A STEP AHEAD
Cairns FC recruit finds his groove quickly
AN impromptu dance-off outside a Townsville restaurant was all Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone needed to see of new recruit Johnny Woulfe to know he had someone special on his hands.
Woulfe, 21, on trial at the time, was challenged to a dance battle by two women in a parking lot when he showed his new boss that his nifty footwork wasn’t limited to the football pitch.
“It was the last day of his trial,” Graystone said yesterday.
“We’d just finished playing Mackay and let’s just say that he beat them both convincingly.
“I thought someone like that has a lot of confidence. We’d already made the decision we wanted to keep him but it did impress me.”
The connection between cutting a rug and slicing apart opposition defences each weekend isn’t lost on the club’s mentor either.
“It’s amazing how much dancing and football have cropped up together in my time playing and coaching,” Graystone said.
“There are a lot of professionals that get dancing tuition because of how much the footwork helps you. You need quick feet and balance in both disciplines.”
The swift left-footer, who takes inspiration from hip-hop, Irish and indigenous dance styles, said his moonwalk was just as good as his double stepover on the field.
“I was part of a few different crews growing up and dance was definitely my first passion,” the Beerwah native said.
“The balance definitely helps my footwork and the discipline to nail routines is similar in both (fields).”
Beyond his obvious flair and style, Graystone said Woulfe’s work ethic and ability to use both feet on the field would set him apart from his rivals.
“We’re a bit short on leftsided players in our side,” he said.
“There’s such a shortage of left-footers in the game in general. I find right-footers can be a little bit predictable.
“We think Johnny will catch defenders off guard and give us a little bit of width and really stretch the other teams’ defence.
“Plus, he’s the sort of guy that comes early training and does his own warm-up, which as a coach you love. He’s very good-natured and well liked.”
This week Cairns FC’s coach laid down a challenge to his charges that if they kept a clean sheet, he’d take them out for pizza – but Graystone has since added one small caveat.
“At training on Tuesday night, I said to the boys for every week that passes the quality of the pizza will get lower and lower.
“It could be a very nice restaurant if we do it this week but it will definitely be a cheaper establishment, shall we say, if they take too long.”
Cairns FC play Redlands United at Barlow Park tomorrow night.