To date, more than $180,700 has been donated to Rural Business Support’s relief fund through the 2025 Rural Support Charity Soccer match, held earlier this month.
In addition, after the match, SA Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven confirmed the state government would match funding to the full $100,000 pledged.
RBS chief executive officer Brett Smith said charity match donations went directly to where they were needed most – covering everyday essentials and providing farming families with breathing space while they focus on what comes next.
“We are truly grateful to the government and the SA Produce Market for their incredible support through this match,” he said.
The match was a curtain-raiser to the Adelaide United v Sydney FC A-League game on April 5.
A Pick a Local, Pick SA! team, comprised of growers, retailers and wholesalers, defeated a government representatives team 5-0.
The government team were quick to highlight that they had won the previous two matches.
Minister Scriven said the state government was proud to support this initiative that helps those who put food on the tables of South Australians.
“Our primary producers are facing challenging times; we are seeing drought conditions across the state, other adverse weather conditions, biosecurity issues and impacts globally,” she said.
“The Rural Support Charity Match is a wonderful way to bring people together and support our hardworking producers.”
RBS communications and philanthropy manager Mon Saunders said in March, about 60 farming families accessed the Rural Financial Counselling Service.
This number was an increasing trend and they anticipated it would continue that way during the coming months.
Ms Saunders said it added 160 new clients so far this year, with 475 rural family enterprises working with a rural financial counsellor.
“In addition, we have a further 30 clients across SA and the NT working with our Small Business Financial Counsellor,” she said.
“More than 70 per cent of these families (that’s around 330 families) have accessed support in the last 12 months.”
Match Report
Just two minutes into the game and the Pick a Local, Pick SA! team were on the board with captain Peter Mercurio notching the first score for the day.
With no time wasted, this was quickly followed by another from Lucas Cosmidis and that set the tone for the rest of the match.
While supporters outside Coopers Stadium could no doubt hear Katrine Hildyard’s sideline cheering, it wasn’t enough to get the Government team through the Pick a Local, Pick SA! defences. Gov keeper Mark Spagnoletti had his work cut out.
Despite some valiant midfield stoushes and a number of attempts, Gov couldn’t get the numbers on the board.
Sensational effort by industry keeper Jack Cafcakis who didn’t let any slip past.
Gov captain Shane Pearce looked like he’d done it in the final minutes of the first half with the scoreboard reflecting Gov’s first goal, only for it to be called offside and the board went back to 2 for industry and 0 for the Gov team as the whistle called half-time.
While Gov coach Marcelo Carrusco searched for answers short of taking to the ground himself, Pick a Local, Pick SA! coach Mark Brazzale had his team fired up for the second half.
It may have been questionable at times just how many players both teams had on the ground, but the next three goals went to industry thanks to Jamie Demasi and Cosmidis again, with Carlos Romeo sealing the fate of the Gov team who couldn’t find the answer this year.
– Alarah Rodrigues
– Published by Chelsea Ashmeade, Stock Journal, Thursday 1st May, 2025
