In just over a week 20 local kids will take part in the trip of a lifetime to Spain to watch and play professional football.
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The Wellington High students and five staff are preparing for the trip, thanks to a partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation.
The Foundation is a branch of the world-famous Real Madrid Football Club and over 12 days the Wellington locals will meet with other social sports schools from across the globe.
While there, the students will play two other social sports schools in friendly football games and will also have the chance to watch training sessions of the Real Madrid team.
"The training facilities are world class and the kids get to train on them," Wellington High School coach-coordinator Brooke George explained.
"It will be interesting to get over there and being the social nature of it (the games) they are played in very good spirit."
The young football fans have been training hard in the lead up to the trip, dedicating their time during and after school.
"Being a social sports school we've got varying talents, we have some very experienced football players... but in the training it's been good to see those that do have the skill willing to help out the younger kids," Ms George said.
"We have students from Year 7 to 10 so there is a big age span. They play really well."
Ms George said it is a special thing for the kids to be a part of and they were counting down to the days until they jetted off.
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One of the biggest things the students were looking forward to doing was watching professional matches.
Earlier this year the Real Madrid Foundation trainer Antonio Vilar was running drills with the students and they will get the opportunity to catch up while in Spain.
"That's exciting for the kids. They're looking forward to seeing those familiar faces," Ms George said.
The teacher said they have been very fortunate to have received 22 individual sponsors from local businesses which went towards a polo shirt and flight costs.
Dreamtime Tuka founder Herb Smith covered the entire jumper costs for the staff and students.
"We were quite astounded by the willingness of people to sponsor," Ms George said.
"It's pretty humbling from our point of view."
The local sponsors are:
- AKS Hairdressing
- Ang & Co
- Wellington Veterinary Hospital
- Wellington Warriors FC - Junior
- KidMotion
- Jespresso
- Shearing Supplies
- Gunnegalderie Merinos and Poll Merinos
- Binginbar Farm
- Redfern Power Solutions
- McCarroll Racing
- Cameron Batho Building
- Hardnox
- Taylored Kitchens
- Jared Wykes Electrical
- J&A Ag Contracting
- Dillon Price Photography
- Wellington Senior Soccer
- Mumblebone Merinos
- Matt Redfern Construction
- Styled by Sim Hairdressing - additional sponsor
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
