Brisbane Roar FC’s Pauls Roar Active Program (RAP) coaching and football skills clinics have delighted hundreds of budding young footballers in regional Queensland over the past week.
And the Roar’s Hyundai A-League players have visited a dozen clubs on recent weekends to present medals and trophies to scores of eager and appreciative juniors.
The RAP clinics and community engagement program has already visited Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Innisfail.
Next on the list is Cairns tomorrow (Thursday, 17 September, 4.30-7.30pm at Cairns FC, Endeavour Park, Cannon Street) and then Mareeba (Friday, 18 September, 4.30-7.30pm at Mareeba United FC, Fenwick Park, off Chewko Road).
The clinics provide a fun three hours for young footballers where they are guided and encouraged by the Roar’s expert junior coaches.
The Roar’s Pauls RAP team have with them an inflatable field which ensures a safe, all-action environment to help hone key football skills among boy and girl footballers.
“Our community programs are so important – not just getting to juniors, but also in spreading the word about football across Queensland,” said the Roar’s Community Program Manager Andy Pinches.
As well as getting plenty of media coverage in the cities and towns they have visited so far, the Roar’s Pauls RAP team also has had lots of positive feedback from happy parents and their kids.
“The Roar clinic was excellent. My son thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon,” one parent wrote.
“Sitting and watching, I marvel at the enthusiasm and enjoyment that your coaches provide for the children. An extremely worthwhile program.”
The Roar Pauls RAP team also made a special presentation to officials and members at Nerimbera FC at Rockhampton which was devastated by Cyclone Marcia earlier this year (below).
The signed Roar shirt given to the club will have pride of place when their new clubhouse opens.
“Thank you again for sticking by us,” wrote Nerimbera FC’s president Rick England (pictured with the Roar Pauls RAP coaches below).
“Just one other thing – people have commented how awesome the coaches were with all the kids. See you next year.”
The Roar’s Hyundai A-League players also have been busy with many clubs staging their end-of-season trophy presentations in recent weeks.
Clubs who have hosted Roar players include University of Queensland FC, Mount Gravatt Hawks, Holland Park Hawks, Taringa Rovers, Pacific Pines FC, Bardon Latrobe FC, St Paul’s Uniting, Easts FC, Nundah-Wavell All Churches SC and Ipswich City Bulls.
Roar captain Matt McKay also made a special visit to his junior club Sunnybank Saints last Saturday, which prompted this emailed letter to BRFC yesterday from Sunnybank Saints Under-11 coach Randall Richardson:
“I am just writing to ask if a BIG THANK YOU could be passed onto Matt McKay. We had our annual QCSA grand finals last Saturday and Matt attended to present medals and trophies.
“He then stayed on to sign everything from balls to shoes to trophies and have photos taken. Our break up day was the following day and even though we had won the grand final, all the talk was of Matt being there to present their awards.
“I was also aware that he had a trial match to attend in the afternoon so it was even more generous for him to give up his time to attend. He is an excellent ambassador for not only himself but your club as a whole.”
