Knights chalk up 100
Para Hills Knights Soccer Club captain Tracey Long and team-mate Bianca De Bellis chalked up their 100th league match last month.
Long recorded her milestone with a 1-1 draw against Adelaide Uni in Round 6 while De Bellis had more reason to celebrate finding the back of the net in the Knights 6-1 victory over Campbelltown in Round 9.
The skipper has been at the club for six seasons and admitted there have been a few tough years during her tenure at Para Hills.
The Knights dropped down to the Adelaide Airport Women's State League after losing players, but Long said after a couple of seasons of rebuilding, Para Hills are ready to return to the top flight and are hoping to secure promotion to the Adelaide Airport Women's Premier League next season.
"I think we looked at it long term and we wanted to go back to the State League," she said.
"Then we could start from scratch and build it up, so in a couple of years down the track we can put together a competitive team."
"We've had a couple of tough games in the State League but we have really high hopes of a top-two finish. We've built a good side and they should all be moving up with us next season into the Premier League."
The 23-year-old revealed she has no immediate plans of slowing down and is looking to continue leading the Knights into the Adelaide Airport Women's Premier League.
"I would love to keep playing at this level for as long as I can – until my body stops me. I'm happy to keep playing for Para Hills and the Premier League and still competing," she said.
De Bellis also admitted she was proud with her achievement and even more chuffed she was able to get on the score sheet in her milestone match.
"I'm really happy with the achievement. It feels really good to have stuck with the club for so long," she said.
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