For this week’s WA On Wednesday feature, Murdoch University Melville’s Katie Schubert spoke to Ben Gilby about her footballing journey, coming back after giving birth, life at MUM FC, and the development of the game in Western Australia (24/5/23).
Above: Katie Schubert in action for Murdoch University Melville this season at Perth SC. Photo: Fotoenzo, supplied to Impetus by: Katie Schubert.
Katie Schubert has been part of the women’s football scene in Western Australia for a number of years after moving from the United States. She is back at Murdoch University Melville as part of their exciting-looking team this season after giving birth to her daughter Florence.
It was back in rural West Virginia that Schubert first kicked a ball, as she takes up the story: “I grew up playing in America at the age of five, following in my brother’s footsteps.
“I played in the college system at West Virginia Wesleyan College which was the best four years with two summer sessions in the semi-professional leagues in Atlantic City, NJ, and Denver, CO. Then I started coaching at the collegiate level and thought my playing career was over until I moved to Australia.
“I came over on a working holiday visa and was set up to play at UWA for the four months that I was supposed to be here. I played a few seasons at UWA before attending a trial for Perth Glory. After the trial, I was invited down to Glory with the limitation of getting a contract as I was considered an international player. I eventually filled an international contract position with Glory for two seasons and in the off-season played U18 boys with Ashfield SC before moving to Queens Park SC.”
After a number of successful seasons with Queens Park and the introduction of the NPLW WA, I moved to Murdoch University Melville. I’ve been part of the playing group and captained the group for a couple seasons. I took a break from football in mid-2021 and into 2022 when I gave birth to my daughter, Florence, and returned to the team last year once my body was strong enough and ready.
As with all players, Schubert’s progress in the game has come with overcoming significant challenges. “I’ve had lots of coaches and people telling me I wasn’t good enough to make it at various levels. When I first debuted for Perth Glory, I had a very strong feeling of accomplishment around proving lots of those people wrong which I had done many times throughout my career.
“However, returning to the sport after having my daughter has been a big challenge for me both physically and mentally. It has required me to train a lot on my own and at times be away from my daughter for training. Luckily with the best support of the club (including the coaching staff, TD, and president) and the support of my amazing husband, I have been able to come back.
“I wanted to prove to myself and everyone that I could get back to this level after having a child and show that you can play football and have a family too. I also want my daughter to see me playing and be a role model for her into the future so that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, she can do anything she puts her mind to.”
Schubert was been part of the squad at Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) when they entered the NPLW WA and is perfectly placed to analyse how the club has progressed down the years, and provide an evaluation as to where their current crop are.
“Over my time at MUM FC, we have had some brilliant players come through. We have won some trophies and played some really good football. Unfortunately, we have seen various players leave the club for various reasons. However, with all this being said, the current team excites me the most!
“The average age of our current team is just over 20, and I obviously bring that age up a bit. We have so many teenagers showing so much potential. It makes me very excited for the future of the club. Unfortunately, the player pool in Perth just isn’t big enough yet. The league has seen a number of top players head over east over the last couple of years and this has impacted the overall standard of the league. However, it has also given a lot of young players opportunities which I think will make it stronger in the coming years.”
The positivity around the current campaign and the club’s present rich run of form comes on the back of a difficult season in 2022 where, after so much success in the early years of the competition, MUM FC failed to make the top four.
“Last season was a tough one for us as a squad and club. We went from a very successful season to seeing the departure of a number of players, significant injuries, and a new coaching staff. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be around the team and club as much as I would have liked with a newborn.
When I was able to make my way back, I could not have asked for a better environment to come back into, thanks to the coaching staff and club as a whole. Based on all the circumstances, a number of players were able to get significant minutes in the first team and the girls narrowly missed out on making the top four. Overall, it was a building year for us.”
Looking ahead to this season, Schubert believes new coach David Biancuzzo has had a hugely positive impact. “David has brought in a calming nature and positivity to the environment alongside Dom, our assistant coach, who brings lots of energy. They have both brought through philosophies throughout the club instilled by our TD, Mark Jones. Mark also still plays a vital role in our preparations and will throughout the season.
“We have such an exciting group of players with so much potential. Some of the new names to look out for are Sophie Meaden, Vanessa Miller, and Jessica Johnson. All very young with lots of energy and high technical ability and will score many goals for us this season!”
The NPLW WA this season is shaping into a thrilling race for top four football with six teams strongly challenging, and Schubert believes this could be the most exciting campaign in the competition’s embryonic history.
“The league is open for anyone to win it this year, which is going to make it exciting. Each week will be interesting and a challenge. We are planning to take the season week by week battling for those points and as a squad we are aiming to be in the top four as a minimum. If we can limit our injuries and have a little more depth, I think we are able to compete across the whole league.”
One of the perennial talking points within the women’s game in Western Australia is the number of players moving to play their football on the east coast. Schubert offered her thoughts on the situation and what needs to happen to keep more of the locally produced players in their home state.
“Personally, I think it’s good for players to play away from home for personal growth and development. You learn a lot about yourself when you are put into those environments. I have moved to a number of different cities for football when I didn’t know anyone or anything about the place. Players will come back to Western Australia, but we just have to strengthen the quality and professionalism of the league for this to happen, which it is gradually getting there over time.”
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