[size=6]Booroloola need new kicks for FFA Cup clash[/size]

AN appeal has been launched to help the fledgling Booroloola Cyclones soccer team to compete in the inaugural NT round of the national FFA Cup in eight days.

The problem for the club, which tackles Hellenic at Marrara soccer stadium in Darwin on April 22, is simple.

They don’t have any playing boots.

Twenty pairs of senior boots were stolen from the lock-up at the Boorooloola school at the weekend meaning the Cyclones are staring down the barrel of playing in either socks or bare feet in Darwin on Wednesday week.

FFANT program manager Josh Smith and coach Mark Wakeling are devastated by the setback.

“We had a break-in to the Cyclones’ shed the other night and the majority of the senior boots were stolen,” Smith said.

“This leaves our Cyclones with literally no boots to play or train in for our upcoming match in Darwin.”

Smith and Wakeling have made the appeal, backed by FFANT chief executive officer Craig Chapman, for boot donations to enable the Cyclones to make their historic debut in the national competition.

Smith wrote the following email urging sporting fans to support the appeal

“As you all may know the tiny little town of Borroloola in the NT will be the first all Indigenous side to play in the FFA Cup this year,” he said.

“The boys will travel 15 hours by bus to play just one match in Darwin on April 22.

“Few players in the Cyclones side own their own boots and the club has been lucky enough to have several pairs donated to us over the years and stored in our football shed down by the school oval.

“Each session the boys get down to the ground a little early to find a pair of boots that fit (or barely fit), lace them up and then we get under way with training.

“Unfortunately on Sunday evening the football shed was broken into and over 20 pairs of boots were stolen leaving our boys with nothing to train or play in only two weeks out from our big match in Darwin.

“We also had several pairs of black Nike shorts from our new kit & many of the training bibs taken as well.

“I would like to ask whether it was possible to set up a boot appeal with the federation and the clubs in Darwin where players would be able drop their old boots into the office so we could collect them and take them back for the boys and girls in Borroloola to use,” Smith said.

Wakeling said the appeal was vital to the club’s historic participation in the FFA Cup.

“The reality of it is that we do not get enough sponsorship money each year to replace this gear as the cost of travel to each tournament is in the thousands,” he said.

“We would ask if anyone in their football communities would ask players to donate their spare boots to our small little team so our boys can compete in the FFA Cup this year and future tournaments.”

“The players were stunned (by the thefts) but with their outstanding character they bounced back and put their loss behind them and got on with the training for the big game.

“This is a massive game for this local side who are training hard in the extreme heat.”

“I would like to ask whether it was possible to set up a boot appeal with the federation and the clubs in Darwin where players would be able drop their old boots into the office so we could collect them and take them back for the boys and girls in Borroloola to use,” Smith said.

Boot donations can be shipped or posted to: Borroloola Cyclones, c/o Football Federation, Northern Territory, 131 Abala Road, Marrara, NT, 0812.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/football/booroloola-need-new-kicks-for-ffa-cup-clash/story-fnsjpygl-1227302545746

Bentleigh in trouble 2-0 down to ballarat last time I checked. Thing south Springvale are down too

anyone know more about this match?

TBC:
Hurstville City Minotaurs v Northbridge/Dapto Dandaloo Fury at TBC

has northbridge vs dapto happened? if so what is the score?

Supposed to be on tonight but game was called off

FULL TIME and @BRedDevils in a massive upset defeat @BentleighGreens 4-3 in a cracker of a game #FFACup

I thought we were going to see two 2014 teams get knocked out in the same night.

Balmain FC 5-0 North Epping.

This is now the furthest Balmain has gotten, I believe in the Waratah Cup/FFA Cup. :)

Balmain FC 5-0 North Epping.

This is now the furthest Balmain has gotten, I believe in the Waratah Cup/FFA Cup. :)

I think we play you next round??

does the waratah cup still exist or is it starched because of the FFA Cup qualifications?

I think so. Although it's played down a lot more in favour of the FFA Cup. You're still competing for the Waratah Cup, just under the guise of the FFA Cup. The state based qualification for the FFA Cup is a cup in it's own right. Pretty sure they still compete for the Dockerty Cup in Victoria.