Above: Local young stars Georgia Cassidy (third right) and Grace Johnston (far right), pictured here with Hyundai NTC in the NPLW WA this season, have been unveiled by Perth Glory as new A-League Women singing this week. Photo: Football West.
Perth Glory have unveiled three new signings this week with two of Western Australia’s brightest young talent announced along with the return of an experienced A-League Women midfielder.
The first local star announced was exciting young prospect Grace Johnston. Comfortable operating anywhere across midfield, the 18-year-old is currently enjoying a stellar NPLW WA campaign for the Hyundai NTC where she is a member of the leadership group.
She spent much of last season training with Glory’s Liberty A-League squad and is now relishing the opportunity to take the next step in her fledgling career.
“Growing up in WA, it’s a huge honour to sign for my local club,” she said. “It’s a big achievement for myself to sign a contract with a club that I have grown up supporting.
“It’s been my dream for many years to sign a professional contract and I am extremely grateful to [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] for giving me this opportunity.
“I can’t wait to get started and believe that by entering such a professional and hardworking environment, I will improve both on and off the field through this experience.”
Epakis, meanwhile, has high hopes for the talented teenager. “I am excited to have Grace be part of the team next season,” he said.
“She has been a player I have been monitoring for a number of months and is someone who has the capacity to continue to develop further across the upcoming ALW season.
“She is versatile enough to play in a number of positions and has a great understanding of the game.
“I am really focused on working closely with her to further evolve and develop her as a football player and I have no doubt she has the ability to be part of our Perth Glory team for a number of seasons.”
Above: NTC star Grace Johnston is a great signing for Perth Glory. Artwork: Perth Glory.
Joining Johnston at the Glory next season will be her Hyundai NTC team-mate Georgia Cassidy, who has also represented the Junior Matildas.
The 18-year-old Perth local is no stranger to the Glory set-up having received a Football West-funded scholarship to train with the club last year while continuing to put in impressive displays for the NTC in the NPLW WA competition.
Cassidy, who was a member of the Junior Matildas squad which claimed the AFF U18 Women’s Championship last year, is now looking forward to launching her A-League career in the famous purple.
“I’m super-excited to sign for my local club, especially having grown up watching Glory as a young girl,” she said.
“It’s a huge achievement for me to finally get the opportunity to explore a professional environment and learn new things on and off the pitch.
Epakis, meanwhile, is confident that Cassidy is primed to make the step up to A-League level.
“Georgia is another signing I am very excited about,” he said. “She has been involved in short training blocks with our squad for the past few seasons and has shown that she has a fantastic technical and tactical aspect to her overall game.
“Georgia is very comfortable in possession and has a great passing range and these are key aspects to the way we want to play. Her potential growth as a football player is very clear and excites me a lot. Her recent national team activities with the Junior Matildas indicate that she is making great strides so far.
“My job will be to help her further develop and progress so that she can be a longstanding Perth Glory player and also continue her progress in the junior national team set-up.”
Above: Georgia Cassidy – one of two locally produced signings unveiled by Perth Glory this week. Artwork: Perth Glory.
Also announced this week was the arrival of experienced midfielder Isobel Dalton for the next two seasons.
Now 25, Dalton is a former Australia Under-17 representative who has spent the last three years in Europe playing for Italian side Napoli and most recently, English FA Women’s Championship outfit, Lewes.
Born in the UK but raised in Queensland, she is also no stranger to the Liberty A-League having made 25 appearances for Brisbane Roar and claimed the club’s Player of the Season Award in 2021.
The midfielder spoke of the anticipation within her for the move to Western Australia: “I’m excited to be returning to Australia and the A-League for the next two years. I felt I was at a point in my career where an opportunity to be back in the country and closer to family was something I was looking for.
“I knew immediately after speaking with [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] that Perth was the club I wanted to pursue that at and I’m grateful for the trust that has already been shown in bringing me to the club.
“Glory has shown they’re capable of competing at the top, so I’m hoping to play my part in helping the club achieve their goals, as well as continuing my personal development.”
Epakis, meanwhile, believes that the University of Colorado graduate will significantly bolster his midfield options in the upcoming campaign.
“Having Izzy join us for the next two seasons is fantastic,” he said. “She has a strong track record of experience across the ALW, youth national teams, and most recently in Italy and the UK.
“Her professionalism and approach is first class, her best football is in front of her and she is going to make a huge impact on the team.
“Each conversation I have had with her across recent months has left me with a very clear picture; she is coming to Perth to represent the club as best as she can, improve our team, and help us progress as a team.”
Above: Former Brisbane Roar star Isobel Dalton has signed for Perth Glory. Artwork: Perth Glory.
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Bayside United climbed into the top four, Heidelberg suffered another setback, and Bulleen overcame a tough FV Emerging in the Victorian NPLW.
Boroondara-Carey Eagles 7-0 Box Hill United
After two consecutive league defeats and one in the Nike FC Cup, The Boroondara-Carey Eagles sent the competition a reminder of what they are capable of.
The Eagles faced a recently resurgent Box Hill United, who were on a run of four consecutive and convincing wins. The form of Sofia Sakalis had been one catalyst behind Box Hill’s rise up the ladder. She has registered either a goal or an assist in every game since her return, but Anais Josefski has been one of their best players since round one. The lethal winger was missing for Round 14.
Box Hill began the game on the front foot. They pressure every Boroondara pass and looked the more dangerous on the ball. Only a marginal offside call prevented an early Sakalis chance.
In spite of the opening minutes, Boroondara were unfazed and responded by hitting the back of the net. In th 17th minute, Emily Heijden lofted a pass into the box with precision, and after a flicked-on header, Kurea Okino tucked away her 18th goal of the season.
Okino returned the favour for the second. She was the target of a high, long ball forward and her presence drew two defenders to her. She used a faint touch to nod the ball into the path of Ellen Turner, and the fullback made no mistake in the 34th minute.
Box Hill were still playing some good football, and at 2-0 were not out of the game. Emma Langley had the best chance to pull one back, but hit her effort over the bar from close range. It was not the turning point of the game. There was no single “Sliding Door” moment that evening, but it things only got harder when Boroondara made it 3-0 in the second half.
Box Hill were on the attack again, but Arina Takunaga intercepted a pass in the middle. She did not hesitate, and surged forward with the ball. Okino’s run off the last defender was perfectly timed, and Takunaga’s pass found her amid numerous Box Hill shirts. Okino calmly brought up her 19th goal of an increasingly ridiculous campaign.
The evening’s fourth goal was the most spectacular. Margot Robbine’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked, but the ball fell to Emily Sutcliffe who was even further out. The former Wrexham and Geelong Galaxy midfielder curled an effort into the top corner. It was 4-0 and not yet over.
Ellen Turner brought up her brace with Boroondara’s fifth. Like her first goal, she arrived late in the box and finished well. Rebecca Lim was the supplier with a strong run and clever cross that bypassed the defenders who were distracted by Okino.
Boroondara’s sixth was Okino’s third. An end-to end move from The Eagles was completed by Sutcliffe’s lofted pass into Okino’s direction. One touch to control and another to bury it into the net means that the Japanese striker now had 20 goals in 13 appearances.
Sutcliffe’s second was as incredible as her first. Lim’s initial cross put the midfielder on the opposite flank with her back to goal, but a quick turn and clever nutmeg by Sutcliffe forged the space for a cross. At least that was the option most would have expected her to take. Instead, she went for the shot directly. Slamming it into goal at the near post to make it 7-0.
Box Hill were soundly defeated, but outplayed only for patches of this game, poor finishing and some timely turnovers cost them, and once Boroondara’s confidence is up, they are a difficult team to stop. The Eagles score heavily, that is their main identifier this season. Although Okino is the headline act, and Robbine the star signing, they have players all over the ground that can punish a side.
Sutcliffe and Turner both scored braces in this game, but the skill and pace of Lim on the right unlocks many chances, while her work rate was crucial to making life difficult for the Box Hill wingers.
Emily Sutcliffe scores one of the best individual goals you will see this season in Victoria’s NPLW. pic.twitter.com/veOiFBRmhg
Boroondara are back, and Box Hill face Heidelberg next week in what is a massive game for both sides.
Southern United 1-1 Alamein
Southern United gained a much-needed point against an Alamein side that needed a win to keep their finals hopes alive.
Rachel Binning gave Southern United an early lead. Her header from a corner put them 1-0 in the second minute of play. It was a promising opening sequence, but although Alamein have struggled for wins, they remains dangerous and one goal was never going to be enough to win this game.
When Sidney Allen gets on the ball, good things happen for Alamein. She is well known for her pace but is also capable of knitting play together. When she got on the ball deep in the 13th minute, a quick interchange of passes resulted in a dangerous through ball for Molly Burke.
Burke swept the ball across goal and although Ashleigh Lefevre’s effort was blocked at close range, Burke was on hand to tap into the empty net.
It was Burke’s second goal of the season, and one that might keep Alamein’s alive. They are in seventh spot, but with seven games left to play, there is still time to recapture their early season form.
Bulleen Lions 2-1 FV Emerging
Caitlin Friend’s Bulleen rose to top spot on the ladder, but they were made to earn it against an FV Emerging side that only grew more dangerous the longer the match went on.
Bulleen had the upper hand early, but were frustrated by FV Emerging’s disciplined defence. despite keeping most of the possession in their attacking half, Bulleen struggled to create clear but chances.
One of the Lions’ main strengths this season has been their press. The forwards stalk the opposition defenders and try and capitalize on any errors, especially from goal kicks.
Faith Stephenson drifted wide and read the clearance well. She knocked it back into to penalty area where Maja Markovski and Alana Jancevski were already waiting. There were calls for a Bulleen penalty after a suggestion of handball, but Jancevski did not wait for the referee to agree. She thrashed home the opening goal from close range.
Bulleen’s second goal came in similar fashion. The midfield and strikers pressed high, and a forced a hurried clearance. Claudia Mihocic read it first and put the ball back into the direction of Markovski. A combination of physical tenacity and quick footwork created an opening for the shot, and Tyla Jay Vlajnic finished from the rebound.
Emerging were not cowed by going two goals down. They created chances of their own, Candice Kilderry’s strong run down the flank and dangerous cross would have ended in a goal with even the lightest touch. Alana Cortellino’s pace makes her a constant menace for even the most experienced defenders, but Emerging still went into the break 2-0 down. They had only made two errors for the half, but against Bulleen, that is all it takes.
When they did pull one back it was spectacular. Kiera Meyers raced down the left wing and waited for support. Her inboard pass found Anika Doveston who shifted her body to create space at the edge of the box. The strike flew past Gaby Garton and gave FV Emerging a lifeline in the 39th minute.
The final 50 minutes of play were tightly contested, with FV Emerging bringing the best out of Bulleen’s defence, but they held firm.
FV Emerging will have only gained more admirers from this performance. However Bulleen are now able to win games playing below their best, and it will be encouraging for them that their defence was resolute in the face of some pace, talent and momentum.
Calder United 2-1 Preston Lions
Calder United’s form continues to steadily improve along with their ladder position. This win against Preston has them in sixth place and given this was achieved without Raquel Derales it was as impressive as it was surprising.
Ava Groba was the hero for the home side. Last season’s quicksilver winger has developed into a more mobile attacking threat and added polish to her pace.
Preston needed to be at their best to get a result here, and although Calder established an upper hand early, Emma Checker was in vintage form to keep them at bay. Some early corners gave Preston hope, but they were unable to convert in attack.
It is difficult to stop 2023 Groba though, and once she gets goal side there are few that can catch her.
Her clipped finish in the 39th minute was a classy way for the captain for make the most of Alexis Mitchell’s threaded through ball.
Preston drew level before halftime. A long ball forward found Belinda Stojcevski who unleashed a rocket of a shot from outside of the area. It curled in off her left foot in unstoppable fashion, and Preston finally had some reward for their persistence.
Calder United have a back four that could easily start for Western United in the A-League Women.
It was the Calder captain who decided the result again. This time she drifted in from the right side and finished into an open net after Keiwa Hieda’s strong run along the left.
It was a goal that felt like it had come out of nothing. Preston were in possession one second, then the next they were walking the ball back to the centre.
Calder’s win felt slightly lucky on the surface. But they made their own luck and defended solidly with their all-star back four. Scoring once against them is difficult, scoring twice is a huge ask, and with Groba’s continued growth in attack. Many top four teams could be hoping that the defending champions do not make it in at season’s end.
Heidelberg United 0-3 Bayside United
There are two stories to come out of this game. First is Heidelberg’s form slump. After convincingly defeating South Melbourne, they have succumbed to consecutive losses in the league and one in the Nike FC Cup.
That’s last result, the 5-2 defeat to Calder United on Tuesday night, sounds bad on paper, but it was an unlucky loss and for most of the game, they looked back to their best. In that context, the Round 14 loss to Bayside looks more like a momentary blip, and the loss of Bella Wallhead to an ACL injury cannot be overstated as a factor that they are working their way through. They will be back.
The other story of this game is that Bayside are starting to look like the real deal. Without the suspended Kayla Deaver, they were achieve a comprehensive win.
Although technically this was a Heidelberg home game, the match was played at Bayside’s ground as Olympic Village is undergoing upgrades, and Bayside looked comfortable from the outset.
A single bad touch when playing out from the back gifted the ball for Bayside’s Julia Budiongo. The striker took full advantage with a dipping shot from 18 yards.
Budiongo added her second in the 31st minute. Racing onto a bouncing long ball behind the defence and nodding it past the onrushing Melissa Maizels.
Bayside was playing with confidence and their star striker was irrepressible. Budiongo turned creator in the second half. She looked to be trapped by Tijan Mckenna in the corner but turned the young midfielder and cut the ball back to Miwa Sasaki.
The strike that followed was the best of the bunch. It flew into the net at the far post, it was hit an unsavable pace and trajectory.
The result means that Bayside United climb into the top four. A win against FV Emerging next week will mean that other could be playing catchup for the rest of the season.
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Above: The defending Olympic champions, Canada will be aiming to put off-field problems behind them to reach their potential in Australia. Photo: Canada Soccer.
Olympic champions Canada will be looking to put off-field problems behind them as the 2015 hosts look to go build on their performance in Tokyo to go further than before at the World Cup.
Squad
The current squad is made up of 25 players, to be reduced to 23 on 9th July.
Above: Canada head coach Bev Priestman. Photo: Boris Streubel/FIFA.
Bev Priestman knows her team inside out. She led Canada to an Olympic gold medal as they beat Sweden on penalties in Tokyo in 2021. This was the extension of her previous roles with the North American side as head coach of Canada’s U-17 and U-20 between 2013-2018. She was involved at the last World Cup with England as Phil Neville’s assistant.
How they qualified
Canada came top of Group B of the 2022 CONACAF W Championship which was enough to secure their passage to Australia.
World Cup History
This is Canada’s eighth appearance in the World Cup having only missed the first tournament in 1991. At this time, their best finish was fourth place in 2003.
Key Player
Above: Christine Sinclair – one of the greatest players of all time. Photo: CityNews Toronto.
This is surely the last World Cup for one of the most illustrious players in women’s football. The captain of Canada, now aged 40, has made over 300 appearances for her nation in a phenomenal international career and has 190 international goals to go with it. She has given everything to her country for the last 23 years.
One to watch
Cloé Lacasse. This is a player who has had an absolutely outstanding season with SL Benfica in Portugal scoring 31 goals in all competitions. Lacasse has a real eye for goal and will cause any defence problems. Having never been capped for Canada, she applied to represent Iceland in 2019 where she had citizenship, but FIFA turned down her application. But a couple of impressive seasons with Benfica have seen her subsequently pick up 19 caps for Canada.
Strengths
On their day Canada are capable of beating anyone, but it remains to be seen how much their campaign to ensure their National Federation pays its female and male national team players the same could be a distraction. Having won Olympic Gold, they are more than capable of using that experience to drive them well into the latter stages in Australia.
Above: Cloé Lacasse – could be one to watch at the World Cup. Photo: Canada Soccer.
Development points
Canada has had a mixed run of results recently, with only one win in five games and only two goals scored. They need to fix up quickly otherwise it could be an early exit for them. It’s important to contextualise that these results were during a time when players wanted to strike over the lack of support they were receiving from their federation, only to play the matches in February when the federation threatened to sue. Though they have since come to an agreement, that cloud still looms.
Success would be
Making the last four as a minimum.
Prediction
Knockout stages. I don’t think Canada has enough to go all the way, but if they play to their potential consistently, then you never know. Their recent form leading into this World Cup is concerning, but they will be confident of getting out of a group featuring co-hosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Nigeria.
Words by Rebecca Hall, exclusive photography by Rafaella Macintosh – both at St. George’s Park for Impetus(21/6/23)
Above: Mary Earps makes a superb save during the Lionesses’ training session at St. George’s Park. Photo: Rafaella Macintosh for Impetus.
The Lionesses arrived on Monday night at St. George’s national training facility, and yesterday they began training as their World Cup preparations got underway in earnest.
With the tournament’s opening game less than a month away, excitement and pressure are building around the squad – something the players insist they can separate themselves from.
England’s first game of the tournament will be on 22nd July, but they will play a friendly ‘send-off’ game against Portugal on 1st July in Milton Keynes before Sarina Wiegman’s side travel to Australia four days later.
Above: Beth England in training yesterday. She later spoke about her reaction to being called into the Lionesses’ World Cup squad. Photo: Rafaella Macintosh for Impetus.
With just weeks to go, Bethany England spoke of the team’s excitement going into the tournament and described the team as “in high spirits going off the back of last year” and that the “team are excited to show the world what we can do”.
While there were initial concerns not all 23 players would be able to report to the national team due to disagreements concerning player welfare between domestic club release dates, an agreement was eventually reached allowing all players to begin their World Cup preparations together.
However, four players were not in full training. Millie Bright and Jordan Nobbs are on individual programmes. Bright continues to recover from her knee operation and Nobbs has a minor injury. Also on a modified training programme is Bayern Munich star, Georgia Stanway following nasal surgery whilst Jess Park partook in reduced contact training due to a shoulder injury.
Above: England’s Georgia Stanway in training – she is on a special programme after nasal surgery. Photo: Rafaella Macintosh for Impetus.
The mantra ‘pressure is a privilege’ is a shared belief amongst the Lionesses, and it is clear they are ready for the fight in Australia and focused on their goals. Chelsea defender, Millie Bright has been made captain in the absence of Leah Williamson due to an ACL injury, and the leadership she provides in this space is well-regarded amongst the players. In addition to Bright, Rachel Daly insists lots of players have stepped up, including Mary Earps and Lucy Bronze but ultimately “everyone has a voice” in this squad.
While England go into the tournament marked as one of the favourites fresh from Euros victory, the players are realistic about the obstacles they may face, including the emotional toll of being away from home.
Rachel Daly agreed that it can be a “tough” aspect of any tournament but that it’s important to “build a home away from home”, by even doing “silly things like unpacking your suitcase, and not living out of it”. Daly, the WSL’s Golden Boot winner this season, said that they would take what they learned from their time at the Lensbury Hotel (base for the Lionesses during the Euro’s) by making sure to familiarise themselves with the area and to “make it home”, stating that this aspect was “super important” for their European success.
Fans and pundits alike have been calling on Head Coach, Sarina Wiegman, to recognise Daly as a forward, which seems to be the case since the Arnold Clark Cup victory. However, the Aston Villa sharpshooter insisted she will happily play any position Wiegman wants her.
Within the Lionesses squad, the striker role is perhaps one of the most hotly contested, but Daly insists the environment is healthy and positive, explaining that “we all push each other and we are all great friends.” WSL fans have become well accustomed to Daly’s goalfests and this form is something that she believes will continue – “I always try and bring my best no matter where I am… I will still perform how I do week in week out.”
Compared to the Euros, the Aston Villa player believes she has further developed on and off the pitch as well, “moving home after being away for ten years and playing in this league (the WSL) was something I wanted to do… but I think you can all tell I’m playing with a smile on my face”– Long may it continue!
The likes of Mary Earps and Keira Walsh were almost a given to be on Wiegman’s squad list, but Jordan Nobbs and Bethany England both made emotional goodbyes to clubs they openly love to find more minutes at Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively in hopes of getting on the plane to Australia.
Above: Lauren James in training yesterday. Photo: Rafaella Macintosh for Impetus.
England said that when she received the call-up, she felt it validated all her hard work and the difficult decision she made. Of the call itself, the former Chelsea attacker tried to “play it cool on the phone” but when she “hung up the phone I screamed my house down”.
The Spurs striker scored 13 goals in the WSL and felt it was important not just to get playing time but to “make the minutes count”, thanking her London club, she shared it was good to be “happy again”. However, with a broad smile, England, admitted it was great to be back with Chelsea friends, such as Jess Carter, and “experience these times with her”. Although the smile quickly faded, admitting she was “not looking forward to the flight”.
Ultimately, England explained that she “could’ve stayed in her comfort zone (at Chelsea)… but then I would’ve been watching other people going out to Australia, and its something I would’ve regretted looking back on.” The resiliency that shines through in the Spurs striker is sure to benefit not just herself throughout the tournament but the whole squad.
With an impressive record of results and Sarina Wiegman at the helm of this close-knit squad, it is obvious that England fans are in for an exciting summer of football.
Rafaella Macintosh’s exclusive photo gallery from Lionesses’ training at St. George’s Park for Impetus
Above: The Philippines have come together and are now one of the rising stars of Asian women’s football. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
The Philippines are an Asian team on the rise.
They’ve recently beaten regional opponents including Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. They are made up of a team of local and foreign-based players, mostly Filipino-American but also a Filipino-Norwegian and Filipino Australian. Their players hail from a variety of leagues, from countries such as Japan, the USA (college leagues), Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, and Serbia.
The team recently changed its nickname from Malditas to Filipinas. The name Malditas has no direct English translation but could variably mean bad-asses to dammed or accursed but could also mean bratty. It is also a swear word in Spanish and Portuguese. Of late and with the new Australian coaching team, it was also sometimes confused with the Matildas. Filipinas is the demonym for the women of the Philippines and can stand alone as a nickname.
Squad
Preliminary squad – final selection will be announced shortly.
Above: Alen Stajcic (right) with Western United’s Angela Beard – newly established in the Philippines national side. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Alen Stajcic was appointed coach in October 2021. At that time, the Philippines were ranked 65th in the world. In less than two years, he’s taken them to an all-time high ranking of 46.
Stajcic has largely specialised in women’s football during his managerial career. He was the Head Coach of the New South Wales Institute of Sport Women’s Football program from 2002 to 2013 and simultaneously coached the NSW Sapphires followed by Sydney FC taking both teams to Premierships.
After stints as the Young Matildas’ assistant coach and head coach, in 2014 he was appointed to the position of full-time head coach of the Matildas. He led Australia to the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada becoming the first senior team to win a knockout match at a World Cup, then qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He took the Matildas to their highest-ever FIFA ranking of four in the work at the end of 2017 after the Tournament of Nations win.
Since heading up the Philippines Women’s National team, his results have been equally impressive. After qualifying for the Women’s World Cup, the team won the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship beating Thailand 3-0 to earn their first trophy. One of his key aims has been to get them to play more international matches and in since taking over, they’ve contested 39 games, winning 23, drawing three, and losing 13.
World Cup History
This will be the Philippines’ first World Cup for either men or women at any age level. It’s quite an achievement for the team.
How they qualified
The 2022 AFC Asian Women’s Cup was the qualifying tournament and they got there by beating Chinese Taipei 4-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the quarter-finals. The Philippines went on to lose in the Semi-finals to South Korea 2-0 but their place in the World Cup was already assured.
Strengths
The team is young and brimming with confidence. They are a fast-attacking side who tend to play on the breakaway. Given the right opportunity they can score so the opposition would do well not to underestimate them and let their guard down.
Development areas
The defence needs firming up and they aren’t that strong in possession. They may struggle against teams like Norway and Switzerland. They also don’t have the physicality of some other teams.
Key Players
Above: Angela Beard striding away for Western United in the A-League Women this April. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
The big news is that Australian and ex-Matildas player, Angela Beard has made herself available and been selected in the preliminary squad. It would be hard to see her not picked in the final selection coming off a very successful A-League Women campaign and being an exceptionally solid defender – an area the Filipinos could improve in.
One to watch
Jaclyn Sawicki is a midfielder and captain of Western United who were runners up this season in the A-League Women’s competition. Her leadership and midfield prowess could be a deciding factor in their games.
Success would be
Realistically, it’s hard to see the Philippines getting out of their group so success would be scoring a goal or winning a match. Not all players in the team are professional and they are coming up against three fully professional teams, all ranked higher.
Prediction
It’s difficult to imagine them beating either Norway or Switzerland, two teams with a host of European stars. They might get lucky against New Zealand but that’s unlikely too. They’ve only played them once and lost 2-1 so it wasn’t a walkover but the Football Ferns have a greater depth of professional players and a home-ground advantage. The prediction is that the Philippines will come fourth in the group, much like their result in the Pinatar Cup.
Above: Jaclyn Sawicki (right) – one to watch in the Philippines squad – seen here in action for Western United. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Group A Fixtures
21st July – Switzerland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
25th July – New Zealand, Sky Stadium, Wellington.
30th July – Norway, Eden Park, Auckland.
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Above: Switzerland celebrate their World Cup qualification after defeating Wales in the play-off. Photo: FIFA.
Switzerland, known as ‘La Nati’, are set to play in their second FIFA Women’s World Cup this year. They will be hoping to counteract their disappointing 2022 Euros performance and make it past the group stage in the competition.
It has recently been announced that the nation is going to host the next UEFA Women’s Euros in 2025, bringing arguably more attention to the team and supporters are eager to see how they are going to progress this campaign.
Squad
To be announced
Head Coach
Above: New Switzerland head coach Inka Grings. Photo: NZZ.
In charge since January this year, Inka Grings is yet to record a win with the side. The ex-German professional player is heading to her first World Cup as a coach this summer but she’s not new to the world stage after representing her native country in both 1999 and 2011. She is eager to make an impact on the team and push them further in the campaign.
How they qualified
Switzerland finished as runners-up to Italy in Group G of the European qualification competition. With six wins, their sole loss came at home to Italy, with one draw against Romania. This put them through to a play-off against Wales where a goal from Fabienne Humm in the final seconds of extra time secured their win and meant they had a place on the plane to New Zealand.
World Cup History
This is Switzerland’s only second appearance at the World Cup. Their previous adventure came in the 2015 tournament in Canada. They made it through to the last sixteen after a 10-1 win over Ecuador and defeats to Japan (1-0) and Cameroon (2-1). They were defeated in the last sixteen by hosts Canada 1-0.
Key Player
Above: Ana-Maria Crnogorčević – Switzerland’s most capped player and top scorer. Photo: Portland Thorns.
Ana-Maria Crnogorčević is La Nati’s most capped senior player along with being the top goal scorer for her country. She signed for Barcelona in 2019 and plays consistently for her club. Her experience and talent are something defenders should fear during the coming tournament.
One to watch
Lia Wälti has captained the side since 2019 and is arguably one of the best holding- midfielders in the world. She recently suffered a foot injury near to the end of the WSL season with Arsenal, but due to its low severity, she is still set to captain the side at the tournament.
Success would be
A successful summer for the team would be making it through the group stages and ideally pass into the round of 16 to equal their previous achievement at the tournament in 2015.
Prediction
I see them as runners-up in their group to Norway and then get knocked out in the round of 16.
Above: Switzerland captain Lia Wälti, who plays her club football in the WSL for Arsenal. Photo: CH Football.
Group A Fixtures
21st July – Philippines, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
25th July – Norway, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
30th July – New Zealand, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
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Ben Gilby provides a full report from the game of the week plus all the details from the other matches in Western Australia’s NPL Women’s competition (19/6/23).
Above:Fremantle City’s match winner Laura Waltman, seen here in action against Hyundai NTC earlier in the season. Photo: Football West.
Main report of the week:
Fremantle City 3-2 Balcatta Etna
Laura Waltman’s goal with a minute of regular time remaining sealed a dramatic victory for second place Fremantle City, who played the final eight minutes of the second half with only 10 players after Jamie-Lee Gale was sent off for two bookable offences.
Waltman’s strike, her second of the afternoon ensured a vital win in the context of the season as it kept Freo within striking distance of Perth RedStar at the top of the table, with the gap between the sides remaining at four points.
Both sides went into this match with key players out of the starting line-up. For the hosts, Abbey Green was out of the squad totally, and for Balcatta, Tia Stonehill was on the bench.
Freo took command and forced a flurry of early corners on the right – a flank on which they focussed all their early attacks, with Tash Rigby and Jamie-Lee Gale particularly prominent in this period.
It took the visitors around 10 minutes to get a foothold in the game. Fremantle kept pushing Balcatta back, and as hard as Tim Cash’s side were working, and they were fighting hard, they were smothered and found it hard to get over the halfway line.
Despite their domination of possession, Freo found it hard to create clear-cut opportunities. They gained a free-kick when Emily Roach fouled Laura Waltman. Catherine Adams’ set piece led to a scrimmage in the box that the visitors finally cleared
With 25 minutes played, Stonehill was introduced to offer her side an attacking outlet. The visitors were battling and forced Fremantle into three successive poor passes which saw them gain territory with a throw-on parallel with the 18-yard box on the right touchline.
However, the hosts created two great chances within 60 seconds. First, youngster Olivia Trueman saw a header bounce off the top of the bar into the welcoming arms of Balcatta goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco, then Carys Hawkins’ cross on the right fell for Nina Boorman whose shot was just wide.
Above: Jamie-Lee Gale – involved in all the second half drama yesterday. Photo: Fremantle City.
Waltman, always impressive for Freo, began to show her skills with a superb win of possession, run, and a centimetre-perfect long pass out to the right wing.
The final opportunity of the opening half fell Balcatta’s way as Sadie Lawrence’s effort came back off the bar with Fremantle keeper Dayle Schroeder beaten.
Waltman’s skill was on show on the hour mark as the port city side finally took the lead with a lofted shot that Dal Busco could only help into the net with her fingertips.
At this stage, Freo were on top again, and with 19 minutes remaining, Trueman went on a superb run along the left before cutting in to supply a pass for Gale to cross in. Kiama nodded across for Mikayla Lyons, on as a substitute, to direct an effort goalwards, but Dal Busco repelled excellently.
Then came a crazy spell of four goals and a sending-off in the last 18 minutes. First, the visitors levelled as a ball over the top released Monique Prinsloo, who headed into the net.
Parity lasted just three minutes as Gale rounded Dal Busco to restore Freo’s lead, and received her first yellow card in the aftermath. The former Perth Glory player received her second yellow seven minutes later when she tugged out at Epril Nossent outside the box.
Whilst the resulting free kick from Kimberley McCartney curled over the top, Balcatta were level with four minutes remaining. Stonehill received the ball at the end of a one-two with Lauren Continibali and ran through in trademark style before slotting home a cool finish into the corner of the net.
Yet the drama was not over, and it was the impressive Waltman who claimed a sensational winner with the clock edging towards the 90th minute. Taking up possession, Waltman drove forward, getting past the close attentions of two Balcatta defenders and dispatching the ball into the net from an acute angle on the right.
The NPLW WA keeps delivering late drama this season with changes in leads and goals at the death. This was another thriller, and in claiming a late goal, Fremantle City just about kept the race for the top of the ladder alive.
Round 11 kicked off on Friday night. For the second Friday in a row, Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) hosted a fellow top-four contender, for the second Friday in a row it turned into a six-goal thriller, and for the second Friday in a row, there was late drama.
If that was not enough, for the second week in a row, Perth SC came back from a losing position to salvage a point in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes.
Perth SC went ahead on 39 minutes when Cameron Barreiro’s corner from the right was met with a thumping header from Poppie Hooks, unmarked in the centre of the 18-yard box, which bounced under the dive of home goalkeeper Stacey Cavill.
Murdoch University Melville levelled eight minutes into the second period as Jess Johnson was found on the left wing and saw her deflected cross fell kindly for Sophie Meaden who squared the ball from an acute angle on the byline which squirmed beneath the feet of Azzurri goalkeeper Rebecca Bennett.
Within four minutes MUM FC hit the front when Bennett’s clearance went to a red shirt and a perfectly weighted through ball found Sam Mathers who provided a deadly finish from the edge of the box.
Above: Murdoch University celebrate Sam Mathers’ goal that put them 2-1 ahead. Image: Streamer.
However, Perth SC grabbed a lifeline with just under 20 minutes remaining as a low ball came across from the right, and after a couple of failures to grab possession, Stella Zampogna smashed a glorious effort first time high and handsome into the right-hand corner of the net.
The see-saw nature of the drama at Besteam Stadium continued as the hosts hit the front once more with just a minute of normal time remaining. Sophie Meaden fed Mathers through the middle, and she didn’t need to be asked twice to crash in a low shot from the edge of the box to score what the home fans must have thought was the winner.
However, Perth SC have shown on several occasions this season that they are not beaten until the final whistle goes. Five minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game, three Azzurri players swarmed Mathers in possession, eventually forcing turnover ball. Ella Lincoln pulled in a low cross from the right which fell perfectly for the onrushing substitute Iona Mitchell to stroke home from close range.
Murdoch University Melville will be devastated to have let the lead slip so late. Whilst Perth will conversely be pleased to salvage a point, it is Perth RedStar who are the real winners as their big win over Curtin University on Sunday extended their stranglehold over these two sides.
Hyundai NTC 3-1 Subiaco
Above: Tanika Lala (right) celebrating earlier this season. Her superb goal deep into second-half stoppage time earned Hyundai NTC the win. Photo: Fotoenzo.
The NTC earned only their second win in the last six matches to reignite their top-four hopes at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday.
The talented teenagers had the bulk of the efforts on goal and went ahead with 17 minutes played as Violet Longmore played a low ball out to Maja Archibald on the left flank. Archibald supplied Grace Johnston who curled a sensational effort into the top right-hand corner of the net past the despairing dive of Subi goalkeeper Marissa Pidgeon.
However, the home side’s lead lasted only six minutes as Savannah Olsthoorn broke through on the left to pull a ball over for former Perth Glory star Marianna Tabain to hit a first-time shot into the net as Subiaco pulled level.
Above: Subiaco’s Marianna Tabain seen here in action last season,, scored her side’s equaliser at Hyundai NTC yesterday. Photo: JASP Photography.
NTC restored their lead with 25 minutes remaining when Ischia Brooking, freshly returned from Junior Matildas duty, took up possession and drove through the middle of the park before hitting a low shot from long distance that squirmed under the reach of Pidgeon and in.
The icing on the cake came three minutes into added time at the end of the match with a stunning goal from Tanika Lala. The move began when Nelli Johnson played in Johnston along the right who crossed into the box. Lala was positioned centrally and able to chest the ball down, turn, and shoot into the net. Another brilliant piece of skill to include in the increasingly bulging scrapbook of the Goldfields’ star.
Perth RedStar 11-0 Curtin University
Above: Abbey Woolley, scorer of Perth RedStar’s ninth goal yesterday, seen here in action against Hyundai NTC earlier this season. Photo supplied by: Perth RedStar.
League leaders Perth RedStar gained their expected big win over strugglers Curtin University on Sunday. It was comprehensive stuff with the defending champions racking up 38 shots on target and 12 corners with Curtin failing to gain one.
RedStar hit the front with less than two minutes played as Quyen Doan was allowed to run along the left, cut in, and advance along the by-line to fire home. It was 2-0 just over 10 minutes later as Renee Leota took advantage of loose defending to stroke home.
Jay Coleman made it three on the 17-minute mark when she headed home from a corner on the right. Within moments, Olivia Wood grabbed her first of the afternoon with a cool finish from the right-hand side of the box.
Chiori Ikeda added a fifth on 24 minutes when she was found in the box and able to turn and shoot home. Three minutes before the break, Leota was found in the centre of the area and tapped home confidently when she was found by the pass.
It became 7-0 within five minutes of the restart as Sarah Carroll’s low ball in from the right was dispatched calmly into the net by Reina Kagami. Wood grabbed her second when she was in the right place at the right time to direct the ball in after Leota’s original shot had crashed off of the post.
Abbey Woolley increased the lead further within three minutes of coming on as sub to conclude a move of superb one-touch passing football that dissected the Curtin defence, allowing the RedStar youngster to take the ball around Curtin keeper Danielle Petch and calmly roll it into the net.
Leota completed her hat-trick to make it double figures with 14 minutes remaining as she was played in and lashed home inside the box. The final goal of the afternoon came from Katie Ritchie with four minutes remaining as she turned home fellow sub-Jayna Ridley’s cross from the right.
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Above: Norway and Ada Hegerberg will be hoping for plenty to celebrate in the World Cup. Photo: The Guardian.
The Norwegian women’s national team are one of the best in the history of women’s football. The Scandinavian powerhouse have dropped off in form in the last few years, but they will be eager to prove that they are just as good as they have ever been this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
Squad
To be announced.
Head Coach
Above: Norway’s head coach Hege Riise – a legend of the women’s game in her country. Photo: England Football.
Under the management of Hege Riise, Norway has improved since their shocking 8-0 loss to England in the Euros. Since coming in, Riise has seemed to change the culture and attitude of this team.
In her days as a player, Riise won a World Cup, a European Championship, and Olympic Gold with Norway. She brings knowledge of how to win tournaments, and she will do everything within her power to make her country proud once again. Although many results haven’t been in Norway’s favour lately, Riise is rebuilding this team in the lead-up to the World Cup.
World Cup History
Norway were one of the big achievers in the early years of the tournament. The Scandinavian side reached the semi-finals or better in four of the first five tournaments.
Runners-up at the first tournament in 1991, when Norway lost 2-1 to the USA in China, they lifted the trophy four years later in Sweden when current head coach Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen scored to earn a 2-1 win over Germany in Solna.
This was followed up with a fourth-place finish in both 1999 and 2007. Since then, it has become more of a challenge for the Norwegians and the best the nation has done since was their quarter-final in 2019.
Above: Ada Hegerberg is back and available for Norway’s World Cup squad this time round and aiming to enjoy a successful tournament. Photo: Harriet Lander.
How they qualified
Norway qualified comfortably by winning nine of their ten group games in Europe’s Group F qualifying stage. Poland, who finished third in the group were the only nation to avoid defeat against the Norwegians when they gained a 0-0 in Łódź.
Strengths
Norway has an absolutely stacked attacking line. With players like Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen, Reiten, and Frida Maanum, they are sure to be a threat to every team they come up against.
Development Areas
Norway’s defence could improve, as they have been conceding frequently as of late. They have talented defenders that haven’t been at the top of their game in these matches.
Key Players
Ada Hegerberg is one of the most decorated women’s footballers and for a good reason. She is a lethal striker, with 43 goals in 77 appearances for her country. She has won the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) six times with Olympique Lyonnaise and is the all-time top scorer in the competition, with 59 goals.
Above: Guro Reiten is in the form of her life for Chelsea and has high hopes for an impressive World Cup for Norway. Photo: Philip O’Connor.
Guro Reiten is one of the best wingers in the game right now. She has speed, a great cross, and an even better shot. Her link-up play is one of the best things in this Norway side. Reiten is in great form and will attempt to carry this over to Australia and New Zealand.
Frida Leonhardsen Maanum finished the season with the most goal contributions in the Arsenal squad. She has the ability to score spectacular goals, which she frequently shows off. She won the UWCL Goal of the Season for her outrageous strike against Bayern Munich last March. Maanum’s midfield mastery will surely come in handy for Norway at the 2023 World Cup.
One to Watch
Julie Blakstad – the 21-year-old BK Häcken loanee is versatile, fast, and smart. Before being loaned to Häcken, she was impressing at Manchester City. Unfortunately, she wasn’t getting frequent playing time so she moved to the Swedish club where she has been on fire. She can score goals, defend, and create chances for her country and will aim to do so again this summer.
Success would be
Reaching the semifinals would be a good goal for this team. They have so much potential but are still in the rebuilding phase.
Prediction
Quarter-Final exit. This team can only get so far just outscoring their opponents and they could get discovered by more experienced, skillful teams.
Group A Fixtures
20th July – New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland.
25th July – Switzerland, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
Above: New Zealand’s Football Ferns – co-hosts for the World Cup. Photo: Inside The Games.
The New Zealand Football Ferns are a team in transition. Following the retirement of many long-standing high-quality players in the past few years, New Zealand Football has poured its energy into developing a sustainable player development program with a focus on development of players on home soil.
The core of the Football Ferns squad are sprinkled across top-quality leagues around the globe achieving great success. Getting those successes from abroad to translate into success for the national team is proving to be a tough challenge.
The Ferns bring an exciting mix of new talent in developing players such as Jacqui Hand and Michaela Foster whose flair will be coupled with the strength of world-class players such as Ali Riley (Angel City, USA), Rebekah Stott (Brighton & Hove Albion, England) and Ria Percival (Tottenham Hotspur, England).
Hosting the World Cup on home soil will provide extra impetus to the Ferns to be competitive and to achieve greatness. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the sport of women’s football to establish itself as the sport of choice among young players and the Ferns having success on the pitch is crucial to creating that legacy.
Squad
Still to be announced.
Head Coach
Above: Football Ferns boss Jitka Klimková. Photo: FIFA.
Jitka Klimková has an excellent history of coaching teams in the past but she has yet to find the right chemistry with getting the best out of the Ferns. With a coaching record of three wins, four draws and fifteen losses since being appointed as head coach in October 2021 her start hasn’t been all that auspicious.
Credit must be given to Klimková as she took over the team after a long period of turmoil that resulted in the retirement of many top players, so she has been working on rebuilding the squad and encouraging them to play her style of football. The Football Ferns enter the World Cup off the back of their longest-ever pre-campaign preparation camp and hopefully, the time spent together will yield results.
World Cup History
New Zealand qualified for the first-ever World Cup in 1991 and it quickly became evident the gap between the skills and abilities of the Ferns compared to the more professional European clubs. With a move by Football Australia to join the Asian Federation for qualifying, New Zealand were able to capitalize on the easier path to qualification. They subsequently returned to the World Cup in 2007 and have qualified for each of the tournaments since then – 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
How they qualified
As co-host of the 2023 World Cup, New Zealand, along with Australia, gained automatic qualification to the World Cup.
Strengths
Playing at home in front of friends and family will be a huge motivator for the team. With a majority of the Ferns squad being dispersed across the globe and most international matches being played outside of New Zealand, this will be a chance for players to reconnect with their points of origin. With half the members of the squad having less than 20 caps for the Ferns they can take a no-fear football approach into each match.
Development Areas
The Ferns have been through a goal-scoring drought in the last few years. The team are able to create opportunities, but quality of the shots has been lacking.
Key Players
Above: New Zealand star Jacqui Hand. Photo: Friends of Football.
Jacqui Hand – forward. Hand could be the key that opens the door to the Ferns scoring goals. She is quick, nimble, and very fast on her feet. If the attacker receives quality support from her midfield players she will be a goal-scoring threat.
Olivia (Liv) Chance – midfield. Chance is a veteran of the sport and a natural-born leader. She is super quick when progressing the ball on the flanks and demonstrated in the two matches against the USWNT that she can match it with the very best. The younger players in the team will do well to replicate her style of play.
Meikayla Moore – defender. Having secured the league championship with her team Glasgow City in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Moore is in fantastic form. She is unafraid to get into a physical challenge and is afraid of no one. Her defensive abilities will be crucial to the Ferns achieving success.
One to watch
Above: Malia Steinmetz (right) in action for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Malia Steinmetz – midfield. Playing out of the Western Sydney Wanderers A-League team stable of players, Steinmetz is a star on the rise. In recent matches representing New Zealand, the midfielder has shown a strong heart and spine of steel in closing down opposition teams’ offensive pushes. If Steinmetz can continue to improve her succesful pass completions she will open up attacking channels through the midfield allowing the team to press forward.
Success would be
Success for the Football Ferns would be for the team to progress out of their pool. New Zealand’s current form doesn’t make for great reading leading up to the World Cup with losses against high-quality opposition. However, those matches were played on short time frames for team camps resulting in less than ideal preparation time. Following a long period of build-up to the World Cup, the Ferns will be fired up and ready to go. All opposition teams will need to be very wary as New Zealand can compete with anyone when it’s their day.
Prediction
The Football Ferns will finish second in their pool, which would likely hand them a last-sixteen game with Japan, with the Japanese likely to be too strong.
Group A Fixtures
20th July – Norway, Eden Park, Auckland.
25th July – Philippines, Sky Stadium, Wellington.
30th July – Switzerland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
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Ashlee Hincks played in the very first WSL match, as well as two FA Cup Finals and a League Cup Final. Now an integral part of AFC Wimbledon’s squad in tier four, the striker spoke to Ben Gilby about her career, life at the Dons, and how she’s positive that they can finally achieve promotion to tier three (15/6/23).
Above: Ashlee Hincks celebrates a goal for AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane last season. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Emily Topping.
Ashlee Hincks is a player who has been part of the fabric of the sport in London for many years – and she is still at the top of her game with AFC Wimbledon.
The striker’s footballing journey has taken her from her back garden at the youngest of ages to the highest level of the game in England.
“My parents tell me I have always been holding or kicking a ball ever since I was able to walk. They took me to join my first all-girls team aged seven and I haven’t turned back since. I have many many highlights.
Above: Ashlee Hincks in action for Chelsea in 2012. Photo: The FA.
“My first senior debut for Charlton Athletic when I was 17 (playing in the top tier), winning what is now the Conti with Charlton, playing in two FA Cup Finals, one with Charlton and one with Chelsea, my first game with England, scoring on my debut, playing in Iceland for a season. Playing in the first-ever WSL game for Chelsea – those are just to name a few.
“If you would have told me at the start of the WSL what it would be today I never would have believed you, the growth has been incredible and I am proud to have played a small part in that.”
After spells at Millwall and Crystal Palace, the striker, now aged 34, has just come to the end of her second season with AFC Wimbledon in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East – and she is still hitting the heights.
“I have made 56 appearances for the Dons, scored 75 goals, and have 35 assists to my name.”
However, Hincks brings more than just goals to the table. She is an intelligent reader of the game who is hugely influential on the younger heads around her. “I think with my experience I lead from the front, trying to control the tempo of the game with link-up play or hold-up play game dependant, I also think I’m very reliable.”
Above: Ashlee Hincks in action earlier this season. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Emily Topping.
Her current achievements are also that bit more impressive when you consider that Hincks suffered an ACL injury three years ago. That period is one that the attacker looks back on as the most challenging of her career.
AFC Wimbledon continue to be a real force in tier four, although for the second successive season, despite beating a number of teams from the division above in cup competitions, they narrowly missed out on promotion.
Unbeaten in the league since the end of August, the Dons took four points off of eventual champions Hashtag United, but a single league defeat to Queen’s Park Rangers was enough to deny them top spot.
“It is extremely frustrating as the points dropped are purely our mistake. Credit to Hashtag United though, they were ruthless throughout.”
Whilst the title race in the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East was tight, two clubs in the division, Hounslow and Wymondham Town folded during the season with their respective records expunged. In terms of how Hincks views the situation, the striker says: “Albeit two teams folded in our league in general I think the standard and quality is very high for tier four.
Above: Ashlee Hincks looking to break through the Norwich City defence. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Emily Topping.
“One thing I would like to see is more teams from the division below enter our league and expand the league to more teams which will help the competition. There are some fantastic teams in tier five with great financial backing which would only improve the quality. The quality would then only filter down the leagues as it already has since the WSL and Championship have gone pretty much full-time.”
After two successive near misses, AFC Wimbledon are determined to finally make the step up to tier three this time next season, something which has been aided by the fact that so many of the squad have extended their deals for another year.
“I think the fact majority have already committed to next season is the key to gaining promotion, any successful team I have played in has kept the core group for a few seasons before success.”
Hincks is one of those to agree to another season in the blue and yellow, and for the striker, it was an easy decision to make.
“AFC Wimbledon is a real family. From the moment I signed, I have felt such loyalty from the club, which is very rare in the women’s game. They go above and beyond to give us everything they can. With us being fan owed and the links being much closer, things also get done a lot quicker than they would do in say a Premier League-linked club. It really is an honour to wear the shirt and I hope this season is the season I help us get to tier three.
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