Far South Coast Football Association (FSCFA) soccer teams have achieved an amazing feat in winning the Southern Branch Championships in four consecutive age groups.
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The Championships were played over two weekends and FSC players upset a strong field to win each age group it entered, with the under 12s, 13s and 15s boys taking out the title.
The under 14s girls also secured their division over teams from Shoalhaven, the Southern Tablelands, Southern Highlands, Eurobodalla and Cooma.
The four teams, comprising of players from across Far South Coast clubs made a significant impact on the championships.
“They raised the bar on the standards of play,” FSCFA representative convenor Kevin McGrath said.
“This was an unprecedented result for the association with all four entered teams taking our their respective titles.”
McGrath said the wins were also an endorsement of the coaching and player development undertaken over the last two years in the area.
“This was especially the case in our 12 and 13s age groups, where we have two young 17 year old qualified FFA coaches.”
McGrath said it was stunning to see two talented young coaches rising through the ranks and tasting success with their young charges.
Toby Willington and Craig Howker headed up the under 12s, while Ryan Sinclair took the reins for the 13s.
Paul Webster coached the girls roster and Jamie Carrett headed the 15s boys team.
McGrath said an extra honour to cap off claiming respective titles was FSC players being awarded the Ray Tweedie Medal in their respective age groups.
“This is a memorial medal for the best and fairest player in each age group over the course of the championships,” he said.
Isaac Willington, Luella Boulton and Jai McCabe each took out the honour for the FSC.
FSCFA technical development director Ray Hale was stunned by the effort.
“We have been working on the FFA curriculum for the last two season and teams played the systems accordingly and it paid dividends,” Hale said.
“Some great football was seen by all with most teams going through both weekends undefeated.
“Certainly never in my 16 years with FSCFA have I ever seen a clean sweep with the association taking full honours in a championship.
“Certainly history was made at these championships.”
All four teams will now represent Southern Branch in the NSW Country Cup, a tournament that brings together Western, Southern and Riverina Branches to determine the best country NSW team on the June long weekend at Wagga, Dubbo and Goulburn.
