Joey Basten wins footy jumper competition, earns full set for Albany Secondary Education Support Centre

Joey Basten, 13, was pleased as punch on Wednesday when he was presented with a new footy jumper — especially as it was one he designed himself.

The Albany Secondary Education Support Centre student was the winner of a State-wide competition run by the WA All Abilities Football Association to create a footy jersey.

As a prize, the school received a set of 25 to use on sporting occasions, with Joey receiving one to keep for himself.

The Year 7 pupil was presented with the jumper by centre principal Haydn Mansell with his parents watching on at a school assembly on Wednesday.

Rob Geersen, the inclusion specialist at the WAAAFA, said the competition aimed to raise awareness that football was available to everyone.

“Each year we run a design-a-jumper competition for ed support students in years 3 to 8,” he said.

“The designs have to be based on something local and each school can submit two entries.

“One Statewide winning design is selected; we create a set of jumpers for the school to keep and, of course, Joey gets one for himself.

“The competition is about engaging ed support students and giving them the same opportunities as they might get in mainstream schooling.”

He said he hoped to see the students wearing the jumpers at the Albany schools carnival next year.

Joey’s jumper is in the support centre’s green, has an A representing the centre on the front and the ASESC acronym in woven block capitals on the back.

Mr Geersen said the WAAAFA organised the Starkick program which caters for footy players of all abilities and is available in Albany and Lake Grace during the season.

“Children are aided by volunteers and it doesn’t matter what their challenges might be, they are supported,” he said.