Celebrating Female Football week, Sydney FC’s Hyundai A-League stars will have a special guard of honour for walk out at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium tomorrow.
Celebrating Female Football week, Sydney FC’s Hyundai A-League stars will have a special guard of honour for walk out at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium tomorrow.
The Sky Blues starting side will each walk out to a round of applause from a guard of honour featuring an important lady in their lives, be it their mother, wife, partner or daughter in an enjoyable day out for all as the club recognise the impact and achievements of all females involved in the game.
Sydney FC shotstopper Andrew Redmayne and young left back Joel King will walk out with their mothers in attendance for Saturday’s Grand Final rematch, and said it’ll be a special moment.
“Mum has been a huge influence on my career from the very start,” Redmayne said.
“Driving me to training down to Sydney six days a week. It’s a small token I can give back to her I guess [having her on the pitch on Saturday].
“None of us would be here without the important females in our lives and the influence they have on us.
“For myself, my mum and wife are very anchoring figures, they’re someone I can always rely on and it’s something really special to acknowledge them with a full round dedicated to them.”
“It will be something different and special, she’s never done it before and she’ll get to experience the atmosphere out on the pitch which will be good,” Joel King continued.
“Mum has helped me a lot in my career. When I was younger I used to travel from Wollongong to Sydney so her and my dad would drive 1.5 hours in the car each way four times a week for me, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
For Kosta Barbarouses Saturday’s walk out will be a first, as his nearly six-month-old baby daughter Lola accompanies him on the pitch.
“She’s my inspiration. I would have liked to bring my wife out as well but she likes to stay away from the spotlight,” Barbarouses said of his family.
“She [his daughter] means everything to me and going forward now in whatever I do, she’s the reason I do it. It’s the first time she’ll walk out with me so it’s a special moment.
“Mum was always the one taking us to games, she’s had an unbelievable impact for me,” Barbarouses continued.
“She’s grown to love the game. She watches us and even the Phoenix every weekend. She loves football now.
“My wife is the backbone of our home and does everything to help my career.”
In conjunction with Female Football Week, Sydney FC will recognise the contribution women make to the Sky Blues and football generally with a presentation of Sydney FC’s own female football week awards at tomorrow’s match against Perth Glory.
The awards will recognise loyal female members, Sydney FC female staff and volunteers as well as the work of women in the Sky Blues community.
