Hopes to unearth new stars as nine teams to compete for football country week

The region’s best soccer stars prepare to lace up for the 2022 Football West country week competition. The event will take place from September 26-30 at Kingsway Sporting Complex, Madeley and is expected to attract more than 1000 players, coaches, volunteers and spectators for a football extravaganza. The initial recruitment of players began in June when more than 160 kids attended trials at La Fiamma and GBSC. Coaches reduced the number and recruited 127 Geraldton kids, making up nine teams of both boys and girls from under-11 to under-17. Children from other regions were also welcomed into the teams this year to help support any team gaps while also allowing the opportunities for regions (not fielding a team) the ability to take part in the tournament. Last year, Geraldton took home three individual trophies from the Football West tournament. Roy Verbe won U11 boys’ best and fairest, Zoe Dumont won runner-up best and fairest for U12 girls, and Matt Greenless won U15 boys’ best and fairest. Geraldton Junior Soccer Association country week co-ordinator Shell Johnson said it was an outstanding effort. “These awards are an amazing achievement as the competition is fierce with some talented regions,” she said. “All three players are playing this time around, so let’s hope they can do their best again. “I wish this year’s group good luck and we hope to be competitive and bring home some more individual, but more importantly team, awards for Geraldton.”