Helensburgh Thistles Soccer Club’s under-7s side were given the Wollongong Wolves treatment this week, as defender Walter Scott joined them at their Monday night training session.
At the training session on May 29, Walter ran the boys through basic ball control skills with an emphasis on having fun.
He said the idea behind the session was to promote an enjoyment of football in a region that has a great number of sporting options available.
“At that age, I think what’s most important is just as many touches on the ball as you can, and having lots of fun.
“[It’s] something that, even to this day… I still think I should have had the ball more, I should have been doing more with the ball, so [we ran through] lots of stuff on the ball.
“I think, in Australia, there’s so many options with great sports here – rugby and AFL and surfing – so I think that maybe a little bit of obsession, a little bit of extra love for football, maybe they can take that away.
“There was just nothing better than having a sweaty shirt and a smile on my face when playing with my mates – nothing better than that.”
Getting his first taste of football at the age of four, Walter was picked for the National Premier League as a teen while playing for East Fremantle in Perth.
Now 23, he has played professionally and semi-professionally for Perth, Wellington, Macarthur, and APIA Leichhardt, and signed on with Wollongong Wolves FC in December 2022.
In 2018, Walter joined the Young Socceroos squad, competing at the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in Indonesia, before he signed with Perth Glory’s A-League Men’s side – the highest-level league in Australia and New Zealand – who took home the 2019 premiership. He describes both as momentous points in his professional career.
“When I got to play for the Young Socceroos in the Asian Cup… that was quite cool for me, to pull on the green and gold,” Walter said.
“Making my A-League debut for Perth Glory, and then we eventually won the A-League, I didn’t have as many games as I’d like and I actually didn’t play the season that we won the league, but to be a part of that and training full-time and learning off the best players in the country was a big highlight for me.”
Between training and playing for the Wolves and working full-time, he’s taken up coaching at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, which has given him a new outlook on the game.
“It’s been quite cool, quite eye-opening for me [as] I’ve been focused on the playing side my whole life,” Walter said.
“It’s been cool to meet the kids and share some experiences and just go and have a kick.
“Some of my best memories as a young boy were getting to meet older guys that have played footy – you know, you feel like people are old men when they’re even in their 20s when you’re that young – and [they’re] things I remember, so I’d like to see if I can maybe inspire a few young lads.”
The Thistles’ under-7s were so impressed with Walter’s training session this week, they’re already planning a trip to see the Wollongong Wolves play at WIN Stadium.
