In a week that sees the Matildas kick off their World Cup campaign, and our excitement build in the lead up to their first match, it brings us to reflect on how those players made it there.
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No doubt they were all involved in club level soccer at some point, before following various pathways to reach the ultimate opportunity.
Photos: Spuddies V Culburra gallery
Which leads to the obvious question - could one of our local clubs help build such a talent? It's a question bigger than most of us but a pretty exciting one.
And just when we're thinking about that, and when our players are imagining wearing the green and gold, one of our young locals gets the call up for his first grade debut in the Football South Coast competition.
As the goalkeeper for the U16s South Coast United team Mitchell Wilson has the pleasure of taking the field with two other young players that used to wear the maroon and gold - Brad Watsford and Charles Whatman. Pretty cool for a small town crew to be mixing it with the big city players.
Mitchell also has the special responsibility of team captain - extra special when you're one of the out of town kids. Getting the call up a fortnight ago to the U20s was exciting enough - to follow it the week after with a call up to First Grade is pretty amazing.
Obviously his parents, family and friends are proud. But as the news spread throughout the club it was great to see the pride extend even further throughout our players and their families. They don't all know Mitchell or his family personally but it still gives them something - pride in the club, curiosity as to how he got there and a little bit of personal inspiration too.
Mitchell started out at the very beginning with the Robertson-Burrawang Rovers Soccer Club in the U6s when the maroon and gold kit always looks too big for the little players.
His interest in goalkeeping came early and he quickly showed a preference for the gloves over field play. He progressed through the age groups and then to Highlands Football Club for the U12s to U14s, and represented Southern Branch at the U14s state titles.
To move to the next level with a couple of local team mates was the perfect next step and to now to already be realising that next, even bigger step, is pretty inspirational for our players and the club as a whole. Maybe this is where the path from the maroon and gold to the green and gold begins.
Our 1st June matches were played 'away' with the usual parental scramble and car-pooling to get players to their north end fixtures.
Our U12s team met Oxley College in a close match resulting in a 3-2 loss. Oliver Oswald and Hamish Chapman came away with a goal each. Our U13s and U15s teams both had a bye which always brings a mix of responses - some are happy to have a week off and some are just plain disappointed to miss out.
The ladies Maroon team met Moss Vale Black with the result a frustrating nil all draw after the Moss Vale keeper had a 'blinder' and successfully repelled all attacks.
The ladies Gold team met Mittagong Yellow in the late game and came away with a 2-1 win after Erin Sommers and Laine Keyte found the back of the net.
The men's teams matches were part of the George Auld Cup and had to reach a result. The Maroon team achieved a win on penalties over Yerrinbool Black after they came to the end of their 90 minutes with a one all draw.
Dan Freere scored during regulation play, and then contributed again successfully converting his penalty. Alex Beben and youth graders Kobe Brown and Will Hore also converted their penalties giving them an unassailable 4-2 win.
The men's Gold team found their 90 minutes more than enough with an 11-0 win over Exeter. Youth grader Kurt Crawford hit 4, Luiz Goncalves a hat trick and one each to Corey Zakara, Dane Bourke and Clarry Christopherson.
On Wednesday night, June 5 the ladies teams participate in Cup semi-finals. The Maroon team meets Hill Top in the Noelene Munro Cup and the Gold team play Yerrinbool in the Chris Jacobs Cup in night matches at Hampden Park where rugging up will be a priority.
The long weekend then sees a break in play and players and clubs have a well-earned break before getting back in to the thick of competition the following weekend.
Go Robbo!
