Australian under-20 and Melbourne Victory A-League player Evan Berger was chuffed when he found out his junior club, Burragorang District Soccer Club, had commissioned a trophy in his honour. The Evan Berger Rising Star Award recognises the outstanding achievements of a junior player.

Last Wednesday the 21-year-old left midfielder visited his old club and caught up with inaugural Evan Berger Rising Star Award recipient, Daniel Lee, 13, from Oakdale.

Rain stopped Berger running a coaching clinic but it didn’t stop the flood of youngsters keen to pick up tips, get autographs & have a valued photo taken with their young idol.

Burragorang club president Kieran Berryman said Berger was a sensation.

He said "when Berger was told Lee was the rising star winner he sent his original Melbourne Victory jersey, signed and with the obligatory mud attached."

"There’s nothing big-headed about him," Berryman said. "He advised the kids to try hard, listen to their coaches and stay focused."

Berger started playing soccer with Burragorang in the under-7s. He progressed to the Macarthur Rams then to the Parramatta Eagles, the Australian Institute of Sport and Marconi. He signed with Melbourne Victory in 2007-08.

Written by Vera Bertola : Courtesy Wollondilly Macarthur Chronicle 7/4/2009