Moriarty football program hits FNQ

FOOTBALL THE first indigenous Socceroo has expanded his football program to the Far North.

John Moriarty is in Cairns to officially launch the program’s expansion into Kuranda, the first of what he said he hopes is a number of local sites for the Moriarty Foundation.

“We selected Kuranda as there’s a number of soccer groups around the area,” Moriarty said. “It’s the expansion of John Moriarty football to get more Aboriginal kids involved in the great game.”

Now 81, the Borroloolaborn Moriarty is recognised as the first indigenous man to be selected for Australia’s national football team.

He also represented South Australia 17 times.

The program will employ locally-based full-time coaches to run the Kuranda hub, and drive future expansion into other communities in FNQ, like Mareeba and Yarrabah.

The program is delivered throughout the school term and in school holiday clinics, and will work with schools in curriculum, after school, futsal and gala days and street football.

Moriarty said the program is embedded, and “not a fly in fly out talent ID search”.

While football is at the heart of the program, which was “recognised as a best practice approach by the Department of Health” last year, Moriarty said general wellbeing, education, and connecting with families was the main drive.

“It’s been a success in the Northern Territory, where we’ve been for eight years, and we think it will be a success here,” Moriarty said.

Go to jmf.org.au for more information.