Four Parkes soccer teams competed at the Forbes Gala Day last weekend and the U16 Boys side came home as overall winners. They beat Orange 2-0 in the grand final. The U14 Girls team went down in the semi-final in a penalty shoot out to Bathurst. The U16 team are at the back (L-R) Coach: Angela Bottaro-Porter, Kai Airey, Jake Sinclair, Harrison Budd, Harrison Kennedy, Cameron Frogley, Dusty Annai, Tom Burkitt, Charlie Cowie and Fraiser Beaton. In front are Riley Mcmaster, Hayden Lamond, Danilo Bottaro- Porter, Alexander Macgregor, Ruby Smith, Kaden Charlton-Little and Conner Batt.
Parkes Teacher Heads To World Cup

Meaghan Kempson(back row, 3rd from the right) with the Young Matildas squad and coaching staff. Meaghan was named Coach, Trainer or Manager of the year at the Australia Day Awards in 2021.
Parkes High School PE teacher and Parkes Cobras coach Meaghan Kempson will be going with the Young Matildas to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022 in Costa Rica.
Meaghan recently attended the Young Matildas preparation camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for the Under 20’s Women’s World Cup as Equipment Manager. She will be attending more preparation camps in the lead up to the World Cup in Costa Rica from 10th to 28th August.
The Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney, who represented Australia and played in the US, invited Meaghan to join the coaching team at a Young Matildas camp last year. Meaghan is now a valuable member of the coaching staff.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup takes place biennially and sees 16 nations compete against each other for the prize. The competition has seen four past champions; USA, Germany, Japan and Korea DPR.
The tournament was originally planned for 2020 and intended to have Panama as co-host, but it had to be postponed due to the COVID pandemic. Costa Rica were then named sole host.
Sports Grants For Two Parkes Clubs
The Parkes Australian Football Club Inc. received $2,400 as part of the NSW Government’s Local Sporting Grant Program for the purchase of uniforms and equipment. Member for Orange Philip Donato MP met with club treasurer Ron Hetherington on Tuesday to formally congratulate the club. Phil said he was always happy to support clubs.
The Parkes Rugby League Football Club Inc. secured $3,000 as part of the 2019/20 NSW Government’s Lo-cal Sporting Grant Program. Member for Orange Philip Donato MP was in Parkes on Tuesday to congratulate President of the club, Tony Dwyer (left). Tony said the funding would be used to subsidise the women when they travel for away games.
Winding Up The Soccer Season

Action from one of the under 8 games – Falcons vs Emus – played at Harrison Park last year.
With the 2021 season coming to an unfortunate early finish due to COVID lockdowns, the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association committee has been working hard behind the scenes finding ways to wind up the season.
The Policies and Procedures Meeting will be held on Monday, 18th October at 6:30pm at Parkes Bowling & Sports Club. Any application to change current by-laws must be received via email to pdasasecretary@outlook.com.au by 6pm Friday, 15th October. All Open Ladies teams from the 2021 season need to have a representative in attendance.
The Junior Presentation will be held on Saturday, 30th October 1pm at Harrison Park. COVID rules and regulations will still apply with QR check in and social distancing enforced. All participants in our non-competitive junior teams will receive an individual award with a team photo taken. Presentation times for each group are: 1pm – Under 6; 1:30pm – Under 8; 2pm – Under 10.
In the competitive age groups only premiers and runner-up trophies will be presented with the individual best and fairest awards. The following teams will receive trophies from 2:30pm: Under 12 Premiers: Strikers; Under 12 Runners-Up: Victory; Open Juniors Premiers: Rangers; Open Juniors Runners-Up: Wolves
No presentation will be held in both divisions of our Open Ladies Competitions with teams instead receiving awards at the compulsory Policies and Procedures meeting. The teams are: 1st Division Premiers: Cougars; 1st Division Runners-Up: Commercial Kookaburras; 2nd Division Premiers: Forbes Power; 2nd Division Runners-Up: Railway Bowling Club.
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, 8th November at 6pm at Parkes Bowling & Sports Club. All positions on the committee will be declared vacant. Anyone interested in volunteering to join the committee should attend the AGM or email pdasacommittee@outlook.com.au.
Round 2 of the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association

Round 2 of the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association’s competition took place at Harrison Park last Saturday. This is the under 8’s game – Falcons vs Emus on Ground 9.

The under 12’s game – Victory vs Olympic on Ground 11.

The under 6’s game – Panthers vs Cheetahs on Ground 1

The under 17’s game – Thunder vs Rovers on Ground 6.

Good footwork from the goalkeeper in the under 12’s game.
Soccer Returns To Harrison Park
Last Saturday saw the return of the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association’s competitions after a short delay due to COVID-19. It was great to welcome everyone back to Harrison Park and to see lots of smiling faces enjoying the great game of soccer.
Although Round 2 kicks off this weekend, it is still not too late to register for the 2020 season. Registrations will be accepted until 31st July. For more details regarding registrations go to www.pdasa.sportingpulse.net.
Draw for tomorrow, Saturday 11th July:
• UNDER 6: 12.20pm G1 Panthers v Cheetahs; 12.20pm G2 Lions v Tigers.
• UNDER 8: 12.00pm G8 Eagles v Hawks; 12.00pm G9 Falcons v Emus; 1.10pm G9 Budgies v Magpies.
• UNDER 10: 12.15pm G4 Jets v Mari- ners; 12.15pm G5 United v Roar.
• UNDER 12: 12.30pm G11Olympic v Vic- tory; 2.00pm G11 Power v Warriors.
• UNDER 17: 12.10pm G6 Thunder v Rovers; 12.10pm G7 Rangers v Wolves.
• OPEN LADIES: Friday Night 6.00pm G10 Parkes Hotel Football Club (PHFC) v Star Hotel Cougars. Saturday 1.30pm G10 Raptors v Commercial Kookaburra’s; 3.05pm G7 Peak Hill All Stars v Forbes Wildcats.
Grand Final Winners
The Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association held its Grand Finals at Pioneer Oval last Saturday. It was a great
day of soccer, despite the dust storm turning the sky brown! The winners were U12- Glory; U17- Rangers; B Grade-
Peak Hill All Stars and A Grade- PLC Raptors. Pictured are the Peak Hill All Stars.
New Amenties A Game Changer
The future of soccer in Parkes promises to be exciting with the completion of the refurbishment of the 41-year-old amenities block at Harrison Park Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith, Councillors and representative from the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association attended the opening of the new $378,000 project last Thursday.
Harrison Park, home of the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association, is considered one of the premier soccer fields in the Central West, but the amenities were in desperate need of refurbishment.
The new facility features two spacious change rooms, eight additional toilets, and additional facilities for disabled/ambulant access. The change rooms provide direct access to shower facilities, which can be closed to the public when required.
The new amenities block has been designed for maximum ventilation while still being sheltered from the weather, and also features a new referee room, and accessible parent change room. Energy and water efficiencies include timed taps and bubbler, LED lighting on timed sensors, and drinking bottle refill stations.
“These upgrades will certainly be a game changer for local soccer. There are more than 500 registered players, as well as spectators and family members who regularly use these facilities, while the Parkes and District Cricket Association also utilise the field,” the Mayor said.
Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association’s President, Wayne Osborne said the new facilities would give Parkes a competitive edge when bidding to host future sporting events.
“We are looking to apply for some rounds of the Western Youth League, and following that State titles. Councils are really investing in the playing surfaces and sealing work on the car parks, so we will end up with a premier product.”
The works were managed by Parkes Shire Council’s Building and Projects Officer Bart Ingram and delivered by local building contractor Rodney Barnes.
Parkes Soccer Score Big
The Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association received a big boost last week towards upgrading amenities at the soccer fields. Parkes is one of several clubs in NSW to benefit from $4.1 million from the 2015 Asian Cup Legacy Fund. Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless was in Parkes to hand over a cheque of $150,000 to President Kevin Medlyn.
Kevin said the club was no longer able to attract big tournaments to Parkes because of its lack of suitable amenities. “We will refurbish the change rooms, add toilets and showers and build a new entrance.” The facilities are also not suitable for local players as the club saw an increase of 200 members this year following the Government incentive to get kids active. “We have 500 players here on a Saturday, and 150 on Sundays using the facilities,” said Kevin.
The total cost of the renovation would be over $300,000 with the club putting in $20,000.