Noah Mies is confident Launceston City are on the up despite being one of three attackers to have left the club.
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The third-generation player has ended a 17-year involvement with the Prospect club to test himself on the mainland but believes they are well placed to bounce back from last season's NPL Tasmania wooden spoon.
"They are a great club. I've been there my whole career and it was a great grounding," said Mies, who was City's leading scorer in 2017, when he was also named the NPL Tasmania rising star, and 2019, when he also made the Tasmanian rep team.
"We've not had the success we would have liked but I feel they are not too far away.
"Last season was disappointing but before that we had good success. If they keep that group together with a couple of key signings they will fare a lot better.
"I'll be following their results very closely and hope things go well. I'm leaving on good terms, wish them all the best and I'll definitely be back there one day."
Following the departures of English imports Rob Gerrard and Sam Ridgard to Rochedale Rovers in the Football Queensland Premier League, Mies has joined Newcastle Olympic in the Northern NSW NPL.
The 22-year-old is thrilled to be working under coach Joel Griffiths, a former Socceroo with extensive A-League experience plus stints in England, Switzerland, Japan and China.
"I'm really excited to work with him and I'm looking forward to getting his guidance and learn from his experience.
"The side is looking very good. They finished third last year and are looking to build on that. I've been at training for a week and am really enjoying it. It should be a good challenge."
Launceston-born Mies went to West Launceston Primary, Riverside High and Launceston College, finishing a bachelor of business degree last year and has just started a new job as an accountant in Newcastle.
"I think I will be here for a while," he added. "My girlfriend (Zoe Horgan) has been up here since August and cannot speak highly enough of the place. I'm loving it. It's warm and the football is a bit better standard so a step up and good challenge."
Mies followed in the footsteps of father, Roger, and grandfather, Peter, by playing for Launceston City and making the Tasmanian representative team.
We asked the popular no.11 to pick some highlights from his 17 years wearing black and white stripes in Prospect.
Favourite game?
Beating Hobart Zebras 3-1 at KGV in 2018. We were top of the league at that point and I scored the goal that sealed it which was the goal of the year so was a really nice way to end the game. That was the side coached by Jez (Kenth) with Niko (Giantsopoulos) and Tyler (Fischer). We were on top of the world after that and it's a shame we couldn't replicate it.
Favourite goal?
The one from that game. We were winning 2-1 late on and I got the word to keep it in the corner to run down the clock and afterwards I got ribbed for not doing that. I thought I'd try something and hoped it would come off. To be fair, they had a few up and were in attack mode and I just saw a gap and went for it.
Favourite opponent?
Oscar Thomas of South Hobart and Glenorchy Knights. We've been playing against each other every year since under-10s. That's 12 years, North v South, striker v centre-back. I think he's probably had the best of it but we're pretty even and he's a mate of mine now.
Funniest moment?
Playing in Hobart against Zebras when Gabby Markaj was coaching. He was ripping us about our import players with comments like 'they fly in, they fly out'. Such random comments. We beat them that day and his face was priceless, me and my mates still mock it to this day.
Sum up City
A great family club where I've had lots of good memories. With 60 years of my family being involved I did not really have a choice but it's been really good and will always have a special place in my heart. I've been playing there since I was five and now I'm 22. It'll be weird not playing for them. There's players like Isaac Degetto who was in the same junior team and we've been playing together pretty much since we were nine.