FFA National Youth Championship

Year 8 footballer Malcolm Ward (8/MA) represented the NSWIS Metropolitan team for the  U14s at the 2013 FFA National Youth Championship for Boys in Coffs Harbour last week. The team were crowned the National Champions after a final decider against the NSWIS Country team.

Malcolm is a boarder and joined the College earlier this year after becoming the first NSWIS Country team player to be selected to represent the NSWIS Metro team. He came to Newington so that he could train with his new team and this is the second year in a row he has played in the tournament.

In comparison to 2012, Malcolm said this year’s tournament was more professional with scouts from European clubs and the Australian National U17 Football Team ‘Joeys’ seeking players. It was also tough playing against his old team in the finals. But the young gun from Young says that it was also being the only Country player in his team which gave him the drive and ambition to lift his game. His advice to budding footballers out there is “hard work, perseverance, and you’ve got to rise up to the challenge”.

National Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Championships

James Hunt (9/KL) also had a winning streak at Coffs Harbour playing with the NSW team at the National Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Championships from 30 September until the 3 October 2013. With all states competing for the title this year, it was a tough tournament with NSW scoring the gold medal. James is one of the younger members of the team, and scored a goal in the second half of the match against Queensland; this goal saw the NSW team take the lead with a 5-0 result. This lead would eventually be pivotal to the team winning their fifth title in a row.

The NSW team was led by Pararoo’s Vice Captain Mr Chris Pyne and coached by Mr Ian Menzies. At the award ceremony, the gold medallists were given their medals and National Trophy by  former Socceroo player Craig Moore.

Congratulations Malcolm and James on two truly inspiring wins!