MELBOURNE City FC's presence in Ballarat soccer circles just keeps on growing.
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City's College of Football coaches ventured to Morshead Park on Friday to hold a skills session for Ballarat youngsters as well as promote the club's new 'emerging talent fund' for the Ballarat region.
The A League outfit will also play a National Youth League points clash against Sydney FC at Morshead Park on Saturday.
Sue Crow, City's head of community, was present to outline details of the fund and said the club is working hard to put back into Ballarat soccer after establishing ties with the region in 2014.
"When we played a friendly here last year we had a bit of a profit, and we've now established a grant of $5000," Crow said.
"We're calling it an emerging talent fund and it's to support kids who might need help with their club, state or national team fees or whatever it might be - clubs might want to start up a women's team or another initiative like that.
"The club (City) will manage it and we'll have a system that, through the clubs, kids can apply."
Crow said the fund would be distributed evenly across various Ballarat clubs and players throughout the year.
More than 40 junior players took part in the 1.5-hour skills session.
Football Federation Victoria North Wimmera zone development officer David Broadbent said the clinic was yet another footstep in establishing Ballarat's importance in soccer on a national stage.
"It sells the facility and sells the notion that Ballarat is a soccer hub, it's a player on the biggest stage," Broadbent said.
"We're not a backwalker anymore - we've got an NPL team and A league teams play here for points (in reference to last year's FFA Cup clash between City and Sydney FC).
"Number one is that it develops links directly with an A League club and gets kids involved in the sport after Australia's success at the Asian Cup."
Broadbent encourages any juniors interested in taking up the sport to get in contact with local clubs, or make contact with himself on 0409769724.