Quartet’s United dream

LAST Sunday was a baptism of fire for four young soccer players in the game of their lives.

DREAM MATCH: The four teenagers who played for the Rams Select XI against Gold Coast United on Sunday, (from left) Blake Ashley, Alex Gray, Yantra Whittling and Tim Knight.

LAST Sunday was a baptism of fire for four young soccer players in the game of their lives.

It was also a dream come true for them.

The quartet played in an exhibition match against new A-League team Gold Coast United in front of about 2000 spectators at Byron Bay.

Blake Ashley, 17, from the Ballina men’s Premier League team, and trio Alex Gray, 17, Tim Knight, 16, and Yantra Whittling, 18, from the Byron Bay premier division team, were selected in the Rams
Select XI team which played United on Sunday.

The hand-picked team boasted some of the best men’s premier league players on the Far North Coast from four leading clubs.

The boys met the full squad of 24 Gold Coast United players and coaching staff at a luncheon before the game.

They mingled with a line-up of superstar players such as Socceroos Jason Culina, Adam Griffiths, former Socceroo and coach Paul Okon, three Brazilians, a host of internationals and other players assembled from all over Australia.

Blake, a promising 17-year-old striker from Ballina, was also selected to train with the Gold Coast Youth Squad at Southport for three days last week. He moved from Central Western Premier League in Dubbo this year and has already made a big impact at his new club.

“It was great to be asked to play in the Select XI team with such great players and so much fun,” he said.

Gold Coast United talent scouts have already been keeping an eye on Blake and it seems he could have a bright future.

Goalkeeper Alex, from the Byron Bay Rams, had his opportunity to play against United in the second half of the game on Sunday.

“I couldn’t get the smile off my face and it was awesome fun,” the former Queensland Under-15 State representative said.

However, he had to face a barrage of attacks from the lightning-fast Gold Coast line-up.
Alex had a season playing for Magic United on the Gold Coast and since moving to Byron Bay he has had a great year at the Rams.

Alex’s brilliant goalkeeping skills are one of the reasons the Rams’ premier reserves team is on top of the competition table.

Tim, a speedy winger from the Rams’ premier league side, said he was also thrilled coach Peter Ware had given him a ‘taste’ of the A-League.

Tim started playing soccer 10 years ago for Eureka and had three years in Football FNC representative teams, playing in the NSW and Queensland State leagues before going to Byron Bay this year.

“I’m really enjoying the challenge of playing in the men’s premier league this year,” he said.
Tim has already scored more than his fair share of goals in his debut year in the top grade at Byron Bay.

With team-mates like competition top-scorer Jordy Campbell, Tommy Ruhl, John Bradbury and Sam Owens to show him the ropes anything is possible.

Yantra is another young player to have carved a name for himself as a naturally gifted defender.

Although he has only just turned 18, Yantra has impressed Ware and opposition teams alike with his ability to play anywhere on the park.

“It’s my third season at Byron and I’m really enjoying it here,” he said.

Like the others, Yantra admitted to being a bit nervous before the big game.

“Our whole team really seemed to lift our game against the professional players and I felt I played pretty well too,” he said. “I knew there would be talent scouts there on Sunday so I hope they noticed me.”

Yantra is another to have played as a junior representative for FNC before having two years representing the Gold Coast region.

Ware said the game on Sunday was a great opportunity for the lads to get to play against top players.

“Were all still buzzing with excitement at the club but now we have to settle down and concentrate on making the semi-finals,” Ware said.

Originally published as Quartet’s United dream