A chance meeting at the Mini World Cup was a catalyst for the Gin Gin Football Club to learn some valuable lessons from the Toowoomba Grammar School.
The renowned football school has produced many wonderful players, and its coaches were more than happy to pass their knowledge on at the weekend.
Gin Gin Football Club committee member Muppi Dean said the coaching clinic was organised after she met with Toowoomba Grammar School Director of Football Peter Broadfoot in Hervey Bay last year.
“It was just a chance meeting, I was speaking with Peter about having a specialist clinic in Gin Gin when he offered to personally help us out,” Muppi said.
“He said it was a way of giving back to the community, and we were blown away.”
As formidable as the players from the Gin Gin Football Club are, they became a little more dangerous after the coaching from Peter, and his team.
More than 50 enthusiastic-young Gin Gin footballers took the opportunity to work with, and gain skills from, some of the best coaches in Queensland.
Muppi said the visit was important for the regional club, and she added both the kids and the local coaches had the chance to learn valuable skills during the visit.
“It was a big deal for us,” Muppi said.
“Toowoomba Grammar is known in the Wide Bay area for having good footballers, and it was great the coaches were able to come here and share their skills with our kids.
“It really was brilliant, not only for the kids but also for the Gin Gin coaches.
“Most of our coaches are parents, and to have Toowoomba Grammar coaches come up here was brilliant and it gave them (the parents) a chance to learn new coaching skills too.”
Muppi thanked Peter and the other coaches from Toowoomba Grammar School, Richard (Magic) Mitchell, Shoya, Jack Nussey and Tom Lund for making the trip up to Gin Gin.
She said the Gin Gin football players aged between 5-16 years all left the clinic with not only new skills but were all chuffed they had been given the chance to meet the respected coaches.
Muppi said Toowoomba Grammar School coach Richard (Magic) Mitchell told her the staff enjoyed their time in Gin Gin spent with the energetic players and their families.
With a history of professional football coaching Magic said he was pleased not only with the number of players at the Gin Gin clinic, but also with the enthusiasm and willingness to learn from each of the participants.
In an email to Muppi, Magic wrote it was a joy to be involved with the players from Gin Gin Football Club.
He added the players were keen to learn, well-mannered and a credit to themselves and the club.
“I said to the boys when we got out the car this is going to be a magic day …Yes it was,” he wrote.
- Other football news: Bundaberg teen scores elite football opportunity
