Eight Glen Innes and District Football Association players, and fans, had the chance to run out on to the same field as their soccer idols last week.
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The junior fans were invited by A league club Newcastle Jets, Northern NSW Football and Aldi Mini Roos to participate in the Half-time Heroes program.
They took they field at half-time of the A league match played between the Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners on March 16.
It was an opportunity of a lifetime for the kids, with a chance to meet and greet the players.
They also got a tour through the dressing rooms and a look at the tactics and the game plan for the day.
Three other clubs, Gunnedah, Moree and Narrabri were also invited to attend.
All the kids got to form a Guard of Honour for the A league players as they took the field for the pre-match warm up.
The Glen Innes District Junior Football fans were also able to experience a loud welcoming from the spectators in the grandstands as they ran out onto the Jets' home ground, McDonald Jones Stadium.
It was a rainy day but the juniors enjoyed playing a small sided four versus four game among themselves at half-time.
I believe the experience of the cheer from the crowd that went up for every goal will be one the kids will cherish forever.
The soccer action didn't stop there.
The following day, the juniors attended a Northern NSW Football gala day.
They played against teams from the Newcastle area as well as the Narrabri, Moree and Gunnedah teams.
This was played at the Lake Macquarie Football Facility on the Fast 5 courts.
The gala day at the state-of-the-art facility was a totally new experience for the kids as it is an indoor game played outdoors with the walls being used to keep the ball in play.
There are many people to thank for making this opportunity come alive for these football fans.
Thank you to Northern NSW football, Annelise and Alex, the Newcastle Jets, Aldi Mini Roos, Chris Wilson and Preston Parkes for assisting the children on their tour.
And to the parents and siblings who helped the children experience this as well as our local sponsors.
This wouldn't have been possible without you all.
The Glen Innes local Saturday football season kicks off on Saturday, March 30.
For anyone interested in signing up to play in one of our representative teams nomination cut off is April 6 to allow for teams and uniforms to be finalised as our annual carnival has been bought forward to June 2.