They grew up playing football in the Illawarra and Sydney FC rising stars Joel King and Mackenzie Hawkesby returned home to promote the game on Wednesday.
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King and Hawkesby visited Kembla Grange's Ian McLennan Park to meet local kids and encourage them to sign up for Football South Coast's 2020 season.
Sydney FC W-League midfielder Hawkesby, 19, began her football journey at Figtree before moving to the Illawarra Stingrays at age 12.
"I started exactly like these kids, playing soccer down at my local club," she said.
"I just kept pushing and pushing, and went to the next level. I think it's important for kids to start here and build from that. I live down here and I love soccer. I feel like the standard is really strong on the South Coast."
King, who plays in defence for the reigning A-League champions, said he first played the sport at Shellharbour Junior Football Club.
"I started at a young age. If these kids are starting at the same age and getting good coaching, it's vital for their development," King, 19, said.
In 2019, more than 13,000 players registered in Football South Coast competitions - including a large number of juniors.
Registrations for the 2020 junior season - for age groups U/6s through U/18s for boys and girls - opened in January.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
