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Home , Ante Covic, Ante Milicic, Brendon Santalab, Bruce Djite, Daniel Mullen, Eugene Galekovic

Twenty-sixth edition • 2013/14 vs UNITED

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Antony Golec: The Right Move TOPOR-STANLEY vs McKAIN Catching Up With Champions League Returns to Parramatta Trevor Morgan: Development is the Key

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Visit wswanderersfc.com.au & SIGN UP to THE WEEKLY WANDERER THIS WEEK ... Follow US @wswanderersfc 05 From the Partner... 21 sPot the Difference International Goalkeepers and Strikers Can you spot the five differences this week? Academy Director of Coaching Jim Fraser says that the Wanderers have filled a hole 23 taKE FIVE WITH ... in the Western community Joshua Barresi takes some time out with The Wanderer 07 news AND VIEWS Tonight’s match at a glance with on this 25 Development is the Key day, score wrap-ups and more With the Foxtel National Youth League coming to a close the Wanderer talks to Trevor Morgan 08 antony Golec: The right move about his developmental techniques Golec has had his ups and down before joining the Wanderers but is ready to 27 wanderers World Cup make the most of his new opportunity Participants in Wanderers Clinics were invited to play a "World Cup" before the Jets match 13 Players to watch and enjoy a special match-day experience Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Jonathan McKain 28 # WanderTweet 15 catching up with Paul Wade Thanks for your tweets! Socceroos and legend sits down with the Wanderer to The views in this publication are not necessarily the talk life, work and Western Sydney views of the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers 16 to day's Match FC. Material in this publication is copyrighted and may Brought to you by Amart Sports only be reproduced with the written permission of the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers FC. All 19 chamPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL photography courtesy of Getty Images, George Suresh, RETURNS TO PARRAMATTA Steve Christo, Quarrie Sports Photography and Les will host its second Shorrock collection, Deakin University Library. AFC Champions League match with one of ’s premier teams

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The opportunity for both the International Goalkeepers and International Strikers to provide sponsorship for both the Western Sydney Wanderers Foxtel National Youth League team and Westfield W-League teams is seen as an integral component of our long- term marketing strategy.

he Wanderers vision of connecting with the community and developing youth players Twhile supporting grassroots football programs runs parallel with the aims of our organisation. Sponsoring the teams have been an exciting opportunity and the Club’s success in their first year and subsequent growth has shown that their business model is sound and ongoing success can be expected. Given the planning that has gone into the Wanderers structure and the personnel that was employed at all levels; in administration, coaching team and playing squad, as a partner we are confident that our investment is secure. A Hyundai A-League team in the Western Suburbs, which has long been the heartland of Sydney football, was long overdue and Wanderers has fulfilled the needs of thousands of fans that now support the Club. In discussions with my fellow Director Enzo Cheng we see Wanderers as providing an excellent career path for our talented students and the region's footballers as a whole. Our vision as an academy is to develop players of all abilities to fulfil their playing potential and enjoy their football experience. A major part of the football experience is having the opportunity to support a great club. Western PARRAMATTA STADIUM Sydney Wanderers provides this opportunity and we are proud to be a Partner and look forward KICK-OFF 7.30PM to a long term relationship with the club. Gates Open 6.00pm Jim Fraser Director of Coaching International Goalkeepers Academy International Strikers

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07 NEWS & VIEWS ROUND On this day... WRAP-UP Courtesy of Andrew Howe @AndyHowe_statto he first few years of the National Soccer League saw a great Hyundai A-League Tongoing battle between Marconi and Sydney City - the pride of Round 21 Sun 2 Mar Sydney's west and east - as the country's leading team of the time. Pirtek Stadium Between 1977 to 1980 Marconi won a league and cup title while Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Sydney City won two championships. But 15 March 1981 marked a Newcastle Jets 2 turning point as Sydney City thrashed Marconi 5-0 at Sydney Athletic (Jaliens 37, Taggart 64) Field. It was a poignant result for Marconi who for the next three seasons struggled at the wrong end of the NSL ladder while Sydney City went on to finish in the top two for the following five years to Round 22 Sat 8 Mar clearly become the most successful club of the NSL's first decade. Allianz Stadium Sydney FC 3 (Jurman 59, Garcia 75, Abbas 90+3) Guardian Funerals Wandercrew Western Sydney Wanderers 1 Member of the Week: Tahlee van gool (Ono 49)

y name is Tahlee van Gool and MI am a Wandercrew W-League AFC Champions Ball Girl and my Dad is a Wandercrew League Stretcher Bearer for the Hyundai Round 1 Group Stage A-League and Ball Person Helper Wed 26 Feb in the Westfield W-League. Parramatta Stadium I have been a ball girl for two Western Sydney Wanderers 1 seasons and I really enjoy being part (Santalab 1) of it as I get to watch and learn from Ulsan Hyundai FC 3 the players. My favourite Westfield (Shin-Wook 35, W-League players are Linda O'Neill, Chang-Hyun 43, Minsoo 67) Teigan Allen and . Some of my teammates are also ball kids and I have made new friends as well! I also enjoy Foxtel National Proudly brought to you by getting to hang out with Dad Youth League as he loves the Wanderers. Round 18 Sat 1 Mar My family are all Wanderers fans Cook Park and Mum helps us sometimes as does Western Sydney Wanderers 1 my little brother who loves to sing (Olsen 23) the songs. My favourite player in the Victory 1 Hyundai A-League is . (Proia 71)

THE WANDERERS HAVE SCORED MORE GOALS AGAINST ADELAIDE UNITED Then they have scored against ANY OTHER CLUB Visit wswanderersfc.com.au 11 & SIGN UP to THE WEEKLY WANDERER WANT MORE WANDERERS FC? Follow US @wswanderersfc

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WANDERERS FC VS Adelaide United 09

Antony Golec: The right move

Story by Josh Bennett @josh_n_bennett

Football is not always easy; sometimes you’ve got to do things the hard way. Just ask Olyroo Antony Golec.

he 23 year-old signed a four month deal for and spent three seasons there the Western Sydney Wanderers inaugural making a total of ten league appearances. TAFC Champions League campaign in February Although enjoying his time in Sydney Golec admitted after a proposed move to Chinese Super that it was the right decision to leave the club in 2011 League club Liaoning Whowin fell through. to explore a fresh opportunity with Adelaide United. It has been a difficult season for the 194cm central “It was very good in the first season being a defender who fell out of favour at Adelaide United young footballer coming through your first club, despite making 15 appearances for the club last season. you’re always excited and ready to learn,” he said. The lucrative seemed like “The second year, I was a bit young and naïve, I the perfect place to reignite his career but upon didn’t really understand what it was to be a professional arriving he immediately realised it was not for him. and I let that get in the way and my football suffered. “It wasn’t the right move for me, it didn’t feel “For me the best thing was to get out of like the right country to get the best out of me Sydney FC; I had a lot of distractions and I was and to improve as a footballer,” he said. letting that get in front of the most important “The important thing for me is to enjoy my thing which was playing and learning.” football and learn and progress in my career and Golec joined Adelaide with the opportunity of regular I didn’t feel it was the right step for me.” first team football and quickly established himself Enter . as one of the most reliable defenders at the club. Golec played with Popovic at Sydney FC in 2008 His regular appearances in his first two seasons and was guided by the Wanderers boss during at the club included AFC Champions League Popa’s stint as assistant coach of the Sky Blues. matches but the arrival of Spanish coach Josep “Popa was the main one, I was lucky enough Gombau this season saw Golec fall out of favour, to play with him at Sydney FC and he actually something that was difficult to swallow. coached me there when he retired,” he said. “The experience was very frustrating. I will admit “I want to learn as much as I can and I had to it was hard but if there’s one thing about me that go to the Wanderers, to Tony Popovic, because people know is that I don’t care if it is hard because I I know he’s the coach that can do it for me.” will try and make the impossible possible,” he said. Golec made his Hyundai A-League debut for “I love what I do so every day at training I went Sydney as an 18 year-old in October 2008 under in with a smile, I trained hard, I worked hard.

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“It didn’t work out but I’m here now and I’m happy for that.” Golec is unwavering in his belief that everything happens for a reason and is firmly grateful for the opportunity the Wanderers have given him. “For now the most important thing is to be at a club where the environment is fantastic and you can learn and enjoy it, for me that was here,” he said. “You can’t get that anywhere else in Australia, if you want to be the best player you’ve got to be at the best club and have the best coaches, quite simply that’s Western Sydney. “I’m very happy here, it’s the first time in a long time where I come to training with a genuine smile on my face and that’s something that you really want as a player.” The opportunity to play alongside the likes of Nikolai Topor-Stanley, and is something Golec is relishing and believes it will only help him grow as a player. “I’m at a club where even if I don’t play, I know that simply by training I’m going to learn so much more than what I would elsewhere,” he said. “I’m pretty lucky to have three top centre backs in front of me as even if I’m not playing I learn so much from watching them; that’s the best thing being a younger footballer.” Having experienced the AFC Champions League during his stint with Adelaide, Golec recognises the huge task facing the Wanderers. But despite the challenge, Golec is confident that Tony Popovic’s men have the ability to progress deep into the competition and upset some of their more fancied rivals. “It’s never easy; you don’t really know the players and every team is an unknown team for us so it’s going to be hard,” he said. “It’s going to be tough but physically and technically we have a fantastic team. We’ve got to stay focused, keep working hard, have belief and we can go far.”

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13 WANDERERS FC VS ADELAIDE UNITED PLAYERS TO WATCH

TOPOR-STANLEY McKAIN

TACKLES WON

81% 73.7%

CLEARANCES

160 67

DUELS

149 96

SHOTS

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Nikolai Topor-Stanley Defender Jon McKain Defender ikolai debuted for Sydney FC before joining orn in Queensland, McKain had stints in Romania Glory winning Player of the Year, Players’ Band Saudi Arabia and spent two seasons with NPlayer and Young Player of the Year. The Socceroo the Wellington Phoenix. Having captained the also played for Newcastle Jets before joining the Socceroos against New Zealand he has been Wanderers and winning Members’ Player of the Year. a stalwart for Adelaide United since 2011.

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15 Catching Up with Paul Wade

Story by Joe Russo

Speaking with football legend Paul Wade is an experience that is highly recommended and that’s for a number of reasons; inside knowledge of football, infectious enthusiasm for the code and an inspirational ‘can- do’ attitude.

ne of our greatest Socceroos has certainly Recently Paul Wade worked with a group of harvested his talents since retiring from the 25 kids mainly from Iraq and the programme Ogame he loves. Today ‘Wadey’, as he is affectionately (details of which can be found at paulwade.com.au) known, can be heard on ABC Grandstand as the involved the Western Sydney Wanderers. expert commentator on the live coverage of all “While I was working with these kids the the Sydney based Hyundai A-League games. Socceroos were actually playing Iraq,” he said. Turning down the volume on television and “So we took them to the game and listening to him on ABC or simply listening through it was a real buzz for them. your headset at the game is indeed very special. Paul “During the fifth week of the programme we Wade calls it as he sees it without fear or favour. took them to a Western Sydney Wanderers training Paul Wade’s other work takes him session which was great because they can understand deep into Western Sydney. that success is not that far away from them. He runs his own Skills for Life Programme which “Some of the kids even got autographs from Youssouf is a motivational and speaking programme tailored Hersi and Tony Popovic and they were thrilled to bits.” to suit clubs, schools and the corporate world. So what are his thoughts on the “I am currently working with disengaged, at risk Western Sydney Wanderers? and refugee kids through football,” he said. “I would say they are 70% of the reason “It’s a Department of Education funded that the Hyundai A-League has the profile programme and I have worked with three schools it has today,” he proudly declares. in the Bankstown area and I am currently working “They have created the biggest sporting with three schools in the Liverpool area. story in recent seasons and there is “The programme is aimed to help kids who are in tremendous support for the club. trouble. The current programme is a five week, two “In fact, there is no better supported football hours per week programme and it focusses on kids team in any code of . You may who have low self-esteem, disengaged with society find 100,000 at the MCG but they certainly haven’t and perhaps close to trouble but all they need is for all got Collingwood shirts on, whereas the 15,000 someone to care for them and nurture them.” plus at Pirtek Stadium all have Wanderers shirts.”

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Full Time Score

Proudly Brings you SQUAD S B ¨ ¨ 01 Goalkeeper ¨ ¨ 02 Defender ¨ ¨ 03 Adam D’APUZZO Defender ¨ ¨ 04 Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY Defender ¨ ¨ 05 Michael BEAUCHAMP Defender ¨ ¨ 06 Jerome POLENZ Defender ¨ ¨ 07 Forward ¨ ¨ 08 Mateo POLJAK Midfielder ¨ ¨ 09 Forward ¨ ¨ 10 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 11 Forward ¨ ¨ 13 Matthew SPIRANOVIC Defender ¨ ¨ 14 Kwabena APPIAH Forward ¨ ¨ 15 Yianni PERKATIS Midfielder ¨ ¨ 16 Josh BARRESI Midfielder ¨ ¨ 17 Youssouf HERSI Forward ¨ ¨ 18 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 19 Mark BRIDGE Forward ¨ ¨ 20 Jerrad TYSON Goalkeeper ¨ ¨ 21 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 22 Defender ¨ ¨ 23 Jason TRIFIRO Midfielder ¨ ¨ 24 Nicholas OLSEN Defender ¨ ¨ 26 Jaushua SOTIRIO Forward ¨ ¨ 30 Thomas MANOS Goalkeeper TODAY'S MATCH ¨ ¨ 29 Mark CINDRIC Forward Grab a pen and write down your own ¨ ¨ 31 Alusine FOFANAH Midfielder ¨ ¨ 32 Daniel ALESSI Defender record of the game. ¨ ¨ 34 Forward Ladder* *Ladder correct at completion of Round 20 Club P W D L F A GD PTS COACH ASSISTANT COACHES 1 Roar 22 14 2 6 38 20 18 44 Tony POPOVIC 2 Western Sydney Wanderers 22 9 7 6 26 24 2 34 3 Melbourne Victory 22 9 6 7 33 37 -4 33 4 Sydney FC 22 10 1 11 31 31 0 31 5 Adelaide United 22 8 6 8 39 31 8 30 6 Central Coast Mariners 22 8 6 8 23 30 -7 30 7 Newcastle Jets 22 8 5 9 23 27 -4 29 SUBSTITUTES 8 Wellington Phoenix 22 7 6 9 32 35 -3 27 OFF OFF OFF 9 Melbourne Heart 22 6 6 10 28 31 -3 24 10 Perth Glory 22 5 7 10 21 28 -7 22 ON ON ON LEGEND P Played W Wins D Draws L Losses F Goals For A Goals Against GD Goal difference PTS Points

WANDERERS FC VS ADELAIDE UNITED 17

Full Time Score

Proudly Brings you SQUAD S B ¨ ¨ 01 Goalkeeper ¨ ¨ 02 Defender ¨ ¨ 03 Nigel BOOGARD Defender ¨ ¨ 04 Jonathan McKAIN Defender ¨ ¨ 05 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 06 CASSIO Defender ¨ ¨ 07 Jeronimo NEUMANN Forward ¨ ¨ 08 Isaias SANCHEZ Midfielder ¨ ¨ 09 Forward ¨ ¨ 10 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 11 Forward ¨ ¨ 14 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 15 Jacob MELLING Midfielder ¨ ¨ 16 Daniel BOWLES Defender ¨ ¨ 17 Midfielder ¨ ¨ 18 Defender ¨ ¨ 19 Jake BARKER-DAISH Midfielder ¨ ¨ 20 Goalkeeper ¨ ¨ 21 Defender ¨ ¨ 22 Fabio FERREIRA Midfielder ¨ ¨ 23 Defender TODAY'S MATCH Grab a pen and write down your own record of the game.

Ladder* *Ladder correct at completion of Round 20 Club P W D L F A GD PTS 1 Brisbane Roar 22 14 2 6 38 20 18 44 COACH ASSISTANT COACH 2 Western Sydney Wanderers 22 9 7 6 26 24 2 34 Josep GOMBAU Pau MARTI 3 Melbourne Victory 22 9 6 7 33 37 -4 33 Michael VALKARIS 4 Sydney FC 22 10 1 11 31 31 0 31 Peter BLAZINCIC 5 Adelaide United 22 8 6 8 39 31 8 30 6 Central Coast Mariners 22 8 6 8 23 30 -7 30 7 Newcastle Jets 22 8 5 9 23 27 -4 29 SUBSTITUTES 8 Wellington Phoenix 22 7 6 9 32 35 -3 27 9 Melbourne Heart 22 6 6 10 28 31 -3 24 OFF OFF OFF 10 Perth Glory 22 5 7 10 21 28 -7 22 LEGEND ON ON ON P Played W Wins D Draws L Losses F Goals For A Goals Against GD Goal difference PTS Points

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19

Champions League football returns to Parramatta

Story by Breanna Holden @Bre_Holden

In the heat of the Wanderers busy March period the Red and Black face , one of Japan’s finest sides, in their Wednesday evening AFC Champions League fixture on 19 March.

n what will be Western Sydney’s fourth match in just 12 days they’ll play out their third ACL Imatch against a Kawasaki outfit that finished the J-League in third position last season, a mere three points off Champions . The Wanderers last foray in Parramatta against Ulsan Hyundai saw a superb opening period with Brendon Santalab scoring one of the competition’s quickest goals just 43 seconds after kick-off.

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Despite learning the hard way against the 13 proved lethal last season notching 26 goals in 33 2012 ACL Champions what it takes to win appearances however he was successfully silenced by a the competition Western Sydney were still relentless Guizhou Renhe defence in their ACL opener. dominant for several periods of the match, With both sides having to endure heavy showcasing why they are among Asia’s best. playing schedules and long distances it will be Kawasaki’s opening fixture pitted them a test of both sides’ depth and desperation as against Chinese Super League side Guizhou the Wanderers and Kawasaki aim to complete Renhe and thanks to their 25 year old the first half of the group stage with a win. Brazilian, Renatinho, ran out 1-0 winners. Tickets to the match are on sale now The visitors will be pinning their goal aspirations from Ticketmaster and will be available on 31 year old striker Yoshito Okubo. The number at the gate before the game.

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www.dilorenzo.net.au 23 TAKE FIVE WITH JOSHUA BARRESI One of the youngest members of the Hyundai A-League squad takes us through his answers.

Are you studying? If so what are you doing? Certificate III in fitness

If you were stranded on an island what would be your three essential items? Water, music and a football

What would you buy with your last $50? I would bus it home to Adelaide

When you were growing up who or what did you want to be? I wanted to be Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Chris Brown and Will Smith

Who was your favourite player to watch when you were growing up and why? Zidane and Ronaldinho because Zidane was a Genius and Ronaldinho expressed his enjoyment/ love for football with his entertainment and smile

Who is your favourite band/musician? Joe Cole, Chris Brown, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Destiny’s Child

What is your favourite film and actors? Movies are The Pursuit of Happiness, You Got Served, Ratatouille, The Incredibles and Never say Never. Actors are Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara

If you were all in the Big Brother House who would win and why? Shinji Ono; he’s humble and loved by everyone

Which teammate would you refuse to room with and why? Tahj Minniecon. I see enough of him at home (love you Tahj)

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Story by James Clark @clarkies2340

As coach of the Western Sydney Wanderer’s Foxtel National Youth League side, Trevor Morgan is well equipped to help shape and mould the future talent at the club.

uccess is not measured by their place on the NYL ladder but how each player can improve and Sdevelop their game as highlighted by the selection of five Wanderers players in the Young Socceroos. It is an important blueprint for success that sees enormous involvement from the entire Wanderers coaching staff from Tony Popovic, Ante Milicic and veteran goalkeeping coach Ron Corry. The same intensity, mentality, and key words are used on and off the pitch to assist in making a smooth transition when and if they are called into the senior squad. Once talent is identified, Morgan explains the coaching ethos then begins on programming the four main pillars for football into his players. The key attributes (tactical, technical, mental and physical) is his “spider web” to growth and what players need to have in their kitbag to succeed. There are endless challenges facing coaches in this league as players cope with the new priorities and commitments required to take their game to the next level. Study, travel, heightened expectations and the realisation that some are no longer the big fish in the small pond can all weigh on young players mind. The competition is a pathway for young talent to develop in a pressure-cooker environment within a professional Hyundai A-League outfit. With many already tasting senior football experience this year the proof is certainly in the pudding. “I always notice a change in players when they return from a stint training with the senior Wanderers squad,” said Morgan. “There is a look of intense concentration in their eyes but never any cockiness or increase in bravado. “When they train with the likes of Shinji Ono, Matthew Spiranovic, Youssouf Hersi and Aaron Mooy they see how hard these players continue to work in every session despite their success and this ethic seems to rub off immediately

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“Shinji Ono has been a wonderful player to have is the enormous respect they share for the at the Wanderers not only for the senior squad Wanderers family and the coaching staff. but for the young players who experience the high Morgan, like many coaches, finds it difficult standards of professionalism he lives by. He’s a to switch off from the sport that is more a player that always sees areas of improvement in passion than an occupation. However family his game despite his standing in the game.” time is at the top of the priority list when the It is often said that leaders aren’t born but round ball comes to a halt on the pitch. made and Morgan has seen a number of players “We love spending time at the beach but the step up in that department this season. football mind is a difficult one to close down and I have “Exposure to the senior team and Young enormous drive and energy to better the game.” Socceroos squad for some has certainly “Observing Tony Popovic and his commitment to encouraged players to lead and communicate the entire extended playing group at the Wanderers more effectively in the team environment.” continues to motivate me to perform better as a coach As the NYL season has come to a close players every day to get the very best out of my players.” now return to their National clubs and continue with their development. Morgan agrees the NYL competition has been a tremendous success to date but would love to see it mirror the Hyundai A-League’s current 27 round format to have more time together as a squad. He has some very wise advice for young players keen to take their football to the next level: • Never get ahead of yourself • Maintain your self-belief • No half measures • Have a plan B • Be a good person After interviewing many of Morgan’s young squad this season, the common value 27 Wanderers World Cup

Story by Breanna Holden @Bre_Holden Participants from Western Sydney Wanderers football clinics were given a unique Wanderland experience playing their own ‘Wanderers World Cup’ before the Newcastle Jets match. hildren aged 5-12 from our pre-school, weekly and holiday clinics had the opportunity to play alongside their Wanderers heroes in a Cround robin competition on the training fields outside Pirtek Stadium. The children were broken up into eight teams representing various international sides from around the world and encouraged to employ the ‘Wanderer Way’ throughout the games. After the competition the incredible experience saw participants meet the players, talk football, have photos and get their match-day programs signed by Captain Michael Beauchamp, Golgol Mebrahtu, and Daniel Alessi. The event, a continuation from the work done by the Wanderers community staff, looked at furthering the reach and enjoyment of football as well as instilling the key Western Sydney Wanderers ideals of humility, discipline, listening, avoiding harmful and negative behaviour and always remaining ‘raw and real’. Finishing up their one of a kind experience the children and their families were given match-day tickets to the Newcastle Jets game where they walked the pitch of Pirtek Stadium at half time taking in the incredible atmosphere and capping off a very special experience. WEEKLY CLINICS BOOK IN NOW SK

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