Chelsie Dawber, who’s pretty well-known for kicking goals and making it all look a bit easy, had a day that might just stick with her for a long time. It wasn’t just about football though—her other passion for helping people took the spotlight, too. On Saturday, her clients from Next Step Support Services SA walked out as mascots before Adelaide United’s match against Western United, and it felt like two different worlds meeting up in the best way.
“Well, outside of football, I am quite busy—haha—but that’s the way I like it,” Chelsie told United Media. “I am a speech pathologist three days a week for a paediatric clinic, and on the other days, I run a support work business with my partner Mitch. We run weekly Friday social groups for teens to young adults and provide 1:1 support and transport to assist our clients in accessing the community and help build their independence.”
And then, there was Saturday—a day where her football life and her Next Step life collided. For her clients, who are typically more used to Friday group hangouts or one-on-one sessions, stepping out onto the Marden Sports Complex pitch was something completely new. “It was really special to have them walk out. They all think I am famous and that they are going to become famous from being on TV,” Chelsie said, beaming. “It was nice to be able to share the experience of walking out on the pitch and even having them play at halftime to see what it’s like for me each week.”
The halftime kickaround was a big hit, especially since some of the participants were getting their first real taste of football in a stadium setting.
The cheering from the stands, which might have been a little louder than usual, came from her group decked out in Adelaide United merch. “It was really nice, I could hear them cheering for me and the team during the game,” Chelsie explained. “For lots of them, it was their first time watching a game of football and they all really enjoyed it. Lots of them had bought some Adelaide United gear, and some of them were even getting me to sign their Next Step merch. It was special. I think maybe now they understand why I can’t always be at the groups due to soccer training or travelling for games.”
One moment stuck out for her, and in a way, it says everything about why the day mattered. “I think it was special for all of our group, but probably in particular for one of our younger participants who plays football,” she shared. “Before attending our social groups, he likely would not have felt confident enough to walk out in front of everyone. But his mum said after the game he had the best time and was proud to walk out there. She was almost in tears seeing him and our whole group walk out and play at halftime. I think that just speaks volumes of the impact these experiences have on our participants and all groups that get to take part in game day experiences.”
What tied it all together, though, was Adelaide United stepping up to make it happen. For Chelsie, who splits her time between training, matches, and working with her clients, it was a big deal to see the club support something so personal to her. “I really appreciate the club for initiating this experience for our group at Next Step Support Services SA,” she said. “I really enjoy both soccer and support work. It is a big part of who I am, and it was so special having them both cross paths at the game, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the club’s support.”
At the end of the day, it wasn’t just about the goals or the cheers. For Chelsie and her group, it was about connecting in a way that made everyone feel like they belonged—whether they were scoring, walking out onto the pitch, or just kicking a ball under the half time sprinklers.
