Club delegate Megan De Pasquale, who herself has three boys playing with the club (Antony, Ashton and Alby), said the club would have teams entered in the Under-6, Under-7 and Under-8 competitions, while also fielding two teams at Under 10 and 12 level.
“We have almost 100 kids registered, which is huge for soccer in Kyabram,” she said.
“It is even challenging the AFL clubs.”
Kyabram Knights will also be represented in the Under-14 competition. The club attracts players from St Augustine’s College, Kyabram P-12 College under primary, St Patrick’s at Tongala and St Mary’s at Rushworth.
The De Pasquales, and several other junior players, will enjoy the best of both worlds as they play Australian Rules and soccer during the winter.
“My nephew (Kyabram’s Goulburn Valley league star Anthony) grew up playing soccer and football,” she said.
“My kids will play both sports.”
The Shepparton junior competition starts on April 29, Kyabram Knights continuing a tradition that started 16 years ago.
Frank Scopelliti was among the founders of the club, working closely with Sandra Quattrocchi and Shiralee Dunn to kick-start the sport in Kyabram.
“There was a lot of interest to get kids playing soccer,” she said.
“I got together initially with (the late) Jenny Lawson and we had a meeting about getting things started.”
Mr Scopelliti’s children, now in their 20s, were all involved with the club.
He coached sons Liam and Mason, while daughter Janna also played in the red and black of the Knights.
“We started with 20 or 30 kids in the first year and it grew really quickly.” Mr Scopelliti said.
“One year we had to have three Under-9 teams — black, red and a white — such was the demand.”
Mr Scopelliti said the club had always attracted really good people.
Megan DePasquale and Ainslie Boylan are continuing that traditiion, stepping up to fill the large void left by the departure of Dee-Ann Dodos and Sonia Wakenshaw from delegate roles.
“Dee-Ann and Sonia have run the club for the last few years and have set us up well,” Megan said.
Kyabram Knights was runner-up in the Under-14 competition last year and one of its Under-10 teams won the gala day round-robin event.
Knights players contest the mini-Roos format at Under-6 to Under-10 level, where scores are not kept.
Megan said since becoming involved with the Knights she was shocked to discover a lot of people did not even know there was a soccer club in Kyabram.
This year’s teams will be coached by Anthony Ciaverella (Under-6), Corina Davidson (Under-7), Scott Hausler and Robert Cottrell (Under-8, Paul Zobec, Rod Alley and Aaron Davidson (Under-10), Under-12 Cathy Dervish and Rebekka Lawson (Under-12) and Daryl Harrison will assist the Under-14 team with its preparation.
Rebekka Lawson, a Year 10 student, is also playing senior soccer in the Shepparton competition.
