Pararoos captain Ben Roche: “Football has the ability to start important conversations”

Ben Roche has played 54 times for the Pararoos – Australia’s only national team for people with cerebral palsy – and captained the team around the world. He spoke to Soccerscene about what the Pararoos have done for him, the future of the team after the exclusion of the sport from the Paralympic Games, and how the footballing community can further embrace the squad. 

Q: How has the exclusion of 7-aside football from the Paralympic games impacted the Pararoos?

Ben Roche: For us, it almost instantly had an impact. Obviously, for the young kids pushing to want to play for the Pararoos, their attention has turned to other sports, and for Pararoos players who are in the program who had the ambition to be Paralympians have chosen other paths, which means you can lose key players and things like that. We’ve had to work hard to grow the game and we are probably in a stronger position than we’ve ever been in, in ensuring that we qualify for the World Cup.


Q: Funding has been an issue for the Pararoos, where does most of it come from?

Ben Roche: We don’t actually receive government funding anymore, we used to get a little bit from the Australian Sports Commission, which was cut in 2015 because of their winning edge policy, which means if they don’t think you’ll win a medal funding will be cut or limited. Since then we have survived off donations through the Australian Sports Foundation. With the work of Football Australia, they set a fundraising page and we try to raise $200,000 plus each year to go towards getting a team to a tournament, a couple of camps, and hopefully a national championship to identify the next generation. Unfortunately, there isn’t really any sustainability for us, we are always pushing to raise those funds and take the program to the next level. 

Q: It is a pretty horrific way to fund Paralympic sport, isn’t it?

Ben Roche: Yeah, it came to light this week that the Paralympians don’t get any funding if they win a medal, like the Olympians who win do. The Paralympians don’t get anything for doing the exact same amount of work if not more, and that isn’t the way it should be.

Q: What brought about the change in funding?

Ben Roche: The Australian Sports Commission at the time, they have to allocate across sports, and they probably saw that the sports might be better allocated to individual sports which they thought could secure more medals, whether that is athletics or swimming, I don’t know. For me I am a big believer in football being the game played around the world, and cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability for children in Australia. For me that is perfect, you’ve got the world game and the most common physical disability, what a perfect format. We’ve worked really hard to get that message out there and show what the power of football can do. It doesn’t matter whether it’s coming from poverty, or having a disability, or having a different background, football has the ability to start important conversations. For us that is where our messaging comes into it, our goal is to create inclusive opportunities for people across the country. Not just for cerebral palsy and things like that, we want to lead the way for inclusive football in all versions of the game. 

Q: How Important has football been to you?

Ben Roche: It has shaped everything I’ve done. I joined the Pararoos when I was 12 years old, and it has taken me around the world. It’s been really eye-opening in terms of that, but it has also put me in front of role models with cerebral palsy and other disabilities who have successful careers, families, social lives, and all those kinds of things. Being able to see that at a young age really shaped who am I today, and gave me the confidence to go and do the things I’m doing. I love football so much that I’ve been working in it, I was working for Football Australia as a team manager because I wanted to be in and around football, and it’s something I am extremely passionate about.

Ben at his first tournament with the Pararoos in Argentina.

Q: How important is it to have visible role models like these growing up?

Ben Roche: It’s massive, for me it was meeting those role models that shaped me. I launched a few programs across the country for people with disabilities, and the conversations I get to have with kids, and the conversations I get to have with the parents as well, the amount the community means to them is huge. For me to see someone who has faced similar challenges doing great things is the best thing I could have come across. By us having a successful Pararoos program we can hopefully empower and not only support these young kids that may want to play football but support them in their careers and everyday lives.

Q: Could the wider football community better embrace the Pararoos? 

Ben Roche: I don’t blame them for not doing so, we weren’t really a common name and still aren’t among the football community, which has been a big push for us to put emphasis through social media and get our messaging out there, to include us in conversation along with the Socceroos and Matildas. I hope that when people do get to see it, it’s something they can get behind. The game is quite fast-paced, it can be high scoring, really physical and we don’t hold back. I’d love to see the Australian football community embrace it more – and I’m not saying they don’t – but the more we can get them behind us the bigger reach we can have.

Q: What is the future of the Pararoos program in Australia?

Ben Roche: COVID has made the last couple of years tricky, just in terms of being able to fundraise for the program. For us we are really interested in taking it to the next level, to not only further develop the men’s program but a women’s program too, which more information will come out for in the next couple of months. We are looking to really create more opportunities throughout Australia, not only have our state teams which are filtering into nationals but also launching academies and programs that will feed into inclusive opportunities. On top of that hopefully we can keep having important conversations around disability.

If you want to help support the Pararoos you can donate through their website.

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Off the Pitch Podcast: How South Melbourne is going to fill its grandstands

With a loyal fan base and a strong digital presence, South Melbourne FC is well-positioned to attract crowds as it enters the new national second tier, the Australian Championship.

South Melbourne Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club that currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

The club is set to be one of the founding clubs taking part in the newly launched national second-tier competition, the Australian Championship.

In episode eight of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, South Melbourne FC President Nick Maikousis explained that while the club can attract large crowds, doing so takes significant effort.

“I think if we’re talking about the clubs that have purely made the national second tier now, I think Preston and South is evidence that can be the case, but it still needs a lot of work, from all of us need to,” he said on the podcast.

“For example, we can get a crowd at South, but it takes a lot of effort on behalf of the club, for example, the FFA Cup games last year, we’d fill our grandstands and the product looked great, but it takes a lot of effort to achieve that.

“Will it get there? It’s just going to take a lot of work, I don’t think we should be too romantic about what the NSL looked like towards the end, because sure, South would announce crowds of 7,000 or 8,000 people coming to a Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening game in summer.

“The truth is, it was always slightly less a number than that, but in our forecasts, we plan to make sure we fill at least one of the grandstands there.”

Still, Maikousis confident the club will draw strong support ahead of the commencement of the Australian Championship, highlighting its large and active online following.

“We’re confident we’ll get the support, our social numbers are significant, our social numbers are still enormous,” he said.

“We put a video together not that long ago, Postecoglou’s highlights after he won the Europa and I think that’s had 2.8 million views globally.

“So we’re fortunate that we do have a successful South person in the game globally but we’ve maintained, I think, close to 120,000 social media followers now for a long time.”

To hear and learn more about South Melbourne FC, you can listen to the full interview with Nick Maikousis on episode eight of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, available on all major podcasting apps and here.

From Sideline Frustration to Field Innovation: Interview with the team behind Alpha Skins

From Sideline Frustration to Field Innovation: Interview with the team behind Alpha Skins

Alpha Skins is a family-run brand founded by young soccer player Jax, who set out to solve a problem many kids face on the field—shin guards that slip, stink, and distract from the game.

Designed for “Sigma Kids” who live for every tackle, goal, and team huddle, Alpha Skins are comfy, all-in-one shin guards that don’t slip, can be tossed in the wash, and won’t leave your soccer bag smelling bad.

Inspired by Jax’s love for soccer and his desire to make the game better for kids like him, Alpha Skins helps players concentrate on playing their best—and makes life easier for parents.

Speaking to Soccerscene, Alpha Skins founders Alyce and her son Jax share how a simple idea sparked by Jax’s frustration with traditional shin guards quickly grew into a thriving family-run business.

What was the reason for creating Alpha Skins?

Alyce: The idea for Alpha Skins came to life at the beginning of 2025. It started as a simple observation — there was a clear gap in the market for comfortable, stylish, and innovative shin guards. Jax, a naturally creative and entrepreneurial young mind, was constantly thinking up new ideas and sketching designs. What began as a quick concept soon developed into a business that launched online in March. After rigorous quality control, product refinement, and sizing trials, Alpha Skins officially began.

We noticed how often children were adjusting their shin guards during training, trying to keep them in place. Another frustration was that Jax’s additional sock or sleeve for his shin pads would frequently go missing. Alpha Skins was created to simplify the process for families getting ready for training, reduce stress, and ultimately make the soccer experience smoother, and a little less noisy, for everyone involved.

Can you tell us a bit about how has the company evolved and progressed since its founding

Alyce: We really hit the ground running when we launched Alpha Skins online in March. What began as a small idea to fill a gap in the market has quickly evolved into a growing online brand, with Jax as the face of the company. We’re constantly developing new ideas and expanding our vision.

The concept stemmed from Jax’s own frustration with traditional shin guards, the hard plastic ones or those with Velcro straps that often shifted during training and matches. We set out to create a more comfortable, kid-friendly alternative that wouldn’t cause irritation or move out of place. As an added bonus, our shin guards are machine washable, making them even more convenient for busy families.

Were there any initial challenges you faced when creating Alpha Skins and if so how did you overcome them?

Alyce: In terms of setup and operations, we’ve been fortunate not to encounter any major challenges so far. Thanks to thorough quality control, product testing, and sizing adjustments early on, things have run quite smoothly.

The business has grown rapidly, and we’re grateful for the momentum it’s gained. Probably Jax’s confidence on the screen, on Instagram, that’s probably been his biggest challenge but it’s all going really well.

Is Alpha Skins involved in any partnerships or sponsorships with local soccer clubs and if not is that something you’re looking at doing?

Alyce: We’re aiming to officially launch our team-focused initiatives in time for the 2026 soccer season. With the business growing so quickly, we’re having to adapt and evolve our ideas at a rapid pace. Jax plays in the development squad at Palm Beach Soccer Club here on the Gold Coast, so they’ll be our first point of contact. From there, we hope to expand and connect with other local clubs in the region.

We’re also preparing to launch a new team order system on our website, allowing entire teams to place bulk orders efficiently. This next step will make it easier for clubs to access our products and help us build stronger partnerships within the local soccer community as we head into 2026.

What feedback have you received regarding the use and impact of the shin guards?

Alyce: Absolutely, Jax, what do you love most about them?

Jax: That they don’t annoy me when I wear them or play in them.

Alyce: Exactly, they don’t bother him, especially around the socks, which was a big issue with traditional shin guards. We’ve been thrilled to receive consistent five-star reviews from our online customers. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many parents sharing that their children genuinely enjoy wearing them.

The guards are comfortable, and one of the biggest wins for parents is that they’re machine washable, a simple but highly appreciated feature. Jax’s own soccer team has said they’re both comfortable and “cool,” and the name Alpha Skins definitely resonates with younger players. “Alpha” is a term that’s really popular with kids right now, and Jax came up with the name himself, it was something he really wanted to be part of.

They’re easy to put on, and our reviews highlight how much smoother the pre-training routine has become for families. Kids aren’t complaining during sessions, and parents love how hassle-free the whole experience is. The support through those five-star reviews has been incredible.

How is Alpha Skins currently tracking and what does the future hold for the company?

Alyce: We’re really excited about the future, what started as a small idea to support Jax’s journey in soccer has quickly evolved into something much bigger. We’ve already got new concepts in the pipeline, including a soccer-inspired apparel range, what do I always say to you?

Jax: Mum always says, “Do you really have to wear a soccer jersey to dinner?”

Alyce: [Laughs] Jax is constantly wearing his soccer jerseys, even to family dinners. So we’re working on creating stylish, soccer-inspired apparel that keeps the sporty vibe but is also versatile enough to wear out to a nice dinner. The goal is to design something that blends comfort, function, and style — without Messi or Ronaldo jerseys at the table!

Looking ahead, we’re also exploring other products like boot covers and accessories. The ideas are flowing, and we’re excited to keep growing and expanding what Alpha Skins has to offer.

Why should we buy Alpha Skins shin guards?

Alyce: What do you think, Jax? Why do your friends want to wear them? Why should people choose Alpha Skins?

Jax: Because they’re really comfy.

Alyce: That’s right,  comfort is key. We believe people should choose Alpha Skins because our products are designed with young players in mind. We’re a small, family-run business based on the Gold Coast, and everything we do is driven by a genuine passion for helping kids feel comfortable, confident, and excited about playing the sport they love.

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