Legion Walker spent his childhood chasing wallabies and hunting for food on a small island off the northern coast of Australia, but dreamed of one day becoming a Socceroo.
Key points:
- Legion Walker grew up on Mornington Island
- Rale Rasic Joeys Mini World Cup gives rural footballers a chance to play in Europe
- The Legion impressed at the tournament and booked an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany
Growing up on Mornington Island, with a population of just 1,000, the 15-year-old from Lardill had few opportunities to pursue his football dreams.
“My favorite thing is going fishing and hunting with my family,” he said.
But his decision to travel to the New England region of New South Wales to take part in a little-known regional football tournament may have brought his dreams closer to reality.
Legion was selected to go to Germany after playing in the Rale Rasic Joeys Mini World Cup, named after the former Socceroos coach.
Tournament mastermind Heinrich Haussler has previously taken the youth football tournament to Hervey Bay in Queensland and Lismore in New South Wales.
Heinrich Haussler (left) saw Rale Rasic take centre stage at the 1974 World Cup and never expected they would one day become close friends. (Provided by Heinrich Haussler)
A chance for “neglected” players
The tournament returned to Inverell this year for the first time since 2017.
Originally from Germany, Haussler moved to Inverell in the late 1980s and his passion for sport slowly drew him away from his career as a civil engineer.
“It’s about offering children in the regions something different from the mainstream,” he said.
“If you feel like you’ve been overlooked by the football system, you can live your dream here.”
The Netherlands beat Australia in the Under-19 semi-final. (ABC New England Northwest: James Paras)
Players of all skill levels have their names drawn and assigned to a nation for the single-elimination tournament.
This year, the tournament brought together 36 teams divided into seven categories, separated into age groups ranging from under-8 to under-19.
All eyes were on a valiant Inverell side playing as the Netherlands under-19s as they beat Australia on penalties to advance to the final.
The match ended in a penalty shootout. (ABC New England Northwest: James Paras)
But their dream ended against a Brazil team dominated by Lismore, with a score of 5-0.
There was also a commercial charity and different ability levels, allowing disabled people to get involved.
There was also the possibility to play against professional teams in Germany.
Legion plays in midfield but has a knack for scoring goals. (Provided by Heinrich Haussler)
Haussler selected outstanding players to trial at German clubs.
He said the 15-year-old midfielder was hard to ignore.
“(The Legion) is very quick on its feet,” he said.
“His skills with the ball are fantastic.”
Legion was part of Joey’s All-Star team that finished third in the Under-14 category.
A dominant German team beat Brazil 11-0 to win the major prize in their age category.
Legion’s father, Owen Walker, said the skills his son developed on his home island translated well to the football field.
“His peripheral vision and hunting instinct worked very well (on the football field),” Walker said.
European aspirations
Legion will be one of several footballers who took part in the tournament to make the trip.
He said he was used to the challenge of a change of scenery: moving from Mornington Island to boarding school on the Gold Coast two years ago was a perfect example.
“I’ve heard Germany is very different to Australia,” he said.
“Germany is a very good football country.
“It will be interesting to see how good other people are to me. But it will be great to see what it’s like in another country.”
It comes after Ezra Frost boarded a flight to Germany last year as one of Haussler’s understudies.
It was a potentially life-changing trip.
Ezra Frost has signed a 12-month contract in Germany. (ABC New England Northwest: James Paras)
At just 19 and hailing from the small Lismore football scene, Frost is set to return to Europe with German club FC Schmelz to sign a 12-month player contract.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s everything I wanted as a kid,” Frost said.
He competed in last year’s Joeys Mini World Cup in Lismore before being selected to join the tour in Germany.
Ezra Frost competed in this year’s Joeys Mini World Cup. (ABC New England Northwest: James Paras)
He said it was an eye-opening experience.
“There were four or five of us who were invited to stay after the tour (in Germany),” he said.
“I’m also getting married soon, so I thought it would be best if I went home first.”
Frost said the German football league was quite confusing, but FC Schmelz was part of a smaller regional competition.
He said he was just excited to see where this opportunity would take him.
“I wouldn’t have had this opportunity anywhere else,” he said.
“I have tried out before and been passed over, but the Joeys Mini World Cup gives that opportunity to kids in rural areas.”
