While we are all thinking what our New Year’s resolutions should be, one young Silver City soccer player is preparing for a trip of a lifetime.
Ava Turley, at just 13 years of age, leaves on January 1 for the footballing big time in France and the UK to pit her skills against the best in her age group.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s a good opportunity. A little bit [nerve-wracking],” Ava told us.
She’ll get the chance to be coached and supervised by the Australia women’s national soccer team – the Matildas.
Ava’s a forward and plays for St Joes in the under-14s, and in the women’s competition. She has been playing since her dad signed her up for under-7s at Alma. She would only play one game for the Goats before moving to Joeys.
“I started playing in Under 7s for St Joes and then I made the Broken Hill teams and then I was picked for County, and then I made the State team.
“My dad signed me up for soccer in Under 7s but for Alma and all my friends played for another team so I switched teams after one game so then I kind of just kept playing with my friends and I enjoyed it so just kept playing,” Ava told the Barrier Truth.
It’s not just testing her skills against some of the best Europe has to offer, the trip will offer Ava the opportunity to watch some topflight football while she is there too.
“I’m most looking forward to going to watch the professional games,” Ava said
The European tour is organised through Wanderers Australia (WA) who every year help young aspiring players to get some hands-on overseas playing experience.
WA have been creating international team sports and educational experiences for individual athletes and students to travel to all parts of the globe for over 25 years.
Aside from the football, the tour – which runs until January 19 – also offers guided tours of London, Paris, and the World War One battlefields in northern France.
“I am pretty excited because I haven’t been there so everything’s pretty new,” says Ava who is really looking forward to her trip of a lifetime. We wish her well on her big adventure.
