Gavin de FootballGavin de Football
Where kids fall in love with the game
Skill, confidence & fun for ages 5–18 — coached by a former River Plate player.
Frederick Watcher Oval · Melbourne
Why GDF?
More than a training session
The point of difference, in a few seconds.
Professional pedigree
Coached by a former River Plate player — professional standards and habits, passed straight to your kids.
Technical development
Every session is skills-first: both feet, ball mastery and game intelligence — not just scrimmages.
Confidence that shows
Parents tell us the biggest change is belief — kids who back themselves on and off the pitch.
Positive environment
Respect, kindness and fun come first — a place kids genuinely want to come back to.
Now enrolling
Academy Term 4 — 2026
GDF Academy × South East United. Ten weeks, four nights a week, grouped by age and ability.
- Dates5 October – 11 December10-week term
- VenueFrederick Watcher OvalKeysborough VIC
- SessionsMon · Wed · Thu · Frifrom 5:00pm
- Ages5–18grouped by age & ability
Term fees
| 1 session / week$40 per session | $400 |
| 2 sessions / week$35 per session | $700 |
| 3 sessions / week$30 per session | $900 |
South East United players train at reduced rates: $350 / $600 / $825.
Register nowWhat we offer
Programs
Group Training
Weekly term sessions on technique, decision-making and game understanding — grouped by age and ability.
Private & Small Group
1-to-1 and small-group sessions for focused work — ball mastery, goal scoring, position-specific detail.
School Program
Our football program, run at schools across Melbourne’s south-east — before & after school.
Holiday Camps
High-energy school-holiday camps — games, skills challenges and plenty of ball time. From $70.
Meet the coach
From Melbourne to River Plate — and back
At 13, Gavin de Niese packed his boots and left Melbourne for Buenos Aires to join River Plate — one of the biggest clubs in world football. From there the game took him to Portugal and across Europe.
He brought it all home: 100+ NPL games, league titles in 2023 and 2025, and one mission — to give local kids the coaching, the standards and the belief he once flew across the world to find. Every GDF session is that experience, passed on.
“At home at River Plate”— Sydney Morning Herald, 2013
As featured in the Sydney Morning Herald & Olé (Argentina).
Playing days · River Plate, Buenos Aires
Gavin in River Plate colours, Buenos Aires. Photos © River Plate / Pasión Monumental.
The GDF belief
No dreams
too big
Gavin went from a Melbourne pitch to River Plate — and that belief is exactly what he coaches. Consistency, repetition, both feet, and an environment where kids love to train.
★★★★★“Gavin is highly knowledgable about the game and all aspects of preparation, and our sessions were always well organised and informative. The way the kids respond to his mentoring and training reflect not only his capability as a footballer but his insistence on respect, and kindness.”
Giancarlo Romeo
★★★★★“GDF has been an amazing start for our kids sports journey. From being shy & tripping over the ball to absolutely loving the beautiful game within a matter of weeks! He brings a ball everywhere we go now & loves the constant improvement he gets from the sessions. Huge confidence booster all round. Great coaches & really well organised. Thank you Gavin & team!”
Kenan Skenderovic
★★★★★“My children have been training with Gavin now for over 8 weeks and the improvement and confidence they have gained has been amazing. I highly recommend Gavin to anyone whose children are ready to improve their skill sets.”
grace
★★★★★“Hands down the most passionate, humble and authentic coach out there! Our son has been with him for over a year now and still loves it. Gavin has a bond with every single child and parent! He embraces every child’s potential and pushes them to step outside their comfort zone aswell! Thank you for everything coach Gav! We have loved watching your academy grow”
M M
★★★★★“Couldn’t be happier with GDF. The coaches are great with the kids and make every session enjoyable while still pushing them to improve. We’ve noticed a big difference in confidence and overall football ability in a short time. Highly recommend it to any parent looking to help their child develop in a fun and positive environment.”
marc vella
★★★★★“Our son has been training with Gav since he was 4 years old, and the improvement we’ve seen has been unbelievable. Not only have his soccer skills developed so much, but his confidence, teamwork, and love for the game have grown as well. Gav is patient, encouraging, and genuinely passionate about helping every child reach their potential. Every training session is fun, well organised, and focused on helping the kids improve while enjoying themselves. We are so grateful for the time, dedication, and support Gav has given our son over the years. It’s been amazing to watch his progress, and we couldn’t recommend Gav more highly!!”
Michelle Wright
★★★★★“He’s great with all kids. Communication 100%. He’s a wonderful coach 👏. Glad to have met him as a coach. Hands up best coach 👏👏👏 keep up the good work Gavin, see you next term 👏👏👏”
Elif Fatkivrak
★★★★★“After one term training with GDF my son wants to keep training every term — the increase in confidence is noticeable. GDF focuses on skills training and actually constructive feedback.”
ann ngo
★★★★★“We have been at GDF Academy for 3 years, and the way Gavin breaks things down and explains each skill step by step to the kids is nothing short of amazing. He understands that children are visual learners and makes sure they’re all receiving the same high-quality technical coaching and direction. Thank you heaps, Coach Gav!”
Ummihan Mert
School holiday camp
3 days.
Every touch.
29 Sep – 1 Oct · 9am–12pm · Mount Hira College, Keysborough · Prep–Grade 6. Limited spots.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What ages do you coach?
Players aged 5–18, grouped by age and ability so everyone trains at the right level.
Where and when is training?
Term training is at Frederick Watcher Oval, Keysborough, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5pm. See the registration page for current dates.
How much does it cost?
Term fees start at $400 for a 10-week term (one session a week), with discounts for more sessions and for South East United players. Full pricing is on the registration page.
What should my child bring?
Football boots, shin pads, a water bottle, and clothing for the weather. We provide the balls and equipment.
How do I register or enquire?
Tap Register for term training, or open Programs for the School Program, Holiday Camps and 1-to-1. Quick question? Reach us on WhatsApp, email or Instagram below.
Ready to play?
Get in touch
Contact
Where we train
Frederick Watcher Oval
Keysborough VIC 3173
Term training Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 5pm.