Flying out for Futsal

TWO local girls have just boarded the plane to represent Australia at the Futsal world championships, in San Francisco.

Amy Parkinson and Bethany Lloyd checking in for their flight to the world futsal championships.

Futsal is a fast paced form of soccer played indoors with five people a side.

Amy Parkinson from Scone and Bethany Lloyd from Aberdeen both go to St Joseph’s High School and both made the Australian team.

Sharon Parkinson, Amy’s mum said the girls were very exciting to be flying out today.

“Amy has had a count down on her phone down to the day, the hour and the minute that she was boarding the plane,” she laughed.

“The girls are coming from all over Australia and they are travelling together as a team,” she said.

“Amy is a good sensible kid, she did an international trip last year with the school and it is such a great opportunity for her.

“I am so excited she can go and do what she is good at and have fun, we are extremely proud and I hope they come back winners,” Sharon Parkinson said.

Sharon said their teacher Steve Sulcolsky has a passion for the game which inspired the girls.

Proud parents James and Sharon Parkinson see off their daughter Amy at the airport.

“He has a real passion for futsal and Joey’s has produced some great players and it is credit to him,” said Ms Parkinson.

“Amy has only been playing futsal for about two years and not even at a competition level, it was just purely that  Mr Sulcolsky saw her talent and helped her,” she said.

“She’s only just started playing in the Scone comp this year and we’re not a family of soccer players or anything like that.

“She represented New South Wales last year and she’s been selected to represent New South Wales this year as well,” Sharon Parkinson said.

The girls will be in America for 12 days and play at least four games a day over four or five days.

Sharon said they will have time for some sight seeing including the San Francisco Pier, Alcatraz and hiking a mountain.

While the girls did not seek sponsorship for their trip, they are continuing to perform well in the sport and are keen to look at any sponsorship opportunities.

Media interviewing Australian team members at the airport.