Papamoa is establishing itself as a breeding ground for future soccer stars – with two Olympic team players tracing their development to Papamoa Football Club.

Papamoa Football Club president Barbara Caie says everyone at the club was excited to see Tommy Smith and Rebekah Stott representing the country.

Papamoa Football Club's Rebekah Stott.

'It's great news for local people to be such stars – and to have learnt their early football at Papamoa Football.”

Barbara says it was almost a trifecta for the club – with former club player Olivia Chance making the development squad but not the final team. She hopes this success is the start of a trend at the club.

Papamoa-born Rebekah, 19, was voted the club's most outstanding player for her 10th grade team in 2002 – just ahead of shifting to Australia with her family aged 11.

Club treasurer Paul van der Salm recalls there was a sign of Rebekah's talent when she was selected to a Federation rep team with girls one to two years older than her.

Rebekah, the youngest player in the Football Ferns team, represented Australia in its Under 20 team until recently and plays for Melbourne Victory.

Professional footballer Tommy Smith played at the club where his father John coached, from 1998-2002 until moving to Auckland to attend Westlake Boys' High School. English-born Tommy, 22, has returned to England where he plays for Ipswich Town. He played for the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.