Eagles kids fly high for first time
Narrabri's Under 12 team enjoyed their hitout in the first ever junior match played by Narrabri Eagles.
AS far as debut games go, the junior kids at Narrabri had a ripper.
A total of 50 kids across the Auskick, Under 10 and Under 12 age groups ran on to Leitch Oval for the Junior Gala Day, the first junior matches played by Narrabri.
Young footballers from Gunnedah and Tamworth travelled up the Kamilaroi Highway to join in the fun and ensure the day was a tremendous success.
Two years ago there was no junior program in Narrabri before an Auskick Centre was started up in 2022.
This year the popularity of the program has grown to 80 participants each Thursday night.
Narrabri Auskick co-ordinator Ebonnie Whan said Sunday’s Gala Day was an historic one for the Eagles.
“AFL for juniors was played for the very first time in Narrabri and what an amazing and memorable day it was. We can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Ebonnie said on the Narrabri Auskick Facebook page.
“Thank you to Gunnedah and Tamworth for travelling to play with us. Your sportsmanship and team spirit was evident and it was great to play against and with you.”
The young Eagles looked resplendent in their brand new footy jumpers which arrived only just in the nick of time and thanks to the kindness of a stranger.
The club was told that the jumpers would be ready on Friday but the catch was that the jumpers would be in Wollongong and wouldn’t be delivered in time for Sunday’s big day.
The power of social media kicked into gear with a call going out for anybody who might be driving from the Illawarra on Friday to perform a massive favour.
The social media post was shared an incredible 60 times and someone who isn’t connected with the club or even a footy fan put up their hand and said they would be able to pick up the jumpers and drive them as far as Gunnedah.
The kids looked amazing in their blue and gold thanks to a man named Dean. The man none of us know who selflessly delivered the package wouldn’t even accept a thank you gift because “it would ruin the story”.
It was another factor that made the day a memorable one.
Brad Greenshields, the AFL’s Community Football and Competitions Manager for Northern NSW, attended the day and said he hopes like everyone that the day inspires the young Narrabri footballers to have a larger involvement in footy in the future.
“The smiles on the faces on all of the kids who played on Sunday shows that they had a lot of fun and now we’ll all work together to encourage the Narrabri kids and their parents to stick with the game and enjoy further Gala Days,” Greenshields said.
There will be further Gala Days this year with the next one being held on Sunday, July 23 at Glen Innes before another will be held at Armidale on August 6 before the Under 14s game being played that day.
Senior football will return to Narrabri on July 22 when Gunnedah plays a home game at Leitch Oval against the New England Nomads.
