Club allegiances were put to the side last weekend for the Football For Fires event at Soccer Park. The tournament was well supported, raising vital funds for the bushfire relief. Picture: Krystal Torney
MEMBERS of all six Football Federation Sunraysia clubs had a ball coming together on Saturday for the Football For Fires fundraising event.
Nichols Point Soccer Club president Roxanne Jones, whose club member Jacqui Austin came up with the idea for the event, said the highlight was seeing the wider soccer community band together for the event.
“Each team played each team and we announced the winners at the end,” she said.
“Although I don’t think anyone cared who won, they all cheered for each other and had mates in the other teams.”
Teams were randomly drawn from a hat to play each other in a round robin tournament.
It was a family-friendly event for all, with a sausage sizzle, mobile food vendors, jumping castles and face-painting.
As well as a gold coin entry donation, there was an auction and a raffle with all funds raised to go to one or more soccer clubs directly affected by the fires – whether it be clubs who have lost everything or families that have been affected whose kids are part of the soccer community and need funds to remain in the game.
“We sold off merchandise given to us from the A-League soccer clubs in Melbourne in an auction format, along with the raffles and a silent auction,” Jones said.
“Everybody seemed to have a great time.
“The big thing I have taken away from it was all of the clubs, players, and referees just came together and had a great time, as we know, soccer can get competitive, but everyone banded together for a good cause and we all had a ball.”
Jones said early estimations were $2500 was raised.
“People were incredibly generous and really supportive,” she said.
“It just shows that a community like Mildura can band together even though we aren’t directly affected.”
