Matildas midfielder thrills fans at Torquay clinic

WORLD-class football talent visited Torquay briefly yesterday (Wednesday, June 19), with Matildas star and former Surf Coast prodigy Kyra Cooney-Cross making her way to Banyul-Warri Fields.

Cooney-Cross featured as part of a special sold-out Coerver Coaching Geelong clinic, providing local junior footballers a chance to see and hear from an elite athlete at the top of the sport up close.

 

 

Through her long-standing connection with Coerver Coaching Geelong – a program she was once part of, – and its director Adrian Leijer, Cooney-Cross said she was grateful to be invited to attend the clinic.

“I’ve known “Ado” for a couple of years through our families and also through my sponsor adidas, he invited me down,” she said.

“I enjoy connecting with the kids and hopefully inspiring them to become Matildas or Socceroos.

“I did Coerver when I was younger and my dad operates the program out of Central Coast, so I know how great the program is.”

Cooney-Cross will represent Australia at the coming Paris Olympics before returning to her club Arsenal in the Women’s Super League in England.

 

 

However, her brief time back in Australia provided a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.

“It’s always nice to get home and see my family, we have a very busy schedule, so I am always grateful whenever I get to come back to Torquay,” Cooney-Cross said.

“I can’t wait to get to Paris, it’s going to be such an exciting Olympic games and as a team we hope to go deep in the tournament.”

Cooney-Cross also had a parting piece of advice for local footballers currently learning the game, before resuming her Olympic preparations.

“Have fun – it’s so important to enjoy the journey,” she said.

“For those wanting to progress, it’s a lot of hard work! Listen to your coaches, and you can’t spend enough time with the ball.”