Aden Hall: Tamworth teen out to make splash for OVA in 2022

The days when the 16-year-old played soccer for the sheer joy of it, when he was most happy, have been replaced by the single-minded focus needed to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

A successful stint with Newcastle club New Lambton, in the HIT Northern League One under-16 competition last year, has segued into top-grade action at Oxley Vale Attunga this year.

And at Cross Park on Saturday, the Indigenous striker - a 11.26sec 100m runner - will take the field for Mushies against the Coffs Coast Tigers in a round five Australia Cup clash.

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He played full games in Mushies' opening two matches of the national knockout competition, scoring a double in a last-start 7-0 defeat of the Boambee Bombers.

The former Souths United junior had not tasted first-grade action prior to this season - with OVA coach Tim Coates luring him back to the club this year with the promise of helping him develop his game, ahead of his return to New Lambton next year and under-18 action there.

Hall plans to relocate to Newcastle for the start of next season, in order to give himself the best chance possible of advancing his career. Ideally, he would be signed by the Jets, whom he supports.

In 2021, he forced his way into New Lambton's under-16 starting side and finished the season with nine goals - the fifth-best tally in the competition, after the club scouted him at a Clayton Zane clinic last year.

Hall said OVA had "really shown" him that they wanted him as "a player and as a friend", and were committed to helping him improve as a footballer.

The Oxley High year 11 student hopes that playing with and against men will give him "the edge" when he returns to Newcastle for the 2023 season.

"It's [2022] gonna be a very important year for me and my improvement," he said, "especially knowing that I have to go back to New Lambton next year. And I'm looking to take advantage of it and looking to improve as much as I can."

Hall believes the size of the challenge ahead of him this year will "kick in" when the Johnson Cup starts, as he will then realise "how big of a deal" it is to be in his position.

Mushies have signed a superb athlete, who last played for them in under-8s.

Last year, the 2021 Clontarf athlete of the year was selected to represent the North West in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and high jump at the state athletics championships in Sydney, but the event was cancelled due to Covid.

Mushies have also signed someone who gives back to the sport: he is a level-four referee who officiates junior games, while in 2020 he coached Souths United's under-10 side.

Stephanie Frost said she was "extremely proud" of her son "for everything he has achieved in his life so far, and the things he does to encourage younger kids in the community to love the game as much as he does".

"While he continues to work hard for his dreams, I will support and encourage him to do so, no matter what the outcome," she added. "He is already a champion to me."

Coates said Hall was a "nice kid", who was "mature for his age and a promising young footballer".

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