The women’s Masters team is travelling to Turin Italy for the World Masters Games in August- the WA Manrays. Go WA. Players in the squad are from all around Western Australia.

The ladies are doing major fundraising to meet their initial $100,000 budget. That’s just for flights and accommodation that is being booked as we speak. Kit, registration and meals will add another $20,000.

A huge thanks to Football West and Manray Builders for their support!

You can support the ladies this Easter Saturday all day at Belmont Bunnings for a sausage sizzle, Easter chocolates and raffle with a whole sheep up for grabs (as in chops and not as a pet), a handmade wine rack made by one of the players, amongst other great prizes.

The squad is an Australian representative team and one of two Aussie teams competing in the World Masters Games from Australia. Over 50,000 participants will be involved from all sports from all around the world. That makes this event as big as the Olympics. It is held every four years.

The squad won gold at the Pan Pacific masters at the Gold Coast last year. The WA masters have an impressive success story. They are the most successful representative team of any sport from WA, having won a medal in almost every Australian competition they have competed in over the past 20 years. Masters is an over 30 age competition.

Names in the squad that you may recognise are

Mandy Laing

Mhairi Glover (Angus )

Di Reeves

Penny TannerHoath

Deb Farrell (Eve)

Lorraine Connop (Jones)

There are some great stories the players can tell from their earlier state team representations and now with daughters playing!

For more information and if you would like to help the squad, phone Penny 0408921832.

The recent Pan Pacific tournament on the Gold Coast was one of many successful trips the over 30s women have made in the past 20 years. The team, varying in age and faces, has won more medals than any other WA sporting team. The last competition the ladies competed in was the Australian Masters in 2005 when they won bronze. The South West Stingers from the Bunbury area have also competed in the Masters competitions and individual players have competed as part of other state teams. Its all about participation not qualification.

Pan Pacifics are held every two years. The next Masters tournament is in Italy next year.

The squad included Sandra Szopski, Ali Butler, Mhairi Glover, Coach Robbie Glover, Mandy Laing, Di Reeves, Michelle Colebrook to name a few of the legends of Western Australian football.

Some of the ladies at the Perth Glory game. Mhairi proudly displaying her Pan Pacific Gold Medal.

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES AND COACH!

The Masters event is an over 30’s annual national women’s competition that competes interstate. Biannual competition is an international competition. For more information go to www.australianmastersgames.com