Ever wondered how someone has arrived at a certain place in their footballing career? Two Pararoos from South Australia, Taylor Harvey and Ryan Kinner tell of their journey to represent Australia and the pride that comes with it.

Taylor Harvey:

My football journey has been very different to many children that have grown up playing football.

Living in Tintinara, the only sports available are Australian Rules football, cricket, basketball and tennis. The only real taste I had of football was an annual school 5-a-side competition against schools from within the area. I have however always followed football since I was a kid, mainly Liverpool.

When I was 8 years of age I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called Transverse Myelitis, which left my right leg paralysed for a couple of weeks. Doctors told me that there was a very strong chance that I wouldn’t walk again. With monstrous amounts of rehab I managed to walk by myself without any assistance.

In late 2013 doctors at the Women’s and Children’s hospital told me I was eligible to compete in Paralympic sports. I spent months trying to find a sport that I could possibly excel in. In early 2014 I decided to give soccer I try, I talked to the Football Federation SA (FFSA) coach to see if I could come out to training. After that first training I was hooked, I enjoyed challenging myself with something new. I also managed to meet some great people during the trainings.

After months of training I was lucky enough to get selected for the FFSA team to compete at the 2014 National Paralympic 7-a-side competition. Surprisingly I managed to string a couple of good games together which gave me a lot of confidence.

A couple of weeks after the Nationals I was sent a picture of my name in the Australian Under 19 squad by the South Australian captain Ryan Kinner. At first I didn’t believe it, but once I received the email from David Campbell the Pararoos Team Manager, I knew it wasn’t a mistake.

Being a part of the Australian team is a huge honour for me. From an early age my life has always been about sport.

Going to England next year to compete against the best players in the world is a great chance for me to prove myself as an athlete. I know a lot of hard work must be done before now and next year, but I know this may be the only chance I get to represent my country.

My main goal is to hopefully continue to improve my skills and hopefully represent Australia in the 2016 Paralympic Games. 

Ryan Kinner: 

I first found out about Cerebral Palsy (CP) Football when I was 12 years old when I was introduced to it by a friend that was involved and playing CP Football. I had already played football for many years before this for my school’s football team.

In my first year playing CP Football I was selected to represent South Australia at the 2009 Youth Games. It was at these games that I was recognised as a player with potential for competing with the Australian team.

I continued playing for the South Australian state team for the next couple of years when in early 2012 I received a call to attend the Australian camp.

I was excited and nervous because I was stepping up and going to the next level of my footballing career and a team to represent Australia in an international competition at United Arab Emirates was being selected from the camp.

Initially the top 14 players were to be selected for another camp from which the final 12 would continue through, however the second camp was cancelled and I was not successful in making the team. I accepted this, especially as it was my first camp, however I later received a call to say that they needed another player due to a player pulling out.

It was an amazing feeling. I was so excited and felt privileged to have made the team – and I was nervous.

That was the beginning. Thereafter I went to all of the tours; the Ukraine, Canada and Spain and they were all amazing experiences. One highlight was being named the best Australian player at the Canadian tour, it was a great feeling being recognised.

To help improve my ball skills throughout this time, I was placed in an abled bodied state team’s weekly training session. I also continued to play club football and participate in indoor football with the CP team.

Playing for an Australian team has been a peak sporting achievement for me personally and representing Australia has been an amazing privilege that has provided me with some really good memories.

My goals for the future are to continue to be selected for the Australian team in the years to come.  I want to perform at my best and I want the team to do well in next year’s International Under 19’s tour in England.