A group of young Queenslanders had the experience of a lifetime at Saturday night’s international friendly against Korea Republic at Suncorp Stadium, nominated by Football Queensland (FQ) Volunteer of the Month award recipients to walk out onto the field with the Caltex Socceroos.
FQ Academy of Awesome inductees were asked to select a child for the unique experience, with families travelling from as far as the Capricorn Coast to take up the opportunity.
“It was great to be able to reward some of our volunteers from around Queensland for what they do in the community in this way,” FQ MiniRoos Development Officer Andy Allan said.
“They’re so important to our football family.”
More than 60 Queensland youngsters also had the opportunity to take to the field at half time for an ALDI MiniRoos match.
The teams playing at half time included young players from across Queensland.
“The kids who played at half time came from all over Queensland from as far as Townsville, so it was pretty incredible to have them travelling here as a team for this once in a lifetime opportunity to play at a Socceroos game,” Allan said.
Alistair Kirby, father of Ezra Kirby who took to the field as part of the ALDI MiniRoos Half Time Hero segment, said his son loved every minute of his experience.
“Ezra got an awesome opportunity to play at half time and to quote Ezra directly, he said “It was like a dream; it hardly seemed real,”” Kirby said.
“Ezra has been buzzing about on cloud nine ever since.”
For more information about the ALDI MiniRoos programs, click here.
Images: Paul Smith