A young footballer who recently dipped his toes in futsal is now saving up to travel to Barcelona in June to represent Australia in the indoor game.
12-year-old Blake Potter first kicked a football at the age of four.
It’s been his lifelong dream to play professional football but when his Mackay State High School Football Academy coaches selected him in their futsal team for last year’s Whitsunday School Titles, representative futsal beckoned.
From there, he was selected to represent Queensland Country, gelling with a team of boys he’d never met or played with, before being selected to represent U13 Australia in Barcelona in June.
“It felt really good,” said Blake.
“I was a bit shocked actually.”
Blake and his family moved to Mackay early last year from Melbourne, where Blake played with various football academies and clubs including in the NPL Club Oakleigh Cannons system.
He’s played for both Magpies Crusaders and Mackay Lions since relocating and looks to develop his skills through futsal.
“Futsal’s definitely more fast paced, and you need indoor footwork but outdoor is more of a controlled game,” said Blake.
“Your foot skills really develop a lot, playing futsal, which he can transfer into the outdoor game,” agreed his mother, Amber Potter.
Blake has been working hard to fund his Spain trip, with local businesses paying him to drop pamphlets in letterboxes throughout town.
“When he found out he’d been selected and we showed him the cost, he said, ‘Can I get a job to help?’” said Amber.
“I was really proud of him, wanting to chip in and make it happen.”
As well as letterbox dropping, Blake has asked people in his neighbourhood to donate their cans and bottles, where he cashes them in to save for the trip.
Amber has also been putting together hampers with products donated from local businesses and started selling raffle tickets earlier this week.
“The local businesses have been so generous, it’s blown me away,” she said.
Anyone interested in buying raffle tickets or assisting in selling them can email Amber at info@twilightevents.com.au.
Before June, Blake will join a team representing Mackay at the Northern Regional Futsal Titles in Brisbane in April.
12-year-old Blake Potter will travel to Barcelona in June to represent Australia in futsal. Photos supplied
