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PO Box 302
Thirroul, NSW, 2515
Australia

Thirroul Junior Football Club has more than 400 juniors in teams from Under 6s to Under 18s. The club's aim is to foster football by creating an environment for our Thunderbolts players where success is judged - not by winning - but by having fun, improving skills and participating in a club that is active within the community.

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News

Thirroul JFC has more than 600 players from Under 6s to Senior Men's and Women's teams. The club's aim is to foster football by creating an environment for our Thunderbolts players where success is judged - not by winning - but by having fun, improving skills and participating in a club that is active within the community.

Filtering by Category: Thunderbirds Division 1

Welcome to new sponsor Bulli Medical Practice

Brad Walter

Thirroul JFC is pleased to welcome Bulli Medical Practice to the club as a new sponsor for the 2017 season.

Bulli Medical Practice has taken up one of the club's new Sponsor a Player packages and will sponsor Thunderbirds player Alex Pritchard.

Alex, who is a registered nurse at Bulli Medical Practice, is a great club person and role model.

Besides playing for the Thunderbirds Division 3 team, she also coaches the Under 15s Girls team and was last year named the 2016 Thirroul JFC Senior Club Person of the Year.

Another member of the Thunderbirds "Thirdbirds" team, Keely Mar, also works at Bulli Medical Practice, which has a proud history of supporting the local community and is a regular sponsor of Illawarra Folk Festival, Scarborough Board Riders and the PCYC.

Further details about Bulli Medical Practice can be found by clicking on their logo, which is located on the home page of the Thirroul Football website.

Please support Bulli Medical Practice and the family of sponsors who support Thirroul JFC.

For information about sponsoring Thirroul JFC, including Sponsor a Player packages, please go to the Sponsorship tab at the top of the website.

Thunderbirds Cup report and photos

Brad Walter

Albion Park reaffirmed their standing as the state's best Under 18s women's team by winning the Thunderbirds Cup at Gibson Park for a second consecutive season.

The 2016 Football NSW Under 18s Champion of Champions winners beat Shellharbour Under 16s in the final of the tournament, which was played last Sunday as part of Female Football Week celebrations.

The win completed a successful start to the 2017 season for Albion Park, who will this year play in the newly created Football South Coast Women's Under 21s competition, after earlier defeating Bulli Under 17s and Bulli Under 21s.

With eight teams from Thirroul, Warilla, Shellharbour, Bulli and Albion Park, the Thunderbirds Cup again featured some of the best young female talent in the South Coast region playing in a round robin format.

Thirroul, who will also field a team in the FSC Women's Under 21s competition after the club's success in last year's Champion of Champions tournament, beat Warilla Under 17s in the Plate final.

The organisers of the tournament would like to thank all of the teams who took part and everyone who helped make the third annual Thunderbirds Cup a success, including the referees.

A gallery of photos taken by Lin Hampton are below.

Zoe Grew to represent Thunderbirds and FSC in All Stars game

Brad Walter

Congratulations to Zoe Grew on her selection in the Football South Coast Women's All Stars team to play Sutherland Shire Football Association All Stars at Macedonia Park on Sunday, March 12.

Zoe, who plays for the Thunderbirds Division 1 team and was also a member of last year's Under 21s Champion of Champions team, will represent the region against a hand-selected All Stars team from each of the clubs in the Sutherland competition.

The All Stars match, which kicks off at 3.30pm, will be the culmination of a day of Female Football Week celebrations, including a FSC U12/13 Girls pre-season tournament, featuring Thirroul JFC's Under 13s team.

The inaugural clash between FSC and SSFA will be a highly anticipated game with both associations having club teams who have enjoyed recent State Cup and CoC success.

 

 

Thirroul JFC celebrate Female Football Week

Brad Walter

Thirroul JFC will celebrate Female Football Week by hosting the annual Thunderbirds Cup at Gibson Park on Sunday, March 12.

The tournament, for Under 16-18s girls, will again feature some of the best female talent among those age groups in the South Coast region, including the Albion Park team which won last year's FNSW Under 18s Champion of Champions final.

In total, eight teams from Albion Park, Bulli, Shellharbour, Thirroul and Warilla will contest the Thunderbirds Cup, now in its third season.

The previous winners were Woonona in 2015 and Albion Park in 2016.

Kicking off at 9am, the tournament will be played in a round-robin format, with each team guaranteed a minimum of two games.


Football NSW ready for Female Football Week

As part of the Female Football Week festivities there are a number of activations taking shape across Sydney focusing on the development of the female game from a player, official and referee perspective.

Football NSW Game Development Officer for Women and Girls Servet Uzunlar was eagerly anticipating the week and encouraged everyone to get behind what will be a fantastic week for the female game.

“It’s great to see such an initiative dedicated to the Female game.

“We have several key activations across various areas from around Sydney that will help support and show awareness of the female game.

“I want to thank everyone for their support and wish everyone the best of luck with the running of their special events.” 

Below is a list of detailed activations taking place at various locations across Sydney:

Sunday 12th March

Thirroul Junior Football Club – Gibson Park 9am - U16-U18 Girls Tournament

Bankstown Association – Coaching Course

Sutherland Association - All Stars Match - SSFA v FSC Women’s All Stars match (U10 FSC and SSFA U10 GSAP teams playing beforehand)

Bankstown Association – Girls Gala Day

Monday 13 March

Northern Suburbs FA School - Charles Bean - Free Girls Skills Night

Tuesday 14th March

Bankstown Association - Professional Development Session – “coaching female players”

Sutherland Association (TBC) - SSFA & FSC GSAP Games

·         U10s 6pm

·         U12 7pm Women’s Football Development Guide

Wednesday 15th March

Northern Suburbs FA - Grassroots Coaching Course 6pm - 9:30pm         

Friday 17th March

Northern Suburbs FA School - Free Girls Skills Night      

Venue 1- Willis Centre

Venue 2- Mills Park                                     

Sunday 19th March

Bankstown Association – Level 4 Referees Course

Manly Association – BTH Raiders v Mosman FFW

Roselea FC – Womens 4 a side competition

Gordon Soccer Club (TBC) – Girls Only Gala Day

Football South Coast – The Fraternity Club Futsal Courts 9-11am - Grassroots/Skill Training workshop 

Member Federation Supporting Activations

9th March

Football NSW & Football United Gala Day,

Valentine Sports Park. 

9am -1:30pm  

18th/19th March

GSAP Gala Day – Valentine Sports Park

16th March

NPL and NPL2 Coaching Female Workshop – Valentine Sports Park (TBC)

Gibson Park drainage: Before and after photos

Brad Walter

For those who have endured years of frustration and anxiety whenever it rained about cancelled games and training at Gibson Park these photos may seem hard to believe.

The top photo and several others were taken today, Saturday March 4, after more than 120mm of rain. The other photos are from last year, after similar heavy rain.

The difference is stunning and will be a game changer for Thirroul JFC this seasons and in the years ahead.

The ground is closed for the weekend, along with all Wollongong City Council grounds, but during the season Thirroul teams will be able to play when they previously couldn't and training wouldn't be constantly disrupted every time it rains.

We also expect the playing surface to be better for longer as it won't be effected by grass die off from flooding or teams being forced to train on degraded areas.

To help preserve the surface, teams will be discouraged from training on ground 1 as much as possible as other areas should be in good condition. 

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this possible by supporting the club's fundraising  through the annual Race Nights or by buying Junior Team Photos and playing senior Summer 7s on Sunday afternoons while the grounds were out of action due to the drainage works.

Thirroul JFC would particularly like to thank the Member for Keira, Ryan Park MP, for $35,000 funding from the State Government 2015 Community Building Program and Wollongong City Council for a $30,000 grant to enable the club to do both grounds.

It is estimated that the drainage improvements also cost Thirroul JFC a similar amount through the club's contribution to the costs and lost revenue from Summer 7s this year so please continue to support our fundraising events and through the sponsorship packages on the thirroulfootball.com.au website.

Finally, Thirroul JFC would like to thank Turspec for doing such a fantastic job.

After 120mm of rain, Saturday, March 4, 2017

After 120mm of rain, Saturday, March 4, 2017

2016 after similar heavy rainfall

2016 after similar heavy rainfall

Eastern side of Ground 1, near where the dug outs are usually situated.

Eastern side of Ground 1, near where the dug outs are usually situated.

The same area last season.

The same area last season.

Northern end of Ground 1

Northern end of Ground 1

2016 photo..

2016 photo..

Female Football Week events for junior girls teams

Brad Walter

Thirroul JFC will again host an official Female Football Week event, with an U16s-U18s girls tournament at Gibson Park on Sunday, March 12, while tournaments have also been announced for U12s, U13s and U14s girls teams.

An U12-13s tournament will also be played on Sunday, March 12, while Shellharbour JFC will host a tournament for Under 13s and 14s girls, as well as U12s boys, on Sunday, March 19.

Under 12s boys and girls teams are also invited to enter the Cono Cup at Coniston on Saturday, March 26. 

Football South Coast has also approved a series of gala days for Mini Roos teams, to be played throughout the season.

For further details see the table below:

 

 

 

Get your registration refunded and help our club

Brad Walter

Any player who introduces a sponsor to the club to the value of $500, plus $50 GST ($550 total), will be reimbursed their 2017 registration fee of $160.

In return, the Sponsor receives membership to Thirroul JFC’s financial supporters group, The Thunder Clap, for the 2017 season, which includes:

  • the Sponsor’s logo, with a link to their website or Facebook page, on the home page of the thirroulfootball.com.au website listing them as a 2017 member of The Thunder Clap;
  • a banner with the Sponsor's name and/or logo to be displayed at Gibson Park during Thunder home games during the 2017 season;
  • recognition as a 2017 Sponsor of Thirroul JFC on the club's Facebook pages, You Tube videos, and at official club functions and end of season presentations;
  • a certificate acknowledging the Sponsor’s support of the club and the player for the 2017 season;
     
  • recognition of the player they had sponsored on the thirroulfootball.com.au website and during announcements over the PA at home matches during the 2017 season;
     
  • tickets for two people to an end-of-season presentation of the Sponsor's choice - graded juniors or seniors; and,
     
  • an invitation to be a guest of the club, along with other Thunder Clap members, at a nominated Thirroul Thunder home match during the 2017 season.

This offer is available to all junior and senior players registered to Thirroul JFC in 2017.

Besides the spectators at games, Sponsors will receive exposure to Thirroul JFC's growing online community via the club's website, Facebook pages and You Tube videos.

During the 12 months since Thirroul JFC's website was re-launched in February, 2017, thirroulfootball.com.au has attracted:

  • 47,374 page views (4,984 per month during the season);
     
  • 24,218 visits (2405 per month during the season); and,
     
  • 17,608 audience size (1,783 per month during the season) 

Thirroul JFC's Facebook pages have a combined 1,410 members, of whom 816 receive automatic notifications of any posts, while the club's You Tube videos attracted more than 60,000 views in 2016.

For further details, please email brad.f.walter@gmail.com

Thirroul JFC club house break in

Brad Walter

Thirroul JFC's club house at Gibson Park has been broken into on the eve of the Junior Registration Day on Saturday. 

Officials discovered the break while collecting stock for the registration day during Friday night's training session for the Thunderbirds women's teams.

The incident follows a break in at Thirroul Surf Club in the early hours of Wednesday morning, during which a defibrillator and $900 in cash were stolen and the patrol room ransacked.

In comparison, Thirroul JFC's club house suffered minor damage and it does not appear at this stage that anything of significance has been stolen, besides some new match balls.

This includes shorts and socks, which will be available at the registration day at Thirroul Bowling, Recreation and Leagues Club between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

Anyone with information about the break ins is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to assist with the police investigation.

IRT and 2006 All Stars win Summer 7s finals

Brad Walter

Mixed competition winners 2006 All Stars with runners up, ACAittleSilhoutteOfMilan

Mixed competition winners 2006 All Stars with runners up, ACAittleSilhoutteOfMilan

Thanks to everyone who played in the senior Summer 7s competition for your support with the move to Sundays due to the drainage work at Gibson Park.

The competition will be back bigger and better after the upcoming winter season - and will return to Wednesday nights.

Thanks also to the referees and congratulations to the winners - IRT in the men's competition and 2006 All Stars in the Mixed competition.

Men's competition winners IRT and runners up, Boys on Tour.

Men's competition winners IRT and runners up, Boys on Tour.

How to register for 2017

Brad Walter

Online registration for players wanting to play in the 2017 season will be available from Tuesday, January 3 on the myfootballclub.com.au website.

Registration for Juniors and Amateurs' players will open first, followed by Thunder and Thunderbirds' players at a date to be advised.

All players – juniors, senior women and men, including amateurs – are to register under Thirroul Junior Football Club and choose the appropriate package, as described below:

JUNIORS – All Ages 2017
Select this option, for male and female juniors who are playing in the Junior Competition from U6 Mini Roos to U18 Graded Competition – including those players selected in the Thunder Under 18s Division 1 team.

JUNIORS – Coach/Manager 2017
Select this option, for anyone volunteering to be a coach or manager for the 2017 season.

WOMENS 2017
Select this option for players wanting to play for the Thunderbirds– including U21s - in the WOMENS competition for 2017.

THUNDER 2017
Select this option if you have been selected to play for the Thunder senior Men’s teams in the District League Competition.

Amateurs

Those players wanting to play in one of the club’s Community League teams should select the relevant package, as described below.

AMATEURS 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Thirroul Amateur teams in the Community League.
(This is for player's who played in Thunder Div 2 and Thunder Div 3 in 2016)
ANYONE WANTING TO PLAY AMATEURS WHO DIDN’T PLAY IN THIS COMPETITION LAST SEASON SHOULD SELECT THIS OPTION AS WELL

GPR Amateurs 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Gibson Park Rangers Amateurs team in the Community League.
(This is for Players who played in Div 3 GPR and Thunder Div 4 in 2016)

GPR Masters 2017
Select this option, for Men who are playing in the Gibson Park Rangers Masters (Over 35) Community League.
(This is for Players from the Thunder Amateur teams who turn 36 in 2017 or older) 

Other

WOMENS – Coach/Manager 2017
Appointed Thunderbirds Coaches and Managers for the 2017 season ONLY.

MEN – Club Official 2017
Thirroul JFC Committee ONLY

MEN – Coach/Manager 2017
Appointed Thunder Men’s Coaches and Managers for the 2017 season ONLY

Click on the link below for myfootballclub.com.au instructions:

2017 Registration Instructions

Click here to go to the myfootballclub.com.au website and register.

 

 

2017 registration open from January 3

Brad Walter

Online registration for players wanting to play for Thirroul JFC in the 2017 season will be available from Tuesday, January 3.

The registration fee for all Thirroul junior, men's, women's and amateur players in 2017 will be $160. This represents a $15 increase from last season.

Where a family has more than one player registering with Thirroul JFC the following scale will apply - $160 for the first two players and $130 for all other immediate family members. The $30 discount applies across the club for players in junior, men's, women's and amateur teams.

Thirroul JFC has taken the decision to increase the registration fee in 2017 to help offset the cost of drainage works undertaken on the two main fields at Gibson Park during the off-season.

The club contributed about $15,000 for the installation of slit drainage at Gibson Park, while the unavailability of the grounds for Summer 7s is estimated to have cost Thirroul JFC more than $20,000 in revenue.

It is a policy of Thirroul JFC that all players pay the same registration fee, whether they play Under 6s or First Grade for the Thunder or Thunderbirds.

However, the families of Mini Roos players (Under 6s to Under 11s) are not required to perform canteen duty during the season.

The cost for each Thirroul JFC player in the 2015 season was estimated to be approximately $288, comprising of:

* Football South Coast Capitation fee, which includes fees imposed by FFA, FNSW and FSC
* Wollongong City Council Ground fees for playing and training at Gibson Park
* Referee's fees
* Uniforms
* Maintenance costs, including electricity, equipment and field maintenance.

The difference between the cost of playing and the registration fee charged by Thirroul JFC is funded through canteen takings, sponsorship and fund raising activities.

Further details about how to register online will be posted here before January 3.

Registration Days will also be held at Thirroul Bowling, Recreation and Leagues Club on Saturday, January 28 and February 4, between 10am and 2pm. 

Thunderbirds Co-Coaches appointed for 2017 season

Brad Walter

Thirroul JFC is delighted to welcome Tina Siskoska to the club as Co-Coach of the Thunderbirds Division One team for the 2017 season.

Tina, who has had a long association with Illawarra Stingrays, will work alongside 2016 Thunderbirds coach Corey Haines-Grose with the aim of developing Thirroul into one of the leading Football South Coast women's teams in coming seasons.

The club believes Tina's playing and coaching background with the Stingrays will compliment the experience and knowledge of the playing group that Corey has gained from his involvement with the team during the past two seasons.

Both Co-Coaches will continue to play in 2017, with Corey remaining a key member of the Thunder First Grade team which has made the District League finals for the past two seasons and Tina again lining up for the Stingrays after returning home from Perth earlier this year.

A foundation player with the Stingrays in 2006, Tina coached the club's Under 16s teams for two seasons and this year worked with their reserve grade side.

She was also involved with the Thunderbirds Youth Grade team in the recent FNSW U21s Champion of Champions.

 

Corey Haines-Grose

Corey Haines-Grose

Tina Siskoska

Tina Siskoska

Following the success of the "Youthies" in that tournament, Thirroul JFC intends to enter a team in the FSC Under 21s women's competition next season.

The club will also field Division Two and Division Three teams if there are sufficient playing numbers.   

Coaching positions for those teams will be finalised once playing numbers become clearer.

All players interested in playing for the Thunderbirds in 2017 are invited to a pre-season kick around at 6pm on Wednesday, 14th December at Gibson Park.      

Thirroul junior Maniso Micheal represents Egypt

Brad Walter

Photo: Adam McLean, Illawarra Mercury 

Photo: Adam McLean, Illawarra Mercury 

Congratulations to Thirroul junior Maniso Micheal on her selection for the Egypt women's team to contest the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations, beginning this weekend.

Maniso, who lives at Austinmer, played Mini Roos and Graded Juniors for Thirroul JFC before going on to play at representative level. She currently plays for Bankstown City FC in the NSW WNPL 2 competition.

The 25-year-old qualifies to play for Egypt through her father Kamel and was chosen in the squad for the Cup of Nations after attending trials in August. 

“It's great to represent the country on his behalf and that side of the family,” she told Mitch Cohen in the Illawarra Mercury. "It's always been a dream of mine so I'm really grateful to get the opportunity.”

Egypt's first match is against host nation Cameroon on Saturday, November 19 and they have also drawn to play Zimbabwe on November 22 and South Africa on November 25.

To read the full story about Maniso's achievement in the Illawarra Mercury click here.

 

 

Gallant Thunderbirds do club proud

Brad Walter

Thirroul Thunderbirds demonstrated the benefits of forming a women’s Youth Grade team this season in a hard fought U21s Champion of Champions grand final loss at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday.

After failing to stave off an early onslaught from Epping FC, the Thunderbirds went down 4-0 but the score line did not reflect the quality of the match or the ability of the young Thirroul team.

With four of the players who took the field in the grand final not yet having turned 16 years old and only four being over the age of 18, the future looks bright for the Thunderbirds in coming seasons.

As the only Under 21s team in the Football South Coast women’s competition this year, Thirroul played Division 2 and were competitive but often had to supplement their side with players from the club’s junior ranks.

In total, 10 players from the U15s, U16s and U17s girls teams were used during the season and they benefitted from the experience.

Playing Champion of Champions has been another significant step in the development of those girls and the entire 18-strong squad who spent seven weeks training together for the tournament.

After a dramatic 2-1 golden goal defeat of Canterbury FC in the quarter-finals and an 11-0 win over Blacktown champions Riverstone, the Thunderbirds faced a much tougher opponent in the grand final.

Epping FC had been undefeated this season in the North West Sydney Women’s Division 2 competition, and demolished Southern Tablelands 13-0 and Miranda Magpies 5-1 to qualify for the decider.

Little separated the teams in ability but Thirroul struggled to cope with Epping’s physicality and their finishing was better, with left forward Caitlin Wood claiming a hat-trick of goals and striker Mia Axe scoring in the 82nd minute.

Thunderbirds goal keeper Shahne Hocking was one of the team’s best but was powerless to stop Wood pouncing to score in the sixth and 11th minute after she had palmed away shots at goal.

Thirroul’s best chance came just before halftime when a powerful strike by Kirsten Ward rebounded off the post and the game may have turned out differently if the ball had found the back of the net instead.

Wood claimed her third goal in the 51st minute but the Thunderbirds never gave up and stuck to their possession-based passing game in a bid to create more scoring opportunities for Ward and fellow forwards Beth Grew, Veronica Calderon and Bryony Loosemore.

The mid-field rotation of Jenna Rose, Zoe Grew, Cara Baker, Arlena Mackenzie and Ashleigh Walter were tireless, while defenders Amy Panteli, Emily Pannell, Mae Gibbeson, Sarah Hanlon and Lily Clarke worked themselves to exhaustion in the high intensity match.

Thirroul JFC would like to thank Football South Coast and the Women’s Council for their support of the Thunderbirds U21s in the Champion of Champions.

Thanks also to the Woonona club for allowing the team to train at Ocean Park while Thirroul’s grounds were unavailable due to drainage works, and to Tarrawanna AAW, Russell Vale Over 30s and Woonona U16s Girls teams for practice matches.

A special thanks to the coaching staff of John Paegle, John Cropper and Amy Ziebell for their efforts with the team and to Tina Siskoska, Michelle Carney and Jason Hegarty for their help and support.

Thirroul: Shahne HOCKING, Sarah HANLON, Mae GIBBESON, Amy PANTELLI, , Emily PANNELL, Jenna ROSE, Bryony LOOSEMORE, Arlena MACKENZIE (c), Beth GREW, Zoe GREW, Veronica CALDERON, Kirsten WARD, Ashleigh WALTER, Cara BAKER (c), Lily CLARKE, Matilda DAVIS-RAISS, Chrissie FEDELE, Ebony STARLING

Epping: Taylor JOHNSON, Alice GRIERSON, Lauren EVANS, Caitlin WOOD, Emily DE FREITAS, Chloe BOUDIB, Samantha FARQUHAR, Maddison SMAIL, Mia AXE, Julia TIMMINS-SMITH, Jasmin BOUDIB, Carmen FONG, Kathryn RAMSAY, Kate BRADLEY, Katherine GALLAGHER, Clare LAWRENCE, Kirra-Lee SCOTT

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn

Thunderbirds Youth Grade and U17.1 boys in Champion of Champions quarter finals

Brad Walter

Thirroul's Matilda Davis-Raiss (4th from right). Photo: Robert Peet (Illawarra Mercury). Click here for story or see link below.

Thirroul's Matilda Davis-Raiss (4th from right). Photo: Robert Peet (Illawarra Mercury). Click here for story or see link below.

The Thunderbirds Youth Grade team and Thirroul's U17.1 boys will be among eight team representing Football South Coast in quarter final action of the Champion of Champions tournament at Ian McLennan Park on Sunday, 9th October.

Youthies play Canterbury JFC in their first hit out of the FNSW tournament, while the U17.1 team meet Macarthur representatives Harrington United after beating Balmain FC in a penalty shootout two weeks ago.

Tarrawanna women, Albion Park U18s girls, Shellharbour U12s girls, U14s girls and U14s boys and Russell Vale O30's women's teams will also play quarter final matches at Ian McLennan Park.

The Thirroul U17.1 team play at 10.15am, while the Thunderbirds Youth Grade play at 11.30am.

Here is a link to an article in the Illawarra Mercury on Saturday, 8th October. WIN TV also had a story on last Thursday night's new. Watch the report here:

Updated: Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus scores again for Mini Matildas

Brad Walter

Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus has scored a second goal for Australia as the Mini Matildas maintained their unbeaten record in the AFC Women's Under 16s qualifying tournament with an 8-0 win over Iraq.

Ashley, who made her international debut in the opening match of the tournament, scored from left back in the 36th minute of the match at the Vietnam Youth Training Centre in Hanoi on Monday.

She had already scored for Australia after finding the back of the net in the 54th minute of her debut for the Mini Matildas as they thrashed Palestine 28-0 last Thursday.

The 15-year-old, who made six first grade appearances for the Stingrays in this season's NWPL NSW competition but still trains regularly with her former team-mates in the Thirroul JFC U16.1 team, started at left back against Palestine before moving to right back, from where she scored her first goal in Australian colours.

Ash was one of nine Australian goal scorers in the match, which was played in 38 degree temperatures, with midfielder Courtney Nevin finishing with a stunning nine goal haul and Sofial Sakilis coming off the bench to score five second half goals.

Mini Matildas coach Ante Juric chose an almost completely different side for the second match against Hong Kong, which Australia won 14-0, and rested Ashley before recalling her for the game against Iraq.

Australia's next match is against Vietnam on Thursday and they play Uzbekistan in their final pool match on Saturday.

The AFC Under-16s Championship qualifiers mark the start of the elite women's football pathway and the first steps for young female players who aspire to play for the Matildas.

The tournament also serves as the qualifiers for the AFC U16 Women's Championship, which will be played in China in September, 2017.

The top three nations from the AFC Championships will progress to the 2018 FIFA U17 World Cup in Uruguay.

Originally published as Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus scored in Australian debut

Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus has scored a second goal for Australia as the Mini Matildas maintained their unbeaten record in the AFC Women's Under 16s qualifying tournament with an 8-0 win over Iraq.

Ashley, who made her international debut in the opening match of the tournament, scored from left back in the 36th minute of the match at the Vietnam Youth Training Centre in Hanoi on Monday.

She had already scored for Australia after finding the back of the net in the 54th minute of her debut for the Mini Matildas as they thrashed Palestine 28-0 last Thursday.

The 15-year-old, who made six first grade appearances for the Stingrays in this season's NWPL NSW competition but still trains regularly with her former team-mates in the Thirroul JFC U16.1 team, started at left back against Palestine before moving to right back, from where she scored her first goal in Australian colours.

Ash was one of nine Australian goal scorers in the match, which was played in 38 degree temperatures, with midfielder Courtney Nevin finishing with a stunning nine goal haul and Sofial Sakilis coming off the bench to score five second half goals.

Mini Matildas coach Ante Juric chose an almost completely different side for the second match against Hong Kong, which Australia won 14-0, and rested Ashley before recalling her for the game against Iraq.

Australia's next match is against Vietnam on Thursday and they play Uzbekistan in their final pool match on Saturday.

The AFC Under-16s Championship qualifiers mark the start of the elite women's football pathway and the first steps for young female players who aspire to play for the Matildas.

The tournament also serves as the qualifiers for the AFC U16 Women's Championship, which will be played in China in September, 2017.

The top three nations from the AFC Championships will progress to the 2018 FIFA U17 World Cup in Uruguay.

Thunderbirds W2 team qualify for finals

Brad Walter

The Thunderbirds W2 team have qualified for the finals of the Football South Coast Women's Division 2 competition after a 6-1 win over Coledale at Gibson Park on Wednesday night.

Thirroul will now take on Kiama in Sunday's elimination semi-final after Kiama beat Wests Illawarra 3-0 at Unanderra Oval on  Wednesday night.

The two results forced officials to reach for their calculators to determine which team had finished the regular season in fourth place as Thirroul and Wests were level on 32 competition points and had an identical goal difference of +18.

However, the Thunderbirds' season remains alive as they scored 39 goal to 32 by Wests.

The Thunderbirds play Kiama in the elimination semi-final at 11.45am Sunday at Ocean Park, Woonona, so get along and support the team if you can.

 

 

 

Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus selected for Young Matildas

Brad Walter

Congratulations to Thirroul junior Ashley Dribbus on her selection in the Young Matildas squad to play in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in Vietnam from August 25 to September 3.

Ashley played her junior football with Thirroul JFC in the team which is this season's U16.1 side and also featured Dylan Ryan, who earlier this year signed with English Premier League club Liverpool FC.

The 15-year-old recently made her first grade debut for the Illawarra Stingrays in the NSW WNPL 1 competition.

Ashley was invited to attend two Young Matildas camp at the AIS in Canberra last month and was then selected for a second camp before being named in the 23-strong Under 16s squad to be coached by Ante Juric.

She will leave next week for a pre-tournament camp in Hanoi ahead of the AFC U16s Championship Qualifiers, which signify the start of the elite women’s football pathway and the first steps for young female football players who aspire to play for the Matildas.

The AFC U16 Championship Qualifiers serve as the qualifiers for AFC U16 Women’s Championship, which will be played in China in September 2017.

The top three nations from the AFC Championships will progress to the 2018 FIFA U17 World Cup, which will be played in Uruguay.

Australia is in Group D along with Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Palestine and Iraq and opens their campaign against Palestine on 25 August at the Vietnam Youth Training Centre in Hanoi.

Minutes silence for Mel Bond at all FSC Women's Games

Brad Walter

All matches in the opening round of Football South Coast Women's Competitions this weekend will commence with a minute's silence to to honour the memory of Thirroul Thunderbirds player Mel Bond.

Mel, who was the goalkeeper and captain of last year's league winning Division 3 team, has been a valuable member of the Thirroul Football Club and wider football community and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

All four senior Thunderbirds teams will play their opening round matches of the 2016 season at home on Sunday.

12.30pm: Division 3 v Oak Flats W3

10am: Youth Grade v Oak Flats Falcons

12pm: Division 2 v Woonona 2

2pm: Division 1 v Woonona 1

The Under 12s, Under 13s, Under 16s and Under 17s Girls teams will also play at Gibson Park on Sunday, along with the Under 17s Boys.

Thirroul JFC has created a Mel Bond tribute page on this website.