Everton have added Australian outfit Western Pride to their club network.
Queensland-based Western Pride have become the fifth team to sign up as an affiliate to the Blues - following Joondalup City, Columbus United, Schulz Academy and Everton de Vina del Mar.
The club, which was founded in 2012, are the second Australian side to sign up for the programmes and will now gain coaching staff and players of all ages - as well as year-round assistance from coaches at Everton's academy.
Everton academy chief David Unsworth, "Western Pride's new status as an Everton International Academy Affiliate Programme member marks the next phase in their ambition and growth, and will see them gain the best in sporting knowledge and insight from our Academy coaches.
"At Everton we have a passion for developing quality footballers but also helping them grow as people. This is something that we share with Western Pride, a great academy club with teams of all ages.
"I'm confident this new partnership can help Western Pride achieve the goals they have set for the advancement of their club as a whole and, more specifically, around player development.
"We look forward to working closely together over the coming years."
