Three members of Arsenal Soccer School conducted the two-day clinic seeing close to 30 children offered the chance to learn from some of the sport’s top coaches.

Leeton United FC’s club president Rod Harrison was pleased to be able to help bring the program to Leeton.

“We hope to give kids an idea of what it takes to be a better soccer player,” Harrison said.

The two-day clinic went better than expected through co-ordination between the club and the professionals of Arsenal.

“It was very successful,” Harrison said. 

“We couldn’t have asked for more. They were very professional and the program was very well run.”

The club hoped the clinic could help counter the stigma suggesting living in a small country town could limit their chances of one day playing at international level.

“Just because you’re in a country town, you can still dream and have every chance of playing as someone who lives in a big city,” Harrison said.

Children can work their way into rep teams playing in the large cities and organizations like the Arsenal Soccer School are always on the look-out for players who have talent and potential.

“They’ve spotted kids through programs like this who are now on scholarships and playing in large cities like Melbourne,” Harrison said.

The clinic coincided with a stretch of hot weather, but the school was prepared to handle the extreme conditions.

“We had plenty of drinks breaks,” Harrison said. 

“The kids’ health and safety are the main focus.”

The feedback the club has received from Arsenal about the state of the area’s talent is encouraging. 

In a side-by-side comparison, the children here are receiving instruction on par with major metropolitan areas.

“There’s no gap between what we’re doing here and what the kids are doing in Melbourne,” Harrison said.

Hosting international sports professionals in Leeton also brought praise to the town.

“They were very impressed with the Leeton facilities and with what the council have done,” Harrison said. “They felt they didn’t have grounds as nice as these to play on in Melbourne.”

With the first clinic considered a success, Harrison hopes to conduct another clinic later this year.