Impetus’Jean-Pierre Thiesset was in Wales’ pre-game media conference with captain Sophie Ingle and head coach Gemma Grainger for the game against Francefor us. Ben Gilby reviews the key points that were raised(8/4/22).
Above: Wales captain Sophie Ingle speaking to the media yesterday. Photo: FA Wales.
Wales captain Sophie Ingle sees tonight’s game against France in Llanelli as a real opportunity for her nation to show just how far they have come.
“France are one of the best teams in the world, so it’s a great test of who we are. We were incredible over there, but this time we need to see if we can do it again, but go one better in terms of a result.
“Defensively over there, we were solid more or less throughout. We were disappointed with the two goals that we conceded, but the character we showed in the second half when we went down to 10 players was great and we could have got a goal.”
Wales go into the World Cup qualifier on the back of a fourth-placed finish in the eight-nation Pinatar Cup in February – a positive achievement given the team went into the competition as the sixth highest-ranked team in the event. Ingle took so many positives from the experience.
“The Pinatar Cup was great for us to rotate the team and the young girls who came in really stepped up. We really have a bench now and strength in depth for the first time.”
The game tonight will be played once more in Llanelli, a location with a growing reputation for passionate fans of Welsh women’s football.
“Parc y Scarlets is starting to feel like a home for us now. We have a lot of fans in Llanelli who want to come to our games now and it looks like we’re going to have a record crowd this week as well.
“I can’t wait for the French to walk in and be hit by the atmosphere that we create in Wales. I don’t think they will expect it. They have a lot of fans, but do they expect us to have the sort of atmosphere that will be at Llanelli? I don’t think so!”
“These are the games that I love playing in. We’re little old Wales against France. We’re always the underdog. It’s about us showing who we are, individually and collectively.”
Sophie Ingle
Ingle recognizes that the growth of women’s sport in Wales is growing with increased investment leading to ever-improving national team performances in different sports. “I think it shows that when people back the women’s teams, look what they can do. Look at the Welsh women’s rugby team. Twelve of them have now been able to go professional and look how well they are doing in the Six Nations. It’s the same for us in the Welsh football team.”
The Welsh captain emphasized that Wales’ growing ability and achievements on the pitch are leading to increased expectations. “Our fans now, when we are playing the lower-ranked teams expect us to win four or five-nil and see us as a strong team against the top nations.”
Above: Wales head coach Gemma Grainger is positive ahead of tonight’s game with France. Photo: FA Wales.
Wales head coach Gemma Granger has set her sights on using the foundations of her team’s superb display in France in November to produce something special tonight.
“We’re focussed on building on that performance. These are the teams we want to play. It is about being better at being us. In November in France we were unlucky – a post width away from equalizing with only 10 players.
“We know that Friday’s game will be very different. France are the third-best team in the world. Our ambitions are to compete with them. It’s our mentality. It’s the next step in our journey, 12 months ago we were a very different team. It’s exciting seeing the belief that is pumping into the team.”
“Excited sums us up as a group. We’re riding off the back of the way that the nation is feeling about Welsh football at the moment. We respect France, but we want to be playing them in tournaments, start strong and build on it.”
Gemma Grainger
Grainger highlighted the impact that her player’s performance levels are having. “The amount of game time our players have across the squad for their clubs now really shows how we’re growing. When I first came into the role, we had 10, 15 players able to train on the first day as they hadn’t played for their clubs the day before. This week we only had four or five training on that Monday.”
Despite all the positivity in the Wales camp ahead of the game, Grainger recognizes that France pose her team a huge challenge.
“The individual strength that France have in their team is incredible. Most of them were playing in the Champions League last week. The level they play at, the athleticism. They have some of the world’s best players.”
“Marie-Antoinette Katoto is one of the most in-form strikers in Europe and we learned a lot playing against her in November, but you have to respect their entire team. They have strengths in lots of different areas. You can’t necessarily stop it, it’s about how you defend against it. If we can’t win the ball, it’s about how you deal with the crosses, first contact, second ball. We did that in November and need to do the same on Friday.”
It is not just the Welsh team who are an ever-growing force. The head coach identified her pride in the ever-increasing numbers of fans at their home games.
“One of the most positive things for us is the way we’re growing our supporter base. For the first qualifying game in September we had 1,700 fans at Parc y Scarlets and for us to know that there will be 4,000 or close to 5,000 there is a huge positive. It’s why we do what we do and inspire the next generation. It was noisy in September, so it will be really noisy on Friday!”
“When we went to France there were over 20,000 fans there. I want France to feel something similar when they walk out. They need to feel ‘Wow, we’re not at home,’ and we can take advantage of that.”
Wellington Phoenix had a heroic first season as an A-League Women side. Despite being unable to play a home game and with by some distance the youngest squad in the competition, the New Zealanders defied the challenges to pick up wins and creditable performances.
Supporters group Flight of the Nix members Denise Duffy (DD), Holly Eades (HE), Blair Campbell (BC), Liam Symes-Wells (LS-W), Blake Forbes-Gentle (BF-G), and Jonathan Haggar (JH) spoke to Impetus’ Ben Gilby (BG) about their team’s maiden season(7/4/22).
Above: Wellington Phoenix celebrate their first-ever A-League Women victory over Canberra United. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images.
BG: When we spoke at the beginning of the season, there were hopes of the Nix A-League Women side playing home matches in February. That never happened. What methods did you use to continue supporting/watching the Nix A-League Women team?
DD: One cool thing we did was before each match was that I would put up a post asking our group members to send a sentence or two of encouragement to the women’s team. I then flip them to assistant coach Natalie Lawrence. Hopefully, those cheers made it to the athletes.
The reality though was that in New Zealand, we all watched on Sky Sports. Sometimes I would watch at my home with my fellow Flight of the Nix member Tabitha DeSalis. Tabitha also coached with Natalie Lawrence and was targeted by New Zealand as part of their future coaches program. Other times I would watch with my American neighbour across the street, a former referee. Honestly though, the matches were late at night here. Often it was just me in a dark room on the couch cheering for the Nix. And then there was that Western Sydney Wanderers match. We all just followed the admin on Twitter. It was dubbed in our group by David Lim ‘the best match none of us watched’. We were into it through our Facebook group community. I’ve been conditioned over the years to just get women’s football in whatever form I can.
BG: Ahead of the campaign what were your most positive hopes for the team’s achievements this season?
BC: Being a team that was put together at the last minute and filled mainly with very young promising players from both sides of the Tasman, most pundits and supporters, including myself, were optimistic they would show some form of competitiveness in their matches.
To get close in some matches and perhaps steal a point or two were some of the hopes for the team. It was also hoped that players would gain valuable experience and exposure playing in a professional league and be better players for it the following season.
BG: So, how would you sum up what actually happened?
BC: The team really did exceed all expectations across a number of fronts. Straight from the first game, it could be seen the team played with good structure and showed a lot of fight on the pitch. They were up for the physical challenge and won a lot of turnover ball and interceptions.
It became apparent the team had worked first and foremost on their defensive side and their attacking play got better and better as the season went on. They were very competitive in most games and unlucky not to pick up more points during the season. After getting through the first half of the season, I’m sure a lot of supporters would have started to back the team to pick up points against the lower to mid placed teams, which I’m sure would not have been the case at the start of the season.
The players will have gained a lot from playing together in their first season and should feel very satisfied with how they conducted themselves on the field.
BG: In a season of huge positives, what were the biggest plusses for you?
BC: The first win of the season over Canberra United was a real highlight. The reactions from the players after the final whistle told it all. They had toiled very hard over the season for a win, coming very close in some earlier games.
Individual player development was very pleasing, with a number showing considerable improvement. The way the team developed was also evident, with improved passing, positioning, and ability to get forward. This was a team that had hardly any preseason, hadn’t really played together before, together with a number of players still at development level. A full pre-season along with the addition of some more experienced players bodes well for next season.
The coach Gemma Lewis was a real positive too – she has to take a lot of the credit for how she got the team to play and perform.
Above: Flight of the Nix member Blair Campbell. Photo supplied by: Denise Duffy.
BG: Which player(s) impressed you most this season? Why?
BC: Lily Alfeld was a giant in goal and a commanding presence as captain. She really did direct the younger players well (as captain) and played really well herself.
There were big wraps on Grace Jale ahead of the campaign, having previously been in the Football Ferns environment. We saw some glimpses of that potential in the first game, however, whilst she was working her way back to full fitness she suffered an injury that delayed her initial involvement.
Once we got 90-minute performances from her, we started to see her real quality and potential and she quickly became a goal-scoring threat with the lethal pace she possesses. She also started to become more prominent on the ball with some nice touches.
“It was fitting that she was the top goal scorer for the side this season and she has been well rewarded with selection back in the Football Ferns team for the series against Australia. “
The expectations on Chloe Knott were very high, being one of the very few experienced players in the team. After a few games, her quality became apparent, coinciding with a move into the strikers’ role. Her work rate is first class and she surely must be the leading contender for the amount of km’s covered this season on the field.
A very fit player who was always running strong at the 90-minute mark. Other noticeable attributes were her strength on the ball and lay-off passing. A key player moving forward who is also adept playing in the midfield.
I’m sure the general consensus would be that Alyssa Whinham was the find of the season, certainly the surprise packet amongst the team. It’s true, there must really be something in that Canterbury water, which is Whinham’s home province. There have been a number of young players come through the ranks there.
It has to be said there is no player like her in the team. Her composure on the ball, ability to maintain possession when under pressure, and real capacity to beat players with the ball set her apart. Some of her passing and through balls were top-notch at times.
The challenge for Whinham will be that a lot of players will now see her as a threat and strategize to close her down. Her potential, however, remains untapped and if she can continue to work on other areas of her game she will be seen as even more of a threat moving forward. The Football Ferns coach will keenly be watching her development.
Kate Taylor’s ability and skill became quickly evident during and after the first game of the season. This was a name that the commentators started to repeat over and over. Another Canterbury product that surely is knocking on the doors of the Football Ferns. A very physical courageous defender that partnered well with Mackenzie Barry at the back, winning a number of battles with composure that belied her age. Also very good at taking the ball up, driving the play forward, and a nice passer of the ball. She could potentially move a position forward one day on the pitch and play as a damaging destroyer in a holding midfield role.
One of the standout players of the season and another that will be under the microscope for the Ferns.
Along with Taylor, Mackenzie Barry was an absolute colossus in defence and one of the real reasons the team remained competitive over a number of games. A very strong physical player who disrupted a lot of the opposition’s attack and fought hard every game to stop the ball from going in the back of the net. Duly rewarded with the captaincy on a game towards the end of the season. Higher honours beckon.
Talitha Kramer was another standout player in the team, surely being one of the first picked on the team sheet once she settled in after being a later addition. Her experience was needed at the back and I’m sure we can all remember some of her great driving runs forward down the flanks. A very strong physical player who never backed down to a challenge and no doubt well respected by her team members. I’m sure all Nix supporters are hoping to see her back in Nix colours next season. A very worthy addition to the squad indeed.
Other players deserving special mention include Grace Wisnewski who was very prominent as a box-to-box midfielder and a real team player.
Ava Pritchard who after a quiet start to the season really started to shine, becoming more and more involved in the attacks with some lovely runs through and an increasing threat on goal. Zoe McMeeken, the youngest player in the team who was a regular starter. Just think how good she may become after a few more years playing at this level.
HE: I want to add Lily Alfeld, who was player of the season for me. She was not just a fantastic goalkeeper and captain, but also a fan favourite. Lily always came over to the fans after each match to have a chat, and would contact us before every match to see if we needed tickets. She also just seems like a genuinely amazing person.
Above: Flight of the Nix member Holly Eades. Photo provided by: Holly Eades.
BG: Tell us what you all make of head coach Gemma Lewis?
DD: The coaching duo, of Gemma Lewis and assistant Natalie Lawrence were the Nix’s best hires. They are young, they know these athletes, and their brand of football was exciting. The type of coach that does their job by out of control yelling and generally emotionally abusing athletes is becoming a thing of the past. You see that this style of coach was purged in the NWSL in America last season.
Our athletes were definitely feeling the pressure of having to perform at their top level week after week and live abroad. The coaches did well acknowledging these pressures and supported their athletes’ mental health. As a fan, that was awesome to see.
I will say, there is sometimes a misconception that because it’s a women’s side that mentally they have each other backs and everything will be OK. The men’s side has a chaplain to help with this. The women’s side needs access to mental health professionals during the season, and actually year-round. These days they can even be via online access. It’s a cost that needs to be funded either by the league, players union, or each team.
Above: Denise Duffy (right) with fellow Flight of the Nix member Blake Forbes-Gentle. Photo supplied by: Denise Duffy.
LS-W: I think Gemma has done a really awesome job this season. Looking at how quickly the team was announced, meaning such a short time frame to find players, coaching staff, and all the important things to get the team up and running. I feel she really adapted to this and looking at the success we had, it was a job well done.
Alongside her was Assistant Coach Natalie Lawrence and she also did an awesome job, What made this even better was a few days before each match everyone in the group would send messages for the team and Denise sent these off to Natalie. This really showed we are connected to the team even if we are 4000ks away. The way Gemma dealt with Grace Wisnewski by offering her the help she needed and supporting her the whole time really showed she cared for her players and they were like family.
Even seeing messages of support on the Phoenix’s Facebook really showed how much everyone watched and supported the team, and I am proud to be one of them. To sum it all up in one sentence. Gemma did an amazing job with such a young team and shattered all expectations put in front of her, onto next season and more wins. Hopefully, she sticks around with the team for many more years and we can have plenty more success in the future.
Above: Flight of the Nix member Liam Symes-Wells. Photo supplied by: Liam Symes-Wells.
BG: With the Nix having secured funding for two seasons of A-League Women football, do you know if there is any more news about any longer-term funding for the team?
DD: Gut instinct, I think the Nix are here to stay. General Manager David Dome even spoke of that in the future the A-League men’s sides will all have a women’s side. Honestly, dollar for dollar, I think the Wellington Phoenix organization will find the women’s side to be profitable. These women are stars, market them as such. New Zealand has changed over the last five years. Women’s sports are now all over the news. With the World Cup coming, we will find more and more football fans in New Zealand and they will find the Nix.
BG: Other than being able to play home matches in New Zealand next season, what would you like to see from the team next time round?
BF-G: No nothing more because having the club home is the greatest gift that we could have especially for the woman so we can finally show them all the gratitude and how grateful we are for all the sacrifices they have made over the pandemic and finally be able to repay them with the home crowd is the greatest gift of all.
I am proud to support a club that is so inclusive. Especially because of the story that David Dome shared with us about a blind man who would go to the matches and listen to the radio call. The audio was always behind the actual run of play because of transmission time. To solve this they allowed him to sit in the actual commentary booth. I love how the club tries its best to accommodate its supporters however they can no matter what background of disability, religion, and sexuality.
BG: Is it realistic to assume that more experienced New Zealand players would join the Nix for next season or would you be happy for another season of the talented kids?
JH: A lot of the appeal of the Nix women this season was watching a very young squad showing the entire A-League their ability to be competitive against well-established teams. Discovering the talent of Whinham, Barry, McMeekan and many others was magic!
However, the reopening of the borders for travel will have a big impact on player availability next season. It is possible that Kiwi women who played in other teams this season might switch to the Nix. So many up-and-coming players got an incredible amount of positive exposure by playing in a professional league.
For the Nix women to have a shot at making the Finals, the team needs to recruit a couple of more experienced players to guide the team through the tense moments. This season’s team would have benefited from having players with more experience in the hard-fought matches with super close scorelines resulting in losses or draws. Recruiting a couple of experienced players into the team will help secure more wins when the score lines are tight and calm is needed.
If the Nix can add two or three experienced players while keeping the bulk of the squad from this season, then fans will be happy.
Pride Park captain and record appearance holder Tash Allderidge spoke to Impetus‘Ben Gilby about her footballing journey and life at the Derbyshire Ladies League Division One club (7/4/22).
Above: Tash Allderidge (left) strides forward with the ball for Pride Park. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
Tash Allderidge first played for Pride Park in December 2006 and has now amassed over 150 appearances for the tier seven Derbyshire Ladies League Division One side, scoring over 50 goals in the process.
Pride Park’s captain first discovered her love of the game at the age of five. “I first started playing football at primary school in an after-school club when I was about five. After realising a love for the sport, I started playing outside of school at a football group where I was the only girl.
“When I turned 10 years old, I trialled to join Pride Park U11s in their first season. They were the first girls’ football team I’d even heard of and I’ve played for them now ever since. In 2013, I joined Burton Albion Ladies for a season, helping them gain promotion to the Regional League at tier six alongside playing for Pride Park U18s. We then became Pride Park Ladies after moving to open age, and I have played for this team ever since, captaining the team for the last five years.
“Pride Park have always been a welcoming and friendly club with a great atmosphere on and off the pitch. Although everyone in the team plays for enjoyment, we are also very competitive on the pitch and want to be winning games. It’s great to be able to play week in week out with a group of teammates who I would also class as my friends.”
With her status as a keen Newcastle United fan, Tash had some very famous strikers as her idols growing up.
“My role models when I was younger were Alan Shearer and Michael Owen – for his football ability, not his punditry! However, when I started playing central midfield, I really idolised Hatem Ben Arfa because of his amazing dribbling of the ball and regularly getting goals and assists from midfield during his time at Newcastle. When you watch a player doing that for your favourite club, you just want to get out on the pitch yourself and do the same.”
Above: Tash Allderidge – confident in possession. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
Pride Park’s captain has found the most recent couple of seasons the most challenging of her career – a direct result of the added complications of COVID.
“It was so hard going months without being able to play football, training, or matches. Sundays just aren’t the same without football! Fitness was also a pretty big challenge once we were able to play again. During lockdown, I’d done a lot of running to try to maintain my fitness, but you need a different type of fitness for football so it took a while to build that back up when we were playing regularly again.”
With the season gradually moving towards the business end, Tash highlighted how she’s viewed the Derbyshire Ladies League Division One this time around.
“It has been extremely competitive. It really feels like a season whereby anyone could beat anyone. Some of our most competitive matches have been against Belper Town, playing two matches against them so far this season, winning one match each, however, they have been very hard-fought and close matches both times.
“Our toughest opponents were probably Draycott Victoria who have some great players and know how to win games. We lost to them in our first match this season but we have another two matches against them so we’ll see if we can get a better result!”
In terms of aims for the rest of the season, Allderidge said: “As a team, it would be great to finish in the top half of the table this season, especially with how competitive the league is this year. Personally, I would like to build up more confidence to take on players in matches and be able to get up the pitch more to help our strikers on the attack and hopefully adding to my goals and assists tally in the process.”
Taking the slightly longer-term view, Pride Park’s captain has some big ambitions for the future.
“I would love to play with Pride Park at a higher level, on the regional league, if we were to go for promotion, to see what it’s like to play against some different teams at that level.
“Also, I’d love to play in and win a match in the Womens’ FA Cup with Pride Park. We made our first appearance in the FA Cup in 2019, losing 5-1 against Hepworth United, a team playing at a higher level than us. It would be great to enter again and maybe even win a match to get into the next round.”
Above: Pride Park’s record appearance holder Tash Allderidge. Photo: Shaun Hardwick
It’s the first-ever design solely for the national women’s team as Northern Ireland’s preparations for the European Championships take a step up. (7/4/22)
Above: Northern Ireland players model their new kit. Photo: Irish FA.
Adidas has created a brand new kit for the Northern Ireland senior women’s team to wear at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 this summer.
It is the first Northern Ireland kit designed solely for the senior women’s team. And both the home and away kits take inspiration from previous iconic Northern Ireland jerseys.
With under 100 days to go until the start of the Women’s Euros, more than 350,000 of the 700,000-plus tickets available for the tournament have been sold, setting the scene for a record-breaking event. Sales have already surpassed the previous tournament record of 240,000 set at UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.
As well as being available to pre-order at jdsports.co.uk, the new Northern Ireland tournament kit will be available to purchase at the Northern Ireland v England FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifier at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park next Tuesday (12 April).
After that, it will be exclusively available online from JD and in-store from next Thursday (14 April).
Impetus‘ Ben Gilby heard from both Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson and New Zealand’s Jitka Klimková ahead of tomorrow’s match between the two nations in Townsville (7/4/22).
Above: Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson talking to the media today in Townsville. Photo: Football Australia.
Australia’s head coach Tony Gustavsson highlighted the fact that tomorrow’s game with New Zealand will see the full use of his squad – not due to injury concerns – but because of the differences in arrival times for his playing group.
“It has been a challenge. Monday we had five players, Tuesday nine, Wednesday fifteen and a number of of those couldn’t train as they only just landed. We are adapting to what has been thrown at us and it won’t be an excuse as to how we perform on Friday.
“We have a meeting tonight to see who is available, also based on welfare. We will see lots of rotation tomorrow – not because players are not fit, but because of having to deal with the travel and the impact of that in playing 90 minutes.
“Sam Kerr trained today, she was one of those who arrived later this week. We will see how ready she is to play. If it was Sam’s choice, she’d play, but we have to look after what is right for her. Physically in the Olympics at times she should maybe not have played. We want Sam to be healthy and fit. She will probably be on the park, but the question is will it be from the start and for how long.”
Questioned about what his options are if the striker is not able to start, Gustavsson said: “Mary Fowler. Mary can be used as a nine or a 10. If we play her as a nine she is a linking/false nine and playmaker. We also though have Remy (Siemsen), Kyah Simon, and Em Gielnik. It depends on what weapon we need at the time.”
Gustavsson also spoke of his delight at having Katrina Gorry in camp. “Mini has been fantastic. Mel (Andreatta) has worked hard with her individually ahead of her return. I’m so impressed with how she adapted. She’s been flying with technical tests. Her best role is in an eight or 10. She has a unique skill set, she could potentially play as a six, as a playmaker. Her attacking skills are phenomenal. I’m intrigued and interested to see her play. We do need to ensure we don’t put pressure on her though, she’s been away for a long time.”
With this being Australia’s first international camp since the poor Asian Cup outcome, the Matildas head coach was clear with the media that there has been a detailed discussion with the players about what happened and what needs to be put right.
Above: Tony Gustavsson making a point at today’s media conference in Townsville. Photo: Football Australia.
“We have addressed the Asian Cup problems. The vibe and energy is good. There is a healing process needed, wounds have to be healed. Today, the first day having everyone training was the first step to getting everyone ready and getting the wounds gone.”
Earlier in the day, it was announced that the Matildas are going to be the feature of a six-part Disney+ documentary series leading up to the World Cup. Gustavsson recognized that initially there were concerns that there could be negatives with having a camera crew following himself and his squad around, but any fears have been allayed and he feels it is a huge opportunity.
“It could have been a disturbance if handled wrong, but it has been handled perfectly. These players are not just about football, but wider. We’ve had good dialogue about how to handle it. There are many documentaries about different sports out there.
“The insights involved, the process, and the journey is so interesting. People will see what these players do to reach their full potential. They can be role models, not just for footballers, but for wider society. This one can make sure that this team gets all the attention and respect it deserves. It can reach out beyond football for getting these individuals and team widely respect.
“You have seen this week a bit of what goes behind the scenes for the players this week – meeting stakeholders, fans and the players as mothers. Meeks (Tameka Yallop) said it right yesterday, ‘We are a family’. I’m so happy to have the players’ babies in here, so happy with how everyone has welcomed them. The way they balance being a mother and a high-profile athlete is amazing.”
Focusing back on the job at hand, the Matildas head coach emphasized that the time for experimenting is coming to an end and hard choices about regular selections need to be made.
“The World Cup is now really close, there are not many international windows left. We can only play two games per window. Last year we looked at over 70 players and fielded over 40. We need to narrow down now and have more consistency in what we are doing. We haven’t had the same goalkeeper and backline, I need to have that now. That doesn’t mean that the door is closed to new players, but we need consistency now.
“We need to unite as a nation behind this team. It’s not about Sam Kerr, it’s not about me, it’s about coming together.”
Above: New Zealand head coach Jitka Klimková talking to the media earlier today ahead of tomorrow’s game with Australia. Photo: Football Australia.
New Zealand head coach Jitka Klimková spoke of her positivity going into tomorrow’s game with Australia.
“Our preparation has gone very well despite the high temperatures. The quality of the sessions is getting better and better. Our players from Europe and the USA have found it challenging to get to Australia. But everyone is here. What a beautiful stadium it is for us to play in here in Townsville.
“We have one concern over selection, Emma Rolston. We will assess that player tonight, but other than that, everyone has recovered from the long travel. She is more likely to be ready for the second match, but we will see.”
New Zealand go into the game having not beaten Australia since 1994, but Klimková believes that the chance is there. “Football is a beautiful game and we know anything can happen. We are facing a top opponent and that is a deliberate plan to test ourselves. We are preparing ourselves to beat them and getting something from the two games would be amazing. We are stepping out onto the field to get a win.
“It is special to play the Matildas as we are playing against our co-hosts for the World Cup and neighbours. In 469 days we will have our first World Cup game in Auckland and Australia will have theirs in Sydney. We’ve been in it together with them. On the field though it is all about competing. For me personally, seeing a lot of familiar faces in Australia (where Klimková coached Canberra United from 2011-2013) is lovely as they stay in my memory and heart.”
The Czech-born Football Ferns coach has identified three growth areas she is expecting to see from her team over the course of the two matches against the Matildas.
“Our goal for these games is to improve our flank defending, marking in the box, and clearances. Attacking wise, it is about combination play to get forward and making the right decisions in the final third.”
Klimková is expecting to get the full use from her squad for the matches in order to help her narrow down towards a settled squad for next year’s World Cup. “We’re in an exploring mode for our team, so we would love to see a lot of players on the field in these two matches to see where we are. Grace Jale hasn’t been with the Ferns for a while and it’s important to see her back. The result is important as well. Everyone who we think is ready at this point is going to play.
“The spirit of this team is very positive. We are connecting and making steps together every day to work as a team that creates a safe environment where everyone is courageous. We believe that if we have this in our team consistently, we can perform well consistently on the pitch too.
“Team development takes a while and it is a journey that we are on. We will make steps forward, we are. We are also prepared to make some backward steps in order to go forward again.
“We have competition for places now. There are tough decisions to make about selections. It’s a good situation to be in to discuss who is more ready. Our wider roster has 35 players. Our U20s have games too to see if some of the younger ones still should be invited into the Ferns squad. We are still talking to players who have not been with us yet and could join us, but the roster will become narrower in the upcoming months.”
The Football Ferns coach highlighted the inclusion of Ally Green, also eligible for Australia in her team’s training squad at present. Whist Green will not play, the coming days are about helping her make a decision about what national side to potentially play for.
“She is training hard and is figuring out what international football means for her. It is a journey. The main thing I am expecting from her is to compete and leave everything on the training pitch. She is learning how we want to play, the speed and style, but I am happy to have her with us. Having another left-back, right-back or winger is great for more options. She is a training player with us, not to play in the matches, but it is a first step.”
Above: The Matildas will be featured in a new Disney+ documentary. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
6/4/22
The Walt Disney Company and Football Australia today announced a new Australian-commissioned Disney+ Original which will tell the story of the Australian women’s national football team, the Matildas, as they prepare for the World Cup on home soil alongside co-host New Zealand.
The six-part docu-series – yet to have its title revealed – will go behind-the-scenes of the Matildas, and will chronicle the highs and lows as well as as the squad looks to create history and leave a legacy for the sport in Australia and abroad.
Off the field, the series will highlight how the Matildas are pioneering change, as well as covering their experiences during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The series will also explore the influence of head coach Tony Gustavsson, and the special connection the Matildas have with their fans.
Above: The Matildas celebrate a goal against the USA last year. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
Production of the series is underway and the series will launch on Disney+ locally in 2023 and be available on Disney+ globally at a later date.
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company in Australia and New Zealand said, “The Matildas are game-changers for women’s sport in Australia and around the world. This Australian narrative details the impressive skill, determination, commitment, and stamina it takes in the lead-up to the World Cup in 2023. The series transcends football and celebrates the true Australian spirit of the Matildas.”
James Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia said, “The Matildas represent Australia on the world stage as global ambassadors and are an inspiration to many, both young and old. This docu-series is an incredible opportunity to share their story not just locally, but globally, and at a time of rapid evolution in women’s football, we are proud to be working with the world’s best story-telling company to bring the Matildas spirit to life.”
Above: Inside the Matildas huddle against the Philippines at the Asian Cup. Photosupplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
Director, Katie Bender Wynn said, “The Matildas have broken through massive barriers for women in sport, yet their story has never properly been told. I’m thrilled that Disney+ is shining a light on this inspiring group of women whose stories are worthy of the biggest platform. On its surface, this is a classic tale about a team of women preparing for the greatest tournament of their lives; but at its core, it’s an intimate portrait of a sisterhood that transcends the game.”
Executive Producer, Steve Bibb said, “As a documentary maker and an inquisitive football fan, it’s a privilege to be given the opportunity to tell the Matildas’ story in this special moment in time. The behind-the-scenes access allows us to bring this story to the world as we chart the journey of these inspiring women writing the next chapter in their story on the road to the 2023 World Cup.”
Executive Producer, Christopher G. Cowen said, “Disney+ and Football Australia have given us the opportunity to tell the inspiring story of the Matildas to the millions of young female and male football players around the globe, and that is a responsibility that our entire team takes on with great zeal.”
Impetus’ Ben Gilby heard from Australia and West Ham United midfielder Tameka Yallop at today’s Matildas media conference from their Townsville training base(6/4/22).
Above:Tameka Yallop and daughter Harley at today’s Matildas media conference. Photo: Football Australia.
Queenslander Tameka Yallop is delighted to be back in her home state. “Yeah, the weather’s certainly a bit different to London” she admitted with a knowing smile.
The West Ham United midfielder reflected on how the team are going into Friday’s game with New Zealand looking to show improvements from the disappointing Asian Cup campaign. “We’ve always got the big picture in mind. We’re collectively building and working on our game, structures, principles, and the way we want to play. Whoever we play against that is always the same.
“Every international match is important and it’s against our rivals and World Cup co-hosts. We’re taking to the field to win, to perform, and play the sort of football we want to play.”
Yallop pointed out that despite the time getting ever shorter between the present and the home World Cup, it is too early for there to be a completely settled and regular squad.
“I think there are always opportunities for new players to come in. There are a lot of up-and-coming players around at the moment and they can come into the squad. Each camp is an opportunity for us to come together as a collective.
“It’s really competitive. We have a good environment with that. We may have some starters, but there’s always people pushing. The majority of the team are playing overseas, plying their trade in different leagues and that makes it even more competitive. They are used to high standards and that’s a great environment to be part of.”
Above: Tameka Yallop speaks of her pride at being able to bring her young daughter into the camp. Photo: Football Australia.
Whilst the Matildas always have to cope with the challenge of players arriving in camp over a period of three or four days, Yallop feels it does not have a negative impact on preparations.
“We’re professional with how we switch from club duties to national team and what you are doing in the jersey. We have everyone in camp, so today will be the first day of getting everyone focused and on the same page. It’s easy for everyone to get into that mindset.
The midfielder was joined at the media conference by 18-month old daughter Harley, who joins team-mate Katrina Gorry’s own youngster Harper in the Matildas camp.
“This is the first camp that we’ve been able to have our little ones in. It’s a big moment for us in Matildas history. We’re the first to have young kids and bring them on tour. It’s a big step forward for women’s sport and women’s sport in Australia.
“To bring our kids into a high-level environment is a big thing and it’s special. It aligns with who we are as a family team and a public team. The Matildas brand is all about ‘What you see is what you get’ and this is it. It’s all about family and community – how you can get the best of each other and support each other.”
Impetus’ Ben Gilby heard from Helen Ward and Tash Harding at Wales’ media conference ahead of their World Cup qualifier with France (6/4/22).
Above: Helen Ward speaking to the media yesterday ahead of Wales’ game with France. Photo: FA Wales.
Helen Ward could win her hundredth cap for Wales against France this week, but the Watford striker is only focussed on the team’s outcome from the match.
“Look, we missed out scoring against them by hitting the post and they then went up the other end and got a goal. So, for me, this game is about getting our game plan right and doing it on the pitch. If I do go and get my hundredth cap, that will be great, but it’s about the team.”
Ward recalls her international debut some 14 years ago. “It was against Luxembourg away in 2008 in horrible weather. We went 1-0 down which wasn’t expected but I got a leveller. Jayne Ludlow came up to me and said ‘We’ve got a goalscorer, I like you!’ I’ve been in the 90s (cap wise) for what feels like forever now – COVID didn’t help.
“My 50th cap was a big memory, our first game at the Cardiff City Stadium and I scored. I also remember another game against Russia at Newport’s Spytty Park where we came out in the second half and won 3-0 in a real good team performance.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play under four managers for Wales. Each manager has come in and taken things up a level. Gemma (Grainger) has built on the past and put things together. It’s a building process and Gemma is at the forefront of that.”
The Watford striker’s career has straddled the amateur and professional eras and she highlighted her experiences growing up in the sport.
“I didn’t have anyone to look up to as a female player growing up. It’s like polar opposites now. I often get asked if I wish I was born 10 or 15 years earlier to be a full part of the professional era, but what I had experienced helped me to grow and get the things I have. I suspect the rise of the game will slow down as it has been so massive in a short period of time, but it is wonderful.”
Wales are well on the way to breaking their all-time record attendance for Friday’s match and Ward sees this as yet another sign of the momentum building around women’s football in the country.
Above: Helen Ward after scoring one of her 44 goals for Wales in 99 games. Photo: Bridport and Lyme Regis News.
“For so long we didn’t really notice our crowds in terms of growth, but now we’re getting new record attendances almost every game. The interest we get from fans, wanting to be involved and supporting us, it is a nice thing to look back on and think ‘Yeah, we’ve done OK’ knowing we’ve been growing the game.”
Looking ahead specifically to the challenge posed by France on Friday, Ward is positive.“There’s nothing we need to do differently really. We also need to remember that we played most of the second half with only 10 players. If we had kept all 11 it might have been different. Gemma will have us playing in the usual way, so it’s about getting over the line.
“We don’t fear anyone and Gemma has been great in assisting with that, with the type of friendlies she arranged. We’ve played Canada and Denmark and put in positive performances. It made us think ‘You know what? We can do this!’ We know we can go out, beat them and be competitive. At the moment we are thriving on it.”
The Welsh star is highly motivated by the current status of the squad as role models for the next generation and is determined to give the girls of Wales some great memories over the coming months.
“We’re doing this for the young girls. We know that if you can see it, you can be it. We know there will be a big crowd on Friday. We know that this is raising the profile. It’s a massive motivator to go out and do it for the young girls and also for those who went before us.
“For me, I know this is probably my last chance to make it to a major competition Finals. It is a great chance for us to inspire the next generation to see that they can achieve things by playing for Wales. Everything around it would be amazing. Such a big thing for women and girls around the country.”
Ward also has to balance being an international football with motherhood, which she admits has both challenges and massive rewards.
“It has its moments, it’s tricky. I have to make sure the kids are looked after first and foremost. It’s not just about my time, but other people’s as I have to find someone to look after them when I am training or playing. It is nice having them at the games. There was a video of the game I played at the weekend when I scored of my son jumping up and down in the background, and I watched it back again and again to see his reaction rather than my goal!
“You have to juggle lots of different things, but I’m so grateful. I know that they can grow up knowing Mummy was a footballer and they can grow up and achieve things.”
Above: Tash Harding at yesterday’s media conference. Photo: FA Wales.
Wales’ Reading star Tash Harding underlined the importance of Wales playing matches regularly in Llanelli.
“We’re looking to find a home within Wales that suits us and Parc y Scarlets is a good base for us. Llanelli is a small town in West Wales, but there’s a great fan base there for us. It is a great place and we want to make it our home and we’re managing to do that now with the games that we’ve played there.
“There are over 4,000 tickets sold for the game so far – the majority of them brought by youngsters involved in girls’ football teams – and that is fantastic. We are looking to break our record attendance. If we can do that in a small little town called Llanelli, that would be amazing!”
Harding recognizes the progress that Wales have made in recent years, none more so than their reaction at losing to France the last time the two sides met.
“For us to show disappointment and be angry not getting anything out of the game in France says a lot about where we are. Before we would have been delighted with that performance. It shows the mindset shift that we’ve had recently. There is a core of us here who are just a group of friends who play football together.”
The FAWSL player recognized that Wales are in a position to select from greater depth than ever before, something which has been reflected in recent performances.
“There are lots of youngsters coming through, but we’re not giving it up yet! Strength in depth has always been our Achilles heel, but the Pinatar Cup (in February) showed that we have good youngsters who are able to come in and do a job.
Harding pointed to all the different positions she has played this season for her club as one of the reasons for her great form this campaign. I’ve played full-back, winger, centre-half, four, nine, and 10 for Reading this season. I try to be as versatile as I can. If I can learn what defensive players do, then it’s a bonus for me as a forward. I’m living in that moment right now and think I’m playing some of the best football of my life.”
Above: Thetford Town’s player of the match Hannah Rogers, who scored one and made three of her team’s goals at Thorpe St. Andrew. Photo: Hannah Parnell.
Sir George Morse Park on Laundry Lane was the venue for the Norfolk Women and Girls Division One encounter between Thorpe St. Andrew and Thetford Town.
On a bobbly parkland surface, the early exchanges were even. However, Thetford then began to take the upper hand in the match. Abbie Corbyn was dancing down the wing and played in Hannah Rogers who fired a great shot across Helen Crook in the Thorpe St Andrew goal.
Summer Eccles on only her second Thetford start then made a great driving run but was denied in her tracks by a wonderful tackle by Natasha Frankland. This tackle inserted some belief and energy into Thorpe St. Andrew and they looked hungry to try and cause Thetford problems down the right-hand side where they were aiming most of their balls but they found Thetford’s Emily Bullett in the way who was doing some sterling defensive work.
Above: Abbie Corbyn, who had another impressive game for Thetford Town. Photo: Hannah Parnell.
Thorpe had a glorious chance when Sarah Rooke took the ball off Rachel Lynch but fired it at Thetford keeper Lydia Ward.
Thetford continued to threaten with Boulton, Eccles, and Corbyn prominent. Yet they didn’t have it all their own way as Nichols played in Emily Warnes who skied it over the bar as Thorpe continued to be wasteful and probably should have had the lead.
Thorpe continued their pressing and made the first half very difficult for Town. The opening 45 ended goalless with Thorpe St. Andrew manager Tony Allen the happier of the two bosses at the interval.
The second half began with Abbie Corbyn having a shot against the post as Thetford pressure worried the Thorpe St. Andrew defence.
Above: The Thetford Town management team of David Skipp, Stuart Terry, and Sausha Levy-Twomey watch on with your match reporter! Photo: Luca Mangili.
Thetford took the lead just after the hour mark as Hannah Rogers headed in from a delightful Becky White corner. Eight minutes later it was Becky White who doubled their advantage from distance and Thetford had control of the game.
The confidence and belief was there and David Skipp’s team then began to get into their stride and play the wonderful football which has achieved so much success this season. A Hannah Rogers corner was then knocked in by Chelsea Page off the stomach to make it 3-0.
Sophie Burr-Walpole was delighted to add the fourth which was a great finish after another fabulous Rogers assist.
Above: Becky White and Chelsea Page who came on together from the bench, linked up well and scored three of Thetford Town’s six goals between themselves. Photo: Hannah Parnell.
The fifth Thetford goal was thing of beauty. A wonderful precision pass from captain Melissa Boulton carved open the Thorpe St. Andrew defence and Becky White was there for her second of the afternoon and finished spectacularly over Crook in the Thorpe goal.
Boulton rounded off the afternoon’s scoring with a spectacular sixth from distance to claim a brilliant away success.
This was a wonderful win and clean sheet for Thetford after a tough recent run, six second-half goals that saw David Skipp’s team claim a much-needed three points which will hopefully breed confidence for the games ahead. Hannah Rogers took this week’s Thetford player of the match award after stats of with one goal and three assists.
Above: Chelsie Dawber in training with Adelaide United. Photo: Adelaide United.
Adelaide United forward Chelsie Dawber has signed for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfit Chicago Red Stars.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a fantastic A-League 2021/22 campaign, scoring 10 goals in 15 matches, and helped the Reds secure its maiden finals appearance.
Dawber joined the Club in 2017 and in five seasons scored 17 goals in 42 games. The striker becomes the fourth Adelaide player over the last two campaigns to secure a move overseas, following in the footsteps of Dylan Holmes, Charlotte Grant, and most recently Fiona Worts.
Speaking about the move to Chicago, Dawber said: “It’s a new adventure for me and one that I’m really excited about.
“I want to thank Adelaide United and all the coaching staff I’ve worked with for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play for this amazing club.
“My goal has always been to play for the Matildas and I believe playing overseas in a tough league will give me a better chance of a call-up to the national team.”
Dawber also remained optimistic about the possibility of returning to the Reds for next season. “I’m definitely not ruling out coming back to Adelaide after the NWSL season. Approaching a World Cup year, it’s vital to be playing as many games as possible and give myself the best path for success.”
Adelaide United’s Liberty A-League Head Coach, Adrian Stenta, said: “Chelsie was brilliant for us last season and this opportunity abroad in a top competition is reward for her hard work and dedication.
“Spending her off-season playing at a higher level will only improve Chelsie as a footballer and gives her the best possible chance to represent the Matildas at next year’s World Cup.
“As a Club, we pride ourselves on providing the opportunity for our players to play overseas and we’ve now had four members leave our shores in recent times. We certainly hope to have Chelsie back in our squad for next season and wish her all the best in America.”
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