The Gippsland Soccer League celebrated their 2025 representative squads last Saturday with a jersey presentation at Drouin Dragons' new facility.
With their biggest event, the Country Championships, taking place over the weekend, this was a chance to acknowledge the league's teams and share in the excitement prior to the long weekend.
The event saw more than 300 attendees across three age group presentations cheer on the newly minted squads.
The main event of the representative squad season is the annual Country Championships which has all country soccer associations gather for a three-day tournament across the long weekend.
This year the GSL travelled to Albury Wodonga to face opponents from leagues such as Geelong and Sunraysia.
This year the GSL sent six squads; under 12, 14 and under 16 boys and corresponding girls teams. It is the first year the league has submitted equal girls and boys teams.
The GSL thanked Drouin Dragons for hosting the event and wished their representative players and families a safe and fun tournament.
The first two days of the 2025 Country Championships may have been marred by consistent rain but the Gippsland Soccer League teams have not been deterred as they take on the larger rural soccer associations in the annual tournament.
Holding their own, some notable results include a 4-0 win against Bendigo (under 12 boys team), a 7-1 win against Ballarat (under 12 girls team), 2-0 win against South West (under 14 boys), 2-0 win against Latrobe Valley (under 14 girls), a 2-1 win against Ballarat (under 16 boys) and 4-0 win over Bendigo (under 16 girls).
As the tournament entered its final day yesterday with play-offs set to decide final placings, the GSL thanked families and coaches for their dedication and wished all the teams well.