By Joe Rosedon 16/9/24
Above: Stephanie Galea after Heidelberg’s Grand Final win. Photo: Football Victoria.
Heidelberg United captain Stephanie Galea talks to Impetus about a season that will go down in history.
After nine years at Heidelberg United, Steph Galea can finally call herself a Grand Final winner. A remarkable campaign saw her team struggle with form at the beginning of the season, with the team hovering in and around the bottom of the table.
A mid-season coaching change made all the difference. Since then, the team went from strength to strength winning six out of their last eight regular season games, before completing an astonishing turnaround to become NPLW champions. Steph Galea spoke to Impetus about what caused the change in fortunes, the dramatic ending to the final and her love affair with Heidelberg.
The start of the season for the club was a real challenge that saw disappointing result after disappointing result, only gaining one point from the opening three fixtures.
“We struggled a lot. We couldn’t really get going. We were playing okay football but obviously the results and the goals weren’t being scored” Galea said
“I thought it was going to be one of those seasons where we finished on the bottom. And you know, after being there for nine years, I was thinking is this ever going happen for me?”
The poor start saw the removal of manager Louis Spiridis. After the arrival of his replacement Sven Samild and with help from coach Dennis Georgeakopolous, Heidelberg’s form saw a dramatic improvement, winning their first three games after Samild’s appointment
“When Sven came in it was like a breath of fresh air. He said to me if we’re going to get relegated, let’s get relegated having fun. And moments later we were in contention of making the top four.
“From there we didn’t really look back. We started getting the results straight away and were scoring plenty of goals.
“When you’re happier you play your best football so I think that was the biggest difference”
The Grand Final itself was this epitome of this turnaround. With ten minutes to go, Preston led 2-1 and look set to win. Heidelberg had other ideas. In the 88th minute, Keely Lockhart drew them level. They then went one better in the 95th, when Mami Ambo rose highest to nod the ball home to seal an improbable victory.
“I remember looking at the scoreboard, and I saw that there was ten minutes to go, and I said, surely this is not happening to me again. I still had hope that we would come back because we had done it many times before
“I think it’s just the togetherness of this team. They just back each other so much and they fight for each other”
This isn’t Galea’s first taste of success whilst playing for Heidelberg. In her first season at the club in 2016, she won the Nike FC cup. Yet the Grand Final victory was the culmination of years of work and effort.
“It’s obviously a bit more special, because I’ve been working so hard for it and the club have been as well
“Last year I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue playing, maybe drop down a level and play a bit more for fun.
“So, the fact that I stuck it out and I really wanted to win something at that club because they deserved made it that much sweeter”
This was also significant season for Galea in terms of personal achievement. She played her 150th game for Heidelberg. Over that time the club has become an integral part of her life. Her role at the club has evolved past just being a player, now taking on coaching responsibilities at the club for the junior teams.
“The club means everything to me. I’ve been welcomed with open arms and been looked after ever since.”
“I’ve also got involved in coaching. my main goal was to create a unity between the junior program and the seniors, because sometimes that can be a little bit separate
“I’d make sure all the senior players would go down to each age groups training sessions have a kick around with them.
“There’s people at that club that have just done so much for me, and I feel like now I’ve finally repaid them for everything”
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