IT is often said that you can't choose your family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sometimes exceptions can be made and sport - in particular football - is sometimes referred to as your football family.
In many ways members of your team also become your closest confidantes.
Mid North Coast assistant manager Jenna Doyle and goalkeeper Chelsea Atkins can vouch for that following their 3-0 under-14 Women's Premier League grand final win over Merewether United on Sunday.
Doyle's father, Brenton, coaches the side and said it was a "special" moment to share with his daughter, albeit a little bittersweet.
"Her mum couldn't make the grand final four years ago because she was sick and she has lost her mum since," he said.
"At her mum's funeral, the parents got Jenna's team together at the church and they were all dressed in their Mid North Coast polo shirts to support her.
"It's the first time I've ever seen my daughter break down."
Atkins tragically lost her father around Christmas time, adding another subplot to the three-goal victory.
"No doubt she was playing for him," Doyle said.
Her mum couldn't make the grand final four years ago because she was sick and she has lost her mum since.
- Mid North Coast coach Brenton Doyle
"That's why playing team sport is a really good healthy environment to be in; it can help you survive sometimes.
"They've all got things going on in their life and I told them it is an important place because I used football as a safe place and my friend to hold me."
Mid North Coast were under the pump for the first 20 minutes on Sunday.
But their stoic defence held firm before they settled into the match and arguably could have won by more with Jess Watts banging in a hat-trick.
While she will rightly receive the plaudits for finding the back of the net, Doyle said it was the chances her teammates created that allowed her to capitalise.
"I thought if we could defend well and settle we'd be fine and then when we did we played some amazing football," he said.
"I don't know many girls that would have scored a hat-trick in a WPL final, but the pleasing aspect is about what it's been all year and that's a been team effort.
That's why playing team sport is a really good healthy environment to be in; it can help you survive sometimes.
- Brenton Doyle
"She's a natural goalscorer and can go a long way, but it's got to get to her and the football that led to giving her chances you could hear people in the crowd go 'wow'."
Doyle said Mid North Coast's back-to-back under-14 premiership successes were reward for hard work and it was satisfying to do it with a largely different squad.
"For 21 rounds the girls travelled from all over the place," he said.
"South West Rocks, Forster, Taree, you name it they travel to train, they travel to play and they're up against it playing these Newcastle teams
"I was happy for them to get there because it's a great day to experience but sometimes grand finals can turn to poop because of nerves at that age.
"To see them perform the way they did was pretty rewarding."
What else is happening in sport?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.