October 1, 2014
While the local spotlight for most of the recent soccer season was on the juniors and seniors playing in the South Burnett, there was a group of other players quietly doing us proud in another competition – the National Premier Leagues (NPL).
There were South Burnett players taking part in South West Queensland Thunder U13s, U15s, U18s, Open and Senior Women’s sides.
To play for the Thunder requires dedication, and a lot of travelling.
Nanango mum Caroline Broersma-Haack told southburnett.com.au her daughter Sarah, who played in the U15s girls team this year, had to travel across to Toowoomba twice a week just for training.
And then there was the travel for the games …
Local residents playing for the Thunder this year included Dale Lenkeit (U13 boys), Megan Stephens (U13 girls), Alex Firman and Chris McCarthy (U15 boys), Laura Gray and Sarah Haack (U15 girls), Sam Gray (U18), Ryan Ensor (Open), and Ebonney Kidd and Isabella Neil (Senior Women’s).
Their season wrapped up recently and several South Burnett players came home with awards:
- Megan Stephens – U13 girls Players’ Player award
- Ryan Ensor – Player of the Year
- Isabella Neil – Senior Women’s Coaches’ award
The NPL provides a “career path” for soccer players who want to go as far as they can in the game.
A great example is SW Thunder Player of the Year Ryan Ensor – a former Kingaroy Junior Soccer club player – who this week signed a contract for a train-on place in the youth team at the Newcastle Jets, an A League club.
