It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. "Since introducing an open women's category in 2011 to be part of the Joeys Mini World Cup, we have been working hard each year to grow the female player participation in the tournament and offer provide female players more opportunity."

Dzsenifer Marozsán left is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for French club Olympique Lyonnais, as well as the German national team. She previously played for 1. FC Saarbrücken and 1. FFC Frankfurt in the German Frauen Bundesliga..Talented mid-fielder Lauren Rouse-Upjohn training with Dzsenifer during the Football Tour of Germany. Lauren was the first Australian female Mini World Cup competitor to earn a fully-paid subsidy to tour Germany valued at $7,800. She was voted 'Best Field Player' in the women's section of the then-named McDonald Joeys Mini World Cup held in September/October 2011 at Inverell. Not only did Lauren Rouse-Upjohn spend four weeks overseas playing the game she loved under the guidance of World Cup Coach Rale Rasic, she also scored a contract with Bundesliga Club SV Bardenbach.

Lauren quotes: "I was already planning to stay in Germany for a few months after the tour to visit family but when I was offered a spot with Bardenbach, I stayed for a year. "There were so many highlights. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will always be grateful for. I think getting to know another culture and learning the language was challenging but above all such a wonderful life-changing experience. "I was lucky to have a host family let me live with them in Germany. They really took me in, treated me as their own child and the place felt homely," she said. The move from playing in various representative teams and the New England Football League to securing a spot with a German Bundesliga Club was very different from another dimension. Lauren Rouse-Upjohn said she had to step up her game, put hours into training and focus on perfecting her skills to keep up with her teammates."The language barrier also made it difficult at first, but it's a world game, so that was still the same."

Starting with Saturday soccer and progressing through New England Rep, NIAS, NIF, and Newcastle's women's premier league, Rouse-Upjohn said her time playing with Joeys FC United was one of the most special experiences. Lauren Rouse-Upjohn said that her main motivation to be better came from tournament founder Heinrich Haussler and coach Rale Rasic, who were always there for her."Rale Rasic is one of the best coaches I've ever had. I wanted to do better because I wanted to hear that I did a good job. Both drove me to really wanting to be better on and off the field, the best I could be." She encourages all female players to take the opportunity to grow their skills- on the field and off through the Lismore Joeys Mini World Cup."The amount the Joeys Mini World Cup has grown over the years is amazing. It's now a much bigger experience than what I went through. I hope to make it to this year's cup at Lismore and I am seriously planning to be with the touring female Joeys All-Star Team in Germany June/July 2023." Since working in the Royal Australian Air Force, deployment has meant Lauren Rouse-Upjohn has had to miss a few seasons but is now looking forward to getting back into it soon enough being settled in her job at Adelaide. "Last time I played I was playing in the women's league at Wagga. I got player of the tournament and a golden boot which was nice." We may see the next crop of Matildas at this year’s Cup at Lismore. Get your entries in now, don’t miss this wonderful opportunity that is offered to you where you too can live your dream.