One way to mark the end of the season for Paeroa Rangers Soccer Club and Paeroa College soccer were a few Waikato tournaments.
The Paeroa Rangers Soccer Club, which currently has around 60 players, took two under-12 teams over to compete in the Waikato Junior Five-a-side Tournament on September 14 at Jansen Park, Hamilton.
Club president Bob Turlington told The Profile it was a fun way to end the season.
“We take our kids over there because when they go to college they will be playing a lot of these kids at the next level.
“Our teams did very well. We won several games and lost games by a goal.”
Skills such as passing, shooting and playing defense were displayed by the kids, Bob said, as well as support for their fellow teammates.
The tournament was good exposure for team members because they could see the skill level of the players from outside the Thames Valley, he said.
“The Thames Valley has some good talent, but it’s a small pond vs the Waikato.
“Being exposed to better teams will hopefully motivate our kids to go home and practice to get better.”
One thing is certain: “our team is not big but we play hard”, he said.
Bob also coached the 2025 Paeroa College Mixed Soccer teams.
Two college senior boys’ teams and one senior girls’ team recently took to the fields for the Waikato Five-a-side Tournament on September 13, decked out from head to toe in school colours.
“The girls won two of four games. The boys, who were missing key players, still did good,” Bob said.
Overall, the college teams had a “unique season”, Bob said, with 10 new players and several people who had never played organised football before.
DETAILS: Contact Bob Turlington, Ph 027 206 1526 or email kirpfamily@hotmail.com to find out more about the Paeroa Rangers Soccer Club.
