Soccer stars to host Mareeba clinic

SOCCEROOS and A-League stars Jade North and Archie Thompson will host a clinic for up-and-coming football stars in Mareeba today.

The clinic will bring the pair to the Tablelands for the first time.

“Archie and I are very close friends and we thought it would be good for an attacker and defender to team up to deliver a well-rounded clinic,” North said.

“We also feel that kids get the most benefit from experience given from those who have played in the A-league and national teams.”

The two stars needed a club in Far North Queensland to take their clinic to and a former teammate obliged.

“One of our former players played with Jade in the juniors,” Alex Srhoj of Mareeba United Football Club said. “They were looking for a club in FNQ and were put on to us.”

The youth football connection will pay off for Tablelands and Cairns players looking to soak up some wisdom from the two legends.

“Thompson was one of the leading goalscorers in A-League history,” Srhoj said. “Jade is one of the best defenders.

“Hopefully the kids will learn something and put it into practice.”

The three-hour clinic will be held at Borzi Park, Chewko Rd, Mareeba, from 9am. FORMER US Open champion Graeme McDowell has pulled out of today’s British Open qualifier after his clubs went missing on a flight from France. The 38-yearold from Northern Ireland travelled from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Manchester for a 36hole qualifier at St Annes near Blackpool, bidding for a spot at the Open at Carnoustie later this month. Former world No.4 McDowell, who is now 175th in the rankings, has cut his losses to focus on the Irish Open, which begins tomorrow in County Donegal.