One of the Illawarra's most promising football products has returned home to give back to those who helped him on the pathway to success.
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Goalkeeper Kai Calderbank-Park has spent the past two years as a member of the Burnley Football Club Academy learning from some of the best minds in the English Premier League.
He was rewarded for his dedication and commitment by being offered a 12-month contract and is looking forward to climbing the depth chart over the coming years.
On Monday night he returned to his junior football club, the Unanderra Hearts, to teach the club's budding goalies some of the lessons he's learnt.
"It's good to be back home in Wollongong," Calderbank-Park said. "I grew up here, so it's good to see my mates and all my old teammates.
"I've been able to go back to my old club, give the juniors a few things we do in England, teach them some different skills and drills."
While he now spends his time saving goals, the 18-year-old started his playing days at the Hearts scoring them as a striker. As he grew, he made the shift to goalkeeper and he hasn't looked back.
Calderbank-Park spent time teaching the Unanderra juniors the core goalkeeping skills and the nuances that can help elevate their game. But the most important way for them to improve, he stressed, was to remain dedicated to learning and to work as hard as they can in pursuit of their goals.
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"We talked about positioning, hand work and body shape. But the most important thing is if you want to go to the next level, don't give up. Keep working hard and give 100 per cent in everything you do."
Unanderra Hearts president Giovanni Del Turco said Calderbank-Park is a great ambassador for the club and it was fantastic to welcome him home.
"All the kids enjoyed learning from him," Del Turco said. "He taught them a few things he learnt at Burnley and he was keen to come back and help out. He signed a lot of autographs and took photos with the kids."
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