Brisbane Roar players were out visiting flood evacuees today.
Players from both squads made their way to the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre flood evacuation centre to spread some smiles and share some skills.
Thousands of Queenslanders have been left without homes, many more without power, as the devastating flood waters rage through the south east of the state.
Those worst affected by the flood waters have made their way to evacuation centres in Brisbane and regional areas to wait until given the all clear to return to their homes and the undoubted disaster zone which awaits them.
However, for at least an hour yesterday some of the children at the Nathan facility were able to leave their troubles behind them and pour all their attention into a hotly-contested football match.
At the final whistle the W-League squad, with the girls and marquee player Roary triumphed 5-4 over the Hyundai A-League players and the boys.
In the end the scoreline was inconsequential; smiles on the faces of all involved was the greatest result.
Brisbane attacking midfielder James Meyer scored on debut against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Wednesday night, but said he got as much pleasure from spending the morning with the children as he had notching his first Hyundai A-League goal.
“It made me feel really good to come off the pitch and finally have some game time,” Meyer said.
“It was just a great feeling and the boys made me feel really welcome and helped me enjoy it.
“I guess it was in the back of our minds but we went there with the idea that we were representing the flood victims as well.
“We wanted to go out there and not give up and do our best for them as well so concentrating on the game was almost easier.
“Walking through the evacuation centre and seeing all the people there was difficult but seeing the kids running around smiling and having fun and playing football with them, that was really, really nice.
“It’s a small thing but we just want to do what we can to help out in the community, the kids really enjoyed the morning playing football so I’m glad we could be a part of it.”
Westfield W-League defender and Matilda Karla Reuter witnessed the destruction of the floods as they ripped through Toowoomba on Tuesday.
While her friends and family remained out of harm-s way, she said the magnitude of the damage was still difficult to come to terms with.
“I-ve been up in Toowoomba and saw all the damage up there, and driving back through Brisbane and seeing all the damage through the small towns – it-s just devastating,” Reuter said.
“I-m willing to do anything to come out and help these guys at the evacuation centre.
“If we can put a little smile on their face for a bit of the day then that-s our job done.
“Some of the kids are so cute and when you see the smiles on their face, you know for them for now nothing else matters.
“Hopefully it keeps their minds off what has happened for a little while.”
Brisbane Roar-s Hyundai A-League match against Wellington Phoenix which was scheduled for Sunday, January 16 at Suncorp Stadium has been postponed.
The match against Melbourne Heart scheduled for January 28 at Suncorp Stadium also remains in doubt.
Pre-purchased match tickets for both games – including memberships – will guarantee entry to the respective match displayed on the ticket once rescheduled dates and venues for both fixtures have been confirmed.
The club is expecting to be in a position to make an announcement early next week.
