Youth pair to national soccer champs

TWO of Ballarat City Football Club’s young soccer stars are on their way to Coffs Harbour this month after being selected to compete in the National Youth Championships.

Fourteen-year-old athletes, Felix Murray and Josh Rimmington, will represent Country Victoria in the under-14 and under-15 sides respectively.

Rimmington plays with Ballarat City’s under-16 division two side in the National Premier League Victoria, and said he felt privileged to have been selected to represent the region following trials earlier this year.

“It’s a reflection on the hard work I’ve put in within the last couple of years,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the competition, seeing all the good players that will be there, and seeing how I go up against them.

“I love trying to improve myself to be a better player, would like to take things up a level at my club, and even potentially play professionally one day. I’d love to see where I could go.”

Murray started outdoor soccer with the Victoria Park Vultures before moving to the Ballarat City NPL team. At the age of nine, he was already playing in the under-12 division.

This year, he’s in the under-14 squad and said he was proud and lucky to have been selected for the National Youth Championships following trials.

“I feel great. I work really hard at training so it’s good to be noticed,” Murray said.

“It’s a five-day tournament against the other states, with one or two games every day, and if we get into the top four, we’ll get into the finals.”