Glen Innes junior soccer season has finished up with our young guns getting behind a good cause.
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The local association held a fundraiser for mental health organisation beyondblue for their final carnival of the year.
When the on-field action ended, the ground became a sea of blue for the fun activities which included a parents versus junior players game.
Junior president Preston Parkes said everyone who turned out dug in and supported the charity.
“It was fantastic, we had a really good day and the weather was fantastic,” he said.
“We made quite a bit of money, I'm going to say we got $1400 for beyondblue, which was really good.
“It was a great day. I think the kids enjoyed the last part, the kids versus parents, the most.
“There was hairspray, face painting, we had a lolly scramble, there were cupcakes for sale and the beyondblue bands. The penalty shootout didn't really go ahead but Chris Wilson, the rep junior coordinator, and I got pied in the face.
“That wasn't pretty. That stuff gets everywhere.”
Parkes said it was a “pretty successful” season overall with all players improving vastly from the start of the season and it puts the association in good stead for an even better 2018.
“The rep teams that went away, we weren't disgraced. Our 12s certainly stepped up from last year,” he said.
“They held their own against some of the clubs like Warwick, which actually have academy sides where the kids train together and play together all the time, and all our kids don't do that.
“We didn't just want to have a strong team in that age group, the 12-year-olds playing against other kids.
“Hopefully we get some more kids stepping up next year.”
The association’s presentation day followed the gala day and the under 12 representative side made a generous donation.
“The 12s rep team had been fundraising all year to go over to the Inverell mini world cup and they fundraised to pay for that and at the presentation they handed over a cheque for $1800 in excess of what they required,” Parkes said.
In the senior soccer competition, the Highlanders elimination final on Saturday to North Armidale. The score was 5-all at full-time and went into extra time.
After 30 minutes of extra time there was no result so it went to a penalty shoot-out where Norths nabbed the points.