The Dayboro Dingoes Soccer Club have already had an exciting start to the year and the season is still yet to commence.  On Friday the 7th of January, seven members of the Dayboro Dingoes under 8s took centre stage at the Brisbane Roar vs. Perth Glory game.

The Dingoes were among a select number of local clubs, chosen by Brisbane Roar to play on the centre pitch at half-time.  Despite a valiant effort the Dingoes went down 2 – 1.  Not only was this a wonderful experience for our young players but it was also great exposure for Dayboro Soccer.
Sign-on was held on Friday the 29th of January.  After a bit of shuffling the Dingoes have been able to field teams in most divisions from U/6 – U/15.  The highlight of the day was a visit by Brisbane Roar, Women’s League player and U/20s Young Matilda- Rebekah Stott.  Rebekah ran a training session and signed autographs for club members and friends.
This was Rebekah’s first season playing defender for Brisbane Roar in the Westfield Women’s League. This league consists of seven state teams which compete in a twelve round competition between November and February.  On Saturday the 12th of February this year the Roar won their second W-League championship in three years with a 2 – 1 victory over arch rivals Sydney FC at Campbelltown.
As noted earlier, Rebekah is also a member of the U/20s Young Matildas and is looking forward to playing in Asia later this year in the World Cup Qualifiers.  Her position in the U/20s follows on from her place in the U/17s Young Matildas squad.
Playing at such an elite level means life is very busy for seventeen year old Rebekah.  As part of her Brisbane Roar commitments she trains 5 nights a week at the Queensland Academy of Sports, Mt Gravatt and during the playing season, travels to locations around Australia to play matches.  Her role in the Young Matildas means that Rebekah is required to attend training clinics, once a month at the Australian Academy of Sports in Canberra and to travel the world to compete in international matches.  Rebekah started playing soccer at the age of four and now has her sights set firmly on representing Australia in the Matilda’s Senior team.
Women’s soccer in Australia is a strongly emerging field and the Matildas have proved more successful on the international stage than their male counterparts.  In 2010, the Matildas won Australia’s first major international soccer trophy, taking out the Women’s Asian World Cup 2010.  This year they head to Germany to fight it out for the Women’s World Cup 2011.  With such strong representative sides, women’s soccer deserves more coverage than it currently receives however the trend does appear to be slowly changing.  During the 2010 – 2011 playing season, the ABC telecast one match per round, of the Westfield Women’s competition, every Saturday afternoon.  It is hoped the ABC will continue these telecasts next season.
Female soccer is an arena to watch and is one of the fastest growing women’s team sports in Australia.  Therefore it was wonderful that the Dingoes’ players, both male and female, were able to meet and learn from a player of Rebekah Stott’s calibre and commitment.  A great role model for all.  The Dayboro Dingoes would like to thank the Brisbane Roar for ‘loaning’ Rebekah to us for the day.  To follow Rebekah’s career log onto Football Australia’s website or the Brisbane Roar website.
The season kicks off soon and the Dayboro Dingoes committee would like to wish all club players a successful, but most importantly, enjoyable 2011 season.  Go the Dingoes!