CommBank Matildas' midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross recently made a special visit back home ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Cooney-Cross, who plays for Arsenal Women's side in the English Super League, has been a stalwart in the Matildas midfield for the past 18 months.
Following her participation in the Global Football Week showcase and the Matildas' ‘Til It’s Done Farewell Series, she found time to catch up with family in NSW and Victoria.
"It’s always nice to get home and see my family. We have a very busy schedule, so I am always grateful whenever I get to come back to Torquay," she said.
On June 19, Cooney-Cross visited Surf Coast FC to run a clinic for young players at the Club, alongside Coerver Coaching Geelong Director Adrian Leijer.
"I enjoy connecting with the kids and hopefully inspiring them to become Matildas or Socceroos," Cooney-Cross explained.
Despite only spending a few short hours with the Victorian product, Leijer believes the evening has inspired a lot of boys and girls to chase their dreams.
"Given Kyra’s and the Matilda’s rapid rise, I wanted to provide a platform in which Kyra and the kids would have a safe environment to play some football and also listen to her journey," he said.
"I’ve had some amazing feedback and the looks on their faces was amazing. We had tears, we had hugs and everything in between. We spoke a lot about the Olympics, Arsenal and the Matildas. The girls will all feel a connection to Kyra now and follow her career closely."
The 22-year-old midfield sensation moved to Victoria from the Sunshine Coast and plied her trade at Ballarat City FC before joining the Football Victoria NTC Program ahead of the 2015-16 season.
She signed her first professional contract ahead of the 2017-18 W-League Season with Melbourne Victory. By season's end, she ended up making 12 appearances and scored two goals. Following a stint at the Western Sydney Wanderers and a return to the Victory, the midfielder made the move to Hammerby IF, where she would make her mark on the international scene before signing for Arsenal.
The upcoming Paris Olympic Games will be the first of Cooney-Cross's career, with the Victorian set to play a key role in the Matildas midfield.
"I can’t wait to get to Paris, it’s going to be such an exciting Olympic Games and as a team we hope to go deep in the tournament," Cooney-Cross explained.
During her visit to Surf Coast FC, Cooney-Cross shared valuable insights with the young players, emphasising the importance of enjoying the journey.
"Have fun, it's so important to enjoy the journey. For those wanting to progress, it’s a lot of hard work! Listen to your coaches and you can’t spend enough time with the ball.'"