CHARLIE Horsley nearly fainted when his name was read out.
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Connor Metcalfe's legs were shaking that much he could hardly walk.
Despite the surprise at their selection in the Australian All Stars teams, the Newcastle duo did themselves and Northern NSW Football proud.
Horsley, from Redhead, was selected on the wing for the under-14 All Stars after helping steer NNSW to victory in Group B of the national championships at Coffs Harbour earlier this month.
He played a full game as the select team went on to beat Group A champions Queensland Metro 1-0 in an exhibition game.
Metcalfe was in the NNSW under-13 side which finished sixth in group A (the top division).
He played as an attacking midfielder for Northern but was used in a more defensive role as the All Stars fought out a scoreless draw with winners NSW Metro.
The pint-sized playmaker is in year 7 at Hunter Sports High, where he is in the football program.
A NSW PSSA representative last year, Metcalfe is a member of the NNSW Skillaroos program.
"To get to play for the All Stars was a great experience," Metcalfe said.
"It was a big surprise, but a good one. My legs were shaking when they read my name out.
"The competition was really hard and I learnt a lot."
Like most aspiring footballers, Metcalfe hopes to play overseas in the future.
His favourite team is Barcelona and he idolises Lionel Messi.
After playing two years with the NNSW under 13s, he could be lining up against his teammates next year.
Metcalfe's dad is in the navy and has been transferred to Melbourne next year.
His parents have been in contact with the Victorian Skillaroos head coach and he is likely to join their program when he moves south.
Since the national championships, Horsley has been selected in a 30-man Australian squad to attend a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport this weekend with a view to the 2015 under-17 World Cup.
"Charlie is an exciting player," NNSW coach Peter McGuinness said.
"He had an outstanding tournament [in Coffs Harbour] and was in the top three players for the All Stars.
"He is very quick off the mark, has the ability to beat a player one on one and his delivery of crosses is quite good as well."
A Dudley junior, Horsley missed selection in the NNSW under 13s last year but has worked hard on his game.
"This year he has been coached by Taylor Regan at Charlestown Azzurri and before that he had Jim Foley for a number of years," McGuinness said.
"He is not the finished product. He has a long way to go as far as football knowledge goes, but that is just sharpening the pencil. He has the attributes to be a footballer.
"He will come into the Emerging Jets [under-15] program next year and we will see how far he can go."
