It has already been a big week for Dakota Cherry but the best is still yet to come.
The under-9s Lochinvar Rovers player was chosen to be part of a rebel Female Football Week promotion at Fox Sports’ studios in Artarmon on Wednesday.
It was in North Sydney that Dakota took part in a photo opportunity with Sydney FC W-League star Remy Siemsen and Fox Sports presenter Tara Rushton.
As exciting as that was for the year three student, Dakota will also have the chance to be part of the Fox Sports broadcast team for the Sydney FC v Perth Glory A-League match on Saturday night.
Dakota won the Junior Presenter Competition as part of the Hyundai A-League rebel Play Football round earlier this year, with the Sydney FC fan to be part of the clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah.
It will be second time lucky for Dakota who had originally been given her opportunity at the Sydney derby between the Sky Blues and Western Sydney Wanderers, only for the match to be postponed last month.
Dakota’s mum, Lisa, said it had been a wonderful opportunity for her daughter.
“She loved it. It was really good,” Lisa said.
“Her favourite player used to be Chloe Logarzo but now it’s Remy after she met her. She doesn’t want her hair in a bun like Chloe anymore. Now she’s got a ponytail.
“It’s great that you’ve got things like this that encourage the next generation of girls and young women in football.”
Lochinvar Rovers have seen a huge growth in female football in recent years.
The club had no women’s teams as recently as 2016 but are preparing to feature 13 female teams in 2020.
The Hunter Valley Football club also have eight female coaches who coach both male and female teams.
Lochinvar will also run two Zone Football League teams for the first time this season which the club hope will eventually create a pathway for junior players through to senior football.
It has already been a big rebel Female Football Week with a number of events happening across the region.
Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland said female participation in football had never been stronger, with 2019 seeing a 4.6% increase in female players across NNSWF’s seven (7) Member Zones.
NNSWF aims to continue to grow these figures and strive for female participation to soar even further.
NNSWF Head of Football, Peter Haynes, said female participation was a key focus for the sport of football.
