Former player Angus Thurgate didn’t get on the pitch, but he watched from the grandstands as the Newcastle Jets went down 1-0 to Melbourne Victory.

The Saints link continued at half-time when three boys and two girls who play in the Mini-Roos program (aged between seven and 10) took to the field. 

Clubs with links to A-League clubs from around the country were invited by Northern NSW Football to play as part of the half-time entertainment.

Saints secretary Laura Noble said the youngsters “had a fantastic time.”

“It’s the first time in a long time we’ve been asked to go down there,” she said.

The club secretary said they were thrilled to have been a part of the night and it showed to the kids that starting at a junior level can lead to bigger and better things.

“What Angus has done highlighted to the kids more than anything that you can start at a local level and you can get there,” she said.

“We said to them that Angus was wearing that same black and blue shirt years ago and now they understand that.”