL in 2015.
He remained at City as the club endured a difficult debut season in NPL 1, finishing bottom of the ladder after collecting a solitary point from 28 matches, although Coulter himself impressed with some excellent displays between the sticks.
Despite the poor run of results, Coulter looked back on 2015 as a “massive learning curve,” where player development was prioritised over results.
“I know it helped me improve as a goalkeeper and I’m looking to take some of my form last year into the upcoming season”, said the former Mazenod College Graduate.
“I’m really looking forward to it and cannot wait for a great season ahead”.
The young shot-stopper is looking to be an integral part of Greg Kassidas’ squad, which will be looking to gain promotion into the top flight of Victorian football in 2016.
“As a team, we want to win games and ultimately get promoted into the top flight,” he said.
“Coming off the back of a winless season myself, I would like to come back from that and put a fair few points on the board in the upcoming season.”
“For myself, I want to be playing as much as possible with Box Hill being another step up for me, so as any goalkeeper would, I want to cement a number one position at the club.”
“The competition for the goalkeeping jersey is high and all of the other boys are testing and pushing me in every session which is a positive and hopefully helps me develop further as a goalkeeper.”
A number of further signings are set to be announced as the Wembley Park outfit mount a promotion challenge in 2016, while Travis Chalk-Hatton has been confirmed as departing Box Hill for Richmond SC.