There were plenty of smiling faces out on the Ballymore field this morning as Brisbane Roar players and supporters celebrated the festive season with the club’s annual members’ Christmas party.
Ahead of Saturday-s away clash against North Queensland Fury, Brisbane Roar members were invited to the team-s early session where they saw Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff put the players through their paces.
Following the session, members and players mingled over a barbeque breakfast with some highly sought after raffle prizes also drawn.
Three young fans were lucky enough to help team manager Ian Dalzell with the squad-s football gear during the session and one Brisbane Roar training ball, signed by all the players, was also given away.
Brisbane midfielder Massimo Murdocca was delighted to have all the club-s loyal supporters in attendance as the squad geared up for two Queensland derbies in as many weeks.
“It-s not very often we have everybody down because everyone is busy but it-s school holidays at the moment so we-ve got a good turn out today,” Murdocca said.
“We-re pretty happy with it, we want people to come down all the time and watch us so today is a special day.”
Today also marked a special occasion for 14-year-old Jake, a loyal Brisbane Roar supporter and a sufferer of autoimmune enteropathy, who got to meet his heroes as part of the Royal Children-s Hospital Kids Christmas Appeal.
The appeal, which aims to change the lives of sick kids across Queensland, was something Murdocca was proud to do his part for.
“I-m a big fan of it, I-ve been to the hospital a few times over the years with the Roar,” he said.
“Seeing those kids breaks my heart but we go down there to put a smile on their faces, that-s our job and we-re happy to do it.
“Jake is a good kid, with his illness, you don-t want to see that with any kid but he-s courageous so we hope he can come down more often.”
With Christmas just ten days away, Murdocca said the already important cause was given greater significance during the festive season.
“Every kid deserves to be happy on Christmas Day and unfortunately not all of them will be,” he said.
“Hopefully with Jake, being here has put a smile on his face and it can be an early Christmas present for him.”
Jake was accompanied by the appeal-s two metre high Wonder Bauble which has been embarking on a journey across Brisbane raising money.
Ballymore was one of its last stops before returning to the hospital on Friday.
Jake signed the Wonder Bauble alongside Brisbane Roar players, who marked it with their own messages of encouragement for sick kids at the hospital.
“When you-re training and you-re thinking about the tough times when you-re down and then you see those kids, you tend to forget about football after that,” Murdocca said.
“At the end of the day, football is a small part of your life and you learn that when you serious things like this.
“They-re so courageous and they-re very special people.”
Tickets for Brisbane Roar-s next home against Gold Coast United are available through Ticketek. Kick-off for the match is 6pm at Suncorp Stadium.
