Sport
5 July, 2022
London goal for former junior Bulls
AFTER uprooting their lives to provide better football opportunities for their kids, Rebecca and Shawn Shearer’s brave decision has paid off with their children Hanna and Hayden getting the opportunity to travel to the home of football to train and play.
The brother and sister have been playing football since they were six years old where they developed a deep love and passion for the game.
Initially starting in Innisfail, the family relocated Mareeba in 2015 and played for the Mareeba Bulls up until 2018, moving on to play in a Talent Selection Program in Cairns in 2019.
Parents Rebecca and Shawn eventually made the brave decision to sell their family home, investment properties and their business in 2020 to relocate to Brisbane to give their kids better opportunities in football.
Rebecca said it became the smarter and cheaper option to relocate to Brisbane in both sport and schooling.
“We were flying down to Brisbane four times a year for them to compete, so it was just cheaper to move here,” she said.
“Soccer is seven days a week, me and my husband we do not have a life we pretty much just run around after the kids.
“Hayden is out in the yard 24/7 kicking the ball around practising, he works really hard."
Hayden currently plays for the U15 NPL for the Mynnum Wolves FC while Hanna plays U14s NPLW for Lions FC, both in midfield.
The move has since paid off with both kids at least getting one chance each to fly over to England to train and play at professional level clubs.
The two rising football stars got the amazing opportunity to play in the home of football after the West Ham United National Camp held in the Gold Coast held in September last year.
Hayden will be taking his trip a bit earlier than his sister as he will travel overseas this September while Hanna will get an opportunity in April next year.
“My husband and I turned to each other and said, ‘well maybe we do know what we’re talking about’,” Rebecca said.
“It is starting to pay off especially all the coaching they have here – they’re very excited.”
Alongside this upcoming trip, Hayden was successful in securing another trip to England January next year after successfully trialing in a three-day trial held in Sydney, he has been selected alongside some of the best players his age to form an elite side to take on sides in London. Hanna unluckily injured her ankle on the first day of the trials.
Both Hanna and Hayden have dreams to one day be playing at the highest level possible on an international level, playing both with and against some of their greatest heroes
