THERE’S a number of cliche, albeit sometimes unavoidable, turns of phrase which abound even the best sports journalism, and ‘humble beginnings’ is one of the most common.

But when speaking of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School vice-captain Sam Giumelli, little else seems as fitting.

The 11-year-old was named in the New South Wales Primary School Sports Association (NSW PSSA) boys’ hockey team last week after helping his Polding side to a second consecutive title win, scoring four goals along the way.

Not a bad effort from a kid who was introduced to hockey in his neighbour’s backyard, and is the first person in his family to take up the sport in two generations.

“My grandmother played hockey, so did my great grandmother, but no one else does,” Giumelli smiled.

“I’m really looking forward to (representing NSW). I played for Polding last year as well, and we won it then as well, but I wasn’t selected (in the NSW team).”

Playing an attacking midfield role, Giumelli kicked off his championship campaign with a hat-trick in Polding’s competition opening 7-nil win over Sydney South West, and his side went on to only lose one of its remaining six games.

Polding went down 3-2 to South Coast, before avenging the loss with the a 2-1 win in a grand final rematch.

It’s an incredible performance considering Giumelli almost didn’t go to the championships.

Displaying maturity far beyond his 11 years, Giumelli gave up the opportunity to go on a once in a lifetime school excursion to play at the state titles instead.

To be fair, the decision turned out to be a pretty good one.

“I played pretty well,” Giumelli said.

“(My job was) to not get too wide, or high, back up the winger and help him out. 

The Orange CYMS junior is thought to be the first St Mary’s student to be picked in a NSW PSSA hockey side, and is one of four Polding players to be named - Bathurst duo Lachlan Howard and Fletcher Norris, and Parkes gun Nicholas Job were also named.

Giumelli will join his NSW teammates at a training camp in Newcastle next month, before heading to Perth in search of a national title in August, where he will celebrate his 12th birthday as well.

“I think (the camp) will mainly be about bonding as a team,” Giumelli said.

“(At the championships) I’m expecting Victoria and Western Australia to be tough, but I don’t know about the other teams.”