CAPALABA Football Club player Chelsea Fairbairn has been accepted into an elite soccer program run by the Queensland Academy of Sport and Brisbane Roar.
A Capalaba Bulldog of two years, Fairbairn played the 2018 season as an under 13 National Premier League women’s team member, and was invited to trial for the program after her successful year.
After impressing selectors at trials, she was offered a position in the QAS program squad for the 2019 season.
Capalaba FC NPLW technical director Shaun McAney said the club was very proud of Chelsea’s achievement.
“Chelsea is the first player from our NPLW program to be selected and offered a place in the QAS/Roar program,” he said.
“Capalaba FC has only recently completed its first year in the NPLW competition and believe that we provide a great platform for female players who want to receive similar opportunities.”
Fairbairn said she was looking forward to the opportunity to improve her skills.
“I was really happy when I got the (acceptance) email,” she said.
“(I’m excited for) the whole experience of being there and making a lot of new friends, (and the opportunity to) improve on my basic skills.”
Fairbairn’s acceptance comes during the expansion of Football Queensland’s QAS women’s program, which aims to strengthen the pathway for young female players to Brisbane Roar and Matildas.
The expansion will see the program offering more full-time positions to young players, meaning they will be representing the QAS rather than their local club.
As part of the program, Fairbairn will have access to high profile, experienced coaches, a dedicated strength and conditioning specialist, a physiotherapist and sports trainer and education sessions on nutrition and sports psychology.
“Chelsea fully deserves this great opportunity (and) she has worked hard to get to where she has,” Mr McAney said.
The Capalaba Football Club is currently looking for under 13 girls to join their program.
For more information, visit http://www.capalababulldogs.com/.
