The Swedish Scene

@DandalBs brings us all the news from the Swedish women’s football scene over the past week, starting with the incredible goings on at reigning Damallsvenskan champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg.

Above: It has been a dramatic week for Kopparbergs/Göteborg – shown here celebrating their Damallsvenskan triumph at the end of the 2020 season. Photo: @goteborgsfc

The big news in Sweden over the past week has been the shocking goings on in Göteborg where, at the start of last week, reigning Damallsvenskan champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg were closed down with immediate effect – only for the decision to be reversed two days later after news came in of potential new investment under a new banner.

The original decision to close the club down appears to have been taken by the board after their defeat by Manchester City in the last thirty-two of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on 17th December with the players and coaching staff not informed until 29th December.

Kopparbergs/Göteborg chairman Peter Bronsman believed that without more money it is unrealistic for Swedish club sides to compete in Europe again.

Since the club were first formed in 2003, the large men’s teams in the city of Göteborg – IFK Göteborg, GAIS and BK Häcken have all formed women’s sides and there are pointers that the people behind Kopparbergs/Göteborg believe that BK Häcken could take up the baton seriously within the city now. Bronsman told Sport Bladet “You need to give women the same facilities and staff as the men. It cannot be done in a women’s (only) club. We’re moving out of the way for the women’s teams that are developing in the big Göteborg men’s clubs.”

Major club sponsor Prioritet Finans’s CEO Nils Wiberg who had put almost 4,000,000 kroner into the club announced his real “shock” at the original news. “I have no idea what was behind the decision,” he told Fotboll Skanalen, “I am as choked and surprised as everyone else. We really needed this team. This (news) is just embarrassing”.

Above: Kopparbergs/Göteborg hope to have more to celebrate in 2021 now – although the name of the club may potentially change. Photo: @goteborgsfc

The players were told to find new clubs. Elin Rubensson a Kopparbergs/Göteborg star who has sixty-nine caps for Sweden showed her shock at the news by telling Göteborgs-Posten: “Right now, we’re just choked and sad. I hope someone can step in to save the club.” In the meantime though, Göteborg coaches, Jörgen Ericson and Mats Gren have pledged to keep going with training sessions throughout January.

Carl Fhager, the lawyer with the job to liquidate Kopparbergs/Göteborg’s senior team, sees two ways to go about that job; find new clubs for the players or find someone who is willing to take over the team.

It appears that a potential link up with BK Häcken may behind news on New Year’s Eve that the club’s senior team is set to be saved and take their place in the Damsallsvenskan in 2021 after all.

The Expressen first broke the news by suggesting that coach Mats Gren had contacted players to tell them “it will be alright”.

Then came the club’s announcement that they “did not expect the big, overwhelming and positive interest from individuals, businesses and football clubs.” Additionally, Göteborgs-Posten reported on New Year’s Eve that the club “will stay in Damallsvenskan in close co-operation with an established club” – and that established club is hotly rumoured to be BK Häcken.

Whatever banner the senior team plays under if 2021, at the present time, it appears that the Kopparbergs/Goteborg name will stay in existence via its U17 and U19 teams in existence.

IN OTHER NEWS…

Örebro have signed experienced 27 year-old defender Sanna Kullberg from relegated Umeå on a one year deal. Sanna’s elder sister Emma played for Örebro 2019, before she moved to Göteborg. Also at Örebro, the club have handed 16 year-old Emilia Pelgander a two year contract with the first team.

Above: Shannon Woeller, newly signed by Växjö. Photo: svensklag.se

Växjö have signed Canadian international defender Shannon Woeller. She most recently played for Valencia in the Spanish league. Woeller has previously played Damallsvenskan football for Eskilstuna in 2018-19. The 30 year-old has signed a one year contract with an option for a second. The club have also given a new two year contract to goalkeeper Katie Fraine, one of the keys to their successful 2020 season.

It has been a case of one in and one out at Umeå. First, Fanny Hjelm Rönnlund, a key player in the last few seasons has left for Hammarby where the 29 year-old midfielder has signed a two year contract. Coming into the club in her place is Piteå’s teenage talent Vilma Koivisto The midfielder had 18 appearances 2020, but mostly as a substitute, and wants more playing time.

Vittsjö‘s midfield talent Michelle De Jongh has moved to Fleury, a midtable French team, on a five month loan. De Jongh has extensive experience from Sweden youth teams but remains to be capped for the full national team. Coming into the club is 18 year-old talent Moa Karlsson from Halmstad BK, a D3 team. The promising midfielder has played five matches for Sweden’s U17 side.

Above: Michelle De Jongh leaving Vittsjö for Fleury in D1 Arkema. Photo: Stefan Sandström/Norra Skåne.

Djurgården have announced the departure of two players depart in the past week. First, Icelandic international goalkeeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir announced on New Year’s Eve that she is looking for a new club after nine seasons. Also leaving the club is 24 year-old Frida Boriero who has signed for Brommapojkarna, an Elitettan (D2) side.

NEWS IN BRIEF…

Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir has joined Kristianstad on a one year loan from VfL Wolfsburg.

Promising 18 year-old midfielder Felicia Saving leaves Hammarby for Eskilstuna United. Saving has been capped for Sweden at youth level.

Above: New Eskilstuna United signing Felicia Saving. Photo: @EskilstunUnited

Zecira Musovic, who has moved to Chelsea has been replaced at Rosengard by Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé who comes in from North Carolina Courage in the NWSL but has also played in the Damallsvenskan previously.

Former Piteå defender Sejde Abrahamsson has signed with the Spanish premier side Seville, where Piteå teammate Julia Karlernäs joined a couple of weeks ago.

Roar Denied A Goal Or Victory Again

Melbourne Victory 0-0 Brisbane Roar

By Kieran Yap

Brisbane Roar’s visit to Melbourne Victory had much to excite fans and neutrals alike. The Queensland side boasted the most concentrated group of Matildas in the league, in Gorry, Yallop, Gielnik and Polkinghorne while Melbourne’s fans were excited by the returns of Lisa De Vanna and Kyra Cooney-Cross with Angie Beard captaining the side for the first time.

Above: It was a tight battle at CB Reserve between Victory and the Roar. Photo: @VictoryWLeague

The match at CB Smith Reserve began at a fast pace, De Vanna almost immediately raced at the Brisbane defence and Victory launched a wave of three early attacks for no reward, Melina Ayres had the clearest opportunity but her cleanly hit strike from the edge of the box did not trouble Georgina Worth in the Brisbane goal.

Both sides had seemingly set out to press each other and deny time on the ball, both chances became scarce but Mariel Hecher managed to forge herself an opportunity, skillfully creating space for herself only to shoot over the bar.

Temka Yallop, Isobel Dalton and Katrina Gorry all had shots on goal but Gabriella Garton was well positioned to deny each of them. The new Victory keeper has big boots to fill this season, her predecessor Casey Dumont was a fan favorite and a huge part of Melbourne’s success, but based on this match, Garton looks comfortably up to the task.

The biggest event of the first half was not one to celebrate, twenty-five minutes in, on her Victory debut Natalie Tathem crumpled to the turf under no physical contact and the versatile and experienced recruit was stretchered off in obvious pain, hopefully she can recover as speedily as possible.

The physicality continued after the injury break with both sides trying to force each other into errors, Kyra Cooney-Cross embarked on a long run through the middle of the park, launching a counter attack that ended with her shooting just wide after the ball bounced back to her 20 yards from goal.

Victory’s and perhaps the game’s best opportunity up until half time came when Lisa De Vanna latched onto a long ball and found herself one-on-one against Worth, the Matilda’s all time leading scorer would have expected have made it 1-0 from that position but her left footed toe poke was under hit and directed straight at the keeper.

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first, neither midfield could find their forwards in space and the early stages of the half presented another chance for Ayres but her shot was under pressure and Worth saved comfortably.

The game began to open up after the 70th minute, Victory substitute Annalie Longo made an immediate impact, her experience, control and movement helping the side find cohesiveness that it had struggled for up until that point and Matildas attacker Emily Gielnik drove into the penalty area and struck well only for Garton to tip the ball onto the cross bar with the faintest of reflex touches.

Above: Brisbane Roar’s Isobel Dalton (right) in a battle for possession. Photo: @VictoryWLeague.

Angie Beard surged down the left flank after incepting a Roar attack and found Longo in the penalty area with the goal at her mercy but the New Zealand international blazed over to her own frustration.  Moments later Gielnik ran again into the area from the flank and her hard low shot flashed wide at the near post.

Katrina Gorry’s well struck shot looked dangerous off the boot but sailed wide and Victory’s best late chances game from corner kicks, Cooney-Cross’s attempted Olympico challenged Worth but did not beat her, it would have made a spectacular goal.

Worth had the last meaningful contribution of the game when she stood under a dangerous looking high corner kick and held onto it at the second attempt, seconds later the final whistle blew and the afternoon had ended in stalemate.

Given the names on the team sheets it is surprising that nobody could find the back of the net, but the defending on display was excellent throughout and any chances came under pressure or were thwarted by excellent keeping.

Roar have now gone two games without scoring but are creating plenty of opportunities and it is only a matter of time before the score lines reflect their ability. Victory had to replace Laura Brock, Casey Dumont, Jenna McCormick and Natasha Dowie in the off-season. This massive task appears to have been accomplished and they seem to have forged a strong new squad.

The new signings seemed to gel well even thought some sharpness was lacking, De Vanna looked in good touch especially for somebody who has not played for much of 2020, the familiar change of pace and ball control has not diminished and new attacker Catherine Zimmerman looked comfortable stepping up from Calder United in the NPLW.

In the end a draw seemed a fair result, a late winner was possible for both teams but neither defense deserved to concede. Both sets of fans have much to be excited about the rest of the season and for most the disappointment will not come from the result but for Natalie Tathem, we all look forward to seeing her on the field again.

Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY: Garton, Doran, Beard, Morrison, Bunge, Tathem, Zimmerman, Barbieri, Cooney-Cross, De Vanna, Ayres. Substitutes: Maizels (GK), Jackson, Longo, Privitelli, Eliadis.

BRISBANE ROAR: Worth, Heatley, Rankin, Polkinghorne, Carroll, Dalton, McKenna, Gorry, Hecher, Yallop, Gielnik. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), Murphy, Torpey, Sutton.

Referee: Lara Lee.

Attendance: 426.

 PWDLFAPtsGD
Canberra United2200646+ 2
Sydney FC1100303+ 3
Western Sydney Wanderers2101243– 2
Brisbane Roar2020002=
Melbourne Victory1010001=
Melbourne City2011121– 1
Perth Glory0000000=
Adelaide United1001340– 1
Newcastle Jets1001120– 1

Last Gasp Wonder Goal Sends Canberra Top

Canberra United 2–1 Melbourne City

By Ben Gilby.

Defending champions Melbourne City’s disappointing start to the new W League season continued after a 2-1 defeat to a Canberra United side thanks to a stunning strike by Nikki Flannery at the death.

Above: Nikki Flannery lets fly for a last gasp stunning strike for Canberra United. Photo: @CanberraUnited

Canberra’s defence almost gifted City a goal in the opening ninety seconds when a back pass from Isabella Foletta from the left wing was poorly dealt with by United keeper Sally James and her weak clearance fell straight to Margot Robinne who hit a first time effort which the home goalkeeper grabbed tightly.

Much of Melbourne City’s early probings came down the left flank, although it lacked the sort of creativity that could unlock the capital city side’s defence.

After six minutes great cross field ball from Isabella Foletta found Nikki Flannery after Michelle Heyman made an outstanding feint to draw attention away from her team-mate. City managed to clear the danger, but it was the beginning of the Lime Green pressure.

Just before the twenty minute mark, great vision from Heyman found Flannery down the left and she got in behind the City defence to fire an effort just wide.

Shortly afterwards, Page Satchell got free along the right and played in a great tempting cross which was fired into the net but the officials adjudged that the ball had gone out before the Kiwi centred the ball.

It was Satchell and Heyman who were behind most of Canberra’s dangerous moves in the first half. Kendall Fletcher’s corner for United saw Heyman crash in a header that was well held by Teagan Micah in the City goal. Satchell then popped up down the middle to use her pace to cause real problems for the defending champions.

Heyman had Matildas defender Jenna McCormick in her back pocket for much of the first half and there would be huge concern amongst Sky Blue ranks about just how much freedom the Canberra star was allowed to have.

Above: It was another influential afternoon from Canberra’s Michelle Heyman. Photo: @MelbourneCity

Not surprisingly therefore, as the game neared the break, City coach Rado Vidosic’s urgings became ever louder as he was clearly frustrated with his team’s lack of communication up front and their inability to get the ball forward often enough.

Canberra’s dominance of possession continued in the early exchanges after the break. Three minutes into the second stanza a lovely ball from Grace Maher found Michelle Heyman who lofted a floating cross into the box which Teagan Micah grabbed.

Shortly afterwards, 19 year-old Laura Hughes, in her fourth year with Canberra United had her heels clipped by Leah Davidson. Kendall Fletcher dummied to take the set piece which allowed Heyman to hit it and win a corner. From the resulting flag kick, Page Satchell received the ball on the right hand side of the box and played a tempter into the danger area, but no-one could get on the end of it.

Melbourne City then developed their first sustained series of possession and territory either side of the hour mark. A flurry of corners were gained but only one real effort of goal resulted, a drive from the edge of the box from Leah Davidson which 17 year-old Canberra keeper Sally James pushed out well for a corner.

More superb play from Heyman broke the City grip on the game having been played through by Page Satchell. The Canberra legend used her physical presence to win a cheap corner.

City responded and there was another battle between Davidson and James which the home keeper pushed out well for a corner. Hollie Palmer then put an effort wide after being played in by Davidson.

With less than twenty minutes left, Grace Maher and Nikki Flannery teamed up to steal the ball and with Maher then running free down the right, she produced a cross which Micah dealt with.

That was a warning sign and three minutes later, City paid the price for failing to make it count when they had chances. A stunning looped ball from Lauren Keir dropped into the path of Heyman who curled a glorious finish into the top right corner of the net for her fourth goal in two W League games this season,

It took less than four minutes for Melbourne City to respond. Midfielder Sarah Cain, celebrating her 20th birthday, was brought down by Sasha Grove. The resulting free kick was taken by Chinatso Kira and Jenna McCormick got free from Jessika Nash to direct a thumping header past James and into the net.

Laura Hughes created some excellent opportunities for Canberra in the midfield. One such chance found Satchell who put an effort wide.

City had a final opportunity to take the lead when Chinatso Kira then put in Harriet Withers with three minutes to go. She motored past Hayley Taylor-Young and got a shot away which James did well to deal with. The resulting corner bounced off of the cross bar before the hosts cleared.

Melbourne City had certainly looked stronger throughout the second half – and because of that it will be of immense frustration that it was not enough to get even a draw from the match.

Above: Leah Davidson (right) put in a great shift for Melbourne City. Photo: @MelbourneCity

Deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, an outstanding piece of skill from Nikki Flannery sealed the win for Canberra. She took possession from a Melbourne City throw in and juggled the ball up before taking it past Teigen Allen and Sarah Cain, turned and then unleashed a glorious drive from well outside the area past a despairing Teagan Micah to seal the win and take Canberra to the top of the W League.

Alex Chidiac and Emma Checker cannot come into the Melbourne City side quickly enough. However, if the Sky Blues can’t pick up a win before they do so, it could start to get tough for City to earn a competitive top four position for finals qualification. Canberra United have shown over the opening two weeks that they could well pose a threat to the top four this season.

Teams: CANBERRA UNITED: James, Foletta, Keir, Nash, Fletcher, Maher, Satchell, Hughes, Flannery, Heyman, Koulizakis. Substitutes: Richards (GK), Rasschaert, Galic, Grove, Taylor-Young.

Scorers: Heyman 73, Flannery 90+3.

MELBOURNE CITY: Micah, Johnson, McCormick, Tumeth, Allen, Vlajnic, Davidson, Cain, Dobson, Palmer, Robinne. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Sardo, Muldeary, Kira, Withers.

Scorer: McCormick 77.

Referee: Casey Reibelt.

Attendance: 1,398.

Jets Efforts Not Rewarded After Galea’s Double

Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Newcastle Jets

By Kris Goman.

This was the first W League match being played at the Wanderers Centre of Football. The pitch looked good but there’s a stand only on one side with high fencing around the other three sides.  Consequently we were left with the spectacle of photographers standing on the field just behind the goal line. It was all a bit weird.

Only a small number of tickets were available and it was members only. The attendance was below 300 which is small, even by W-League standards. The Western Sydney Wanderers women normally play at Marconi Stadium and even with the current COVID restrictions, it would have allowed a lot more people to attend.

Anyhow, Wanderers’ early excursion into the box saw Nevis cross but Leena Khamis was not able to fully connect. Soon after, Libby Copus-Brown took a shot which went to the left of goal. WSW started well, had the bulk of possession and are looked dominant.

Khamis ran onto a ball in the box and was tackled and brought down. Her cries for a penalty were ignored, leaving her to hobble away. Copus-Brown then sent a cross in and Rosie Galea and Jets keeper Claire Coelho clashed in front of goal but Coelho managed to clear.

Above: Rose Galea celebrates for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: @wswanderers


The Jets got going with a cross out to the right wing which came back in to Chloe O’Brien who took a shot that lobbed gently into Courtney Newbon’s arms. Another attack from the Jets saw a 1-2 between Tara Andrews and Rhianna Pollicina and a good shot on goal that just missed and had Newbon stretched.

Back up the other end and Jet Cassidy Davis made a mistake kicking the ball across goal and straight to Galea after being pressed by Khamis. The Wanderers forward reacted quickly and popped the ball into the bottom left hand side of the goal for her first W-league goal. 1-0 Wanderers.


The Jets were pushing hard, getting more possession and are attacking consistently. A good ball across the face of goal was missed by Newbon but no Jets were able to make contact with the ball and it went out for a goal kick. Half time came with Wanderers still 1-0 ahead.


Within a minute of returning to the field and restarting play, the ball came out to Sophie Harding on the left. She cut it back to avoid the defence and took a shot. Newbon seemed to have it covered but the ball popped out of her hands and Tara Andrews was there to pounce on it and bump it into goal for 1-1.


At 51 minutes, Leena Khamis took the ball from a throw in and held it up before swivelling and let fly with a great strike that hit the crossbar and bounces back into play. Rosie Galea was there again to follow up and punted it past Coelho for her second goal.  2-1 to Western Sydney Wanderers.

Above: Rose Galea lets fly for the Wanderers. Photo: @wswanderers.


Rhianna Pollicina then got a free kick just outside the box. Tara Andrews took it and struck it well but Wanderers’ keeper Courtney Newbon tipped it up to hit the crossbar. A scramble at the left of the goal followed and Western Sydney defender Caitlin Cooper pushed it out after a heavy collision with an on-rushing Jets substitute Lauren Allan.


The commentators make an interesting comment about how Newcastle were the wooden spooners last year and that they had no imports in their team then and how this year there are very few imports playing in the whole league for a variety of reasons and that it should be a much more level playing field. This is true and the Jets are certainly holding up their end of the deal and not playing to come last this year. They also have a pretty stable team with many players still there from last year, unlike most other teams. It sets them up to be an outside chance in what is an interesting competition this year.


At the 80 minute mark, Sunny Franco went off for the Jets after causing quite a bit of trouble for Western Sydney Wanderers and was replaced by Jemma House who was the Golden Boot winner in the NPL last year. 


By this time, the Jets were applying all the pressure to level up the match. A ball went across the goal then straight back across again but was gathered by Newbon and cleared.

Four minutes of extra time was announced. Allan takes a shot from distance for Newcastle that looks very dangerous and just clears the crossbar. The Wanderers are on the back foot in extra time and were forced to defend to save their lives. They did so and got the win 2-1.


Newcastle Jets ended up taking more than twice the shots on goal than the Wanderers did and for three quarters of the game looked dangerous. Western Sydney Wanderers looked a bit more composed on the ball for most of the game but when the Jets were really pushing the cracks were starting to show. Caitlin Cooper was solid in defence as usual and Leena Khamis created a lot of chances and was all over the park for the Wanderers. Rosie Galea gets player of the match for her brace.

Above: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate the win but Newcastle Jets will be frustrated that they didn’t get something out of the game. Photo: @wswanderers.

Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: Newbon, Matos, Nevin, Chauvet, Cooper, Price, Copus-Brown, Middleton, Khamis, Galea, Russell. Substitutes: Willacy (GK), Gomez, Yeoman-Dale, Hunter, Henry.

Scorers: Galea 21, 52.

NEWCASTLE JETS: Coelho, Tamplin, Simon, King, Davis, Bass, O’Brien, Pollicina, Andrews, Franco, Harding. Substitutes: Simonsen (GK), Jaber, Petratos, Allan, House.

Scorer: Andrews 46.

Referee: Kelly Jones.

Attendance: 279.

Ella Mastrantonio Speaks To Impetus

Ben Gilby spoke to Australian international and Bristol City midfielder Ella Mastrantonio about her move to England, life at Bristol City Women, her experiences playing for the Matildas and the future of the Australian women’s game.

Above: Ella Mastrantonio looking for a positive 2021 with Bristol City. Photo: @Ella_Mas11

Ella Mastrantonio is from Fremantle, Western Australia. She has six caps for the ‘Matildas’, Australia’s national women’s team after making her international debut in 2008 at the age of 16 against Japan. As well as playing over fifty games for her home state side Perth Glory in the W League, she also had three spells with Melbourne Victory and spent last season with Western Sydney Wanderers who clinched a maiden finals appearance in the W League with Ella an integral part of their side. She moved to Bristol City for the 2020/21 Barclays FA Women’s Super League season.

We began our chat by discussing Ella’s move to Bristol City, and what made her choose the South-West of England for the next stage of her career: “With the FAWSL growing and currently being one of the only full time professional leagues in the world, it was a no brainer for me. At my age and with my experience, the timing for the move was just right to really challenge myself overseas and in the toughest league in the world!”

The timing of Mastrantonio’s move to the other side of the world could not have been more unfortunate as it coincided with the coronavirus pandemic and associated travel restrictions which left her in lockdown in an unfamiliar country. “It has been tough,” Ella explains, “Yeah to be honest I try not to think about it too much. I try to just think of it as I’m here to play football and improve myself everyday. I’m lucky in a way that I’m here in England and everyone speaks English so it doesn’t feel that different (except for the weather!). It’s only when I stop and think how actually far away my family and friends are is when I tend to get a little sad and with all the travel restrictions, so I try to just focus on why I’m here and the bigger picture and my goals!”

Bristol City have had a tough start to the season and I asked Ella what she thought were the keys to ensuring that 2021 would herald better times for the club: “I think just getting consistency within ourselves and building on the good performances and wins we’ve had in the Conti Cup,” she said.

“We’ve obviously played most of the bigger teams so far and we’ve had some really good moments so just being confident going forward into these important run of games.”

One of the positives of the season has been the continued outstanding form of talented youngsters Sophie Baggaley and Ebony Salmon, for Ella the pair are: “great players with bags of potential. If they keep working hard and really focus they can do great things in their career.”

The conversation then moved to the Australian women’s football scene and Ella’s experiences growing up in Western Australia.

Above: Ella in action for Perth Glory in her home state of Western Australia.. Photo: FootballWA.net

“Growing up I used to love watching the likes of Del Piero and Ronaldo. Every Sunday, my Dad would tape ‘SBS Goals of the Week’ from all the European leagues so I’d watch that before I’d play and always watched football when I could. Also the Aussies in the Premier League Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell! As I’ve gotten older and understood football more my idol in my position is Andrea Pirlo.”

Mastrantonio’s early footballing experiences can be summed up as: “Always playing against the boys!”

“Thinking back I’m very fortunate to have the coaches I did in my formative years and the most important periods of developing as a footballer. I was always encouraged to be creative and be yourself and try things. Very technical with the ball. Also curling balls around pot plants in the backyard with my Dad and Uncle!”

As well as playing several seasons locally in the W League for Perth Glory, Ella also represented Melbourne Victory and most recently Western Sydney Wanderers. She told us about her time at those clubs: “I really enjoyed myself at Melbourne and Sydney. I think when I took myself out of my comfort zone it helped me grow as a person and a player. I first went to Melbourne when I was 17-18 and it was just the best thing for me, and every season I was at Melbourne Victory we’ve always managed to create some sort of history for the club – playing finals football in 2010/11 and winning the Premiership in 2018/19. Last season at Western Sydney Wanderers was first class with having our brand new facilities built just for the club and football, you could finally feel like an equal player like in the men’s Premier League and that translated to the whole staff and into the culture we built both on and off the field in making the finals for the first time in the club’s history.”

Above: Ella was a huge hit with the Western Sydney Wanderers fans last year as they made the finals for the first time in the club’s W League history. Photo: @Ella_Mas11

We then moved on to discuss The Matildas – starting with Ella’s experience coming into the squad for the first time as a sixteen year-old: “It was a dream come true. Especially being so young, training and playing with the pioneering 2007 generation of Matildas. Obviously to get back into the squad is my dream and goal and one of the motivating factors of coming to England and push myself in this league!”

The recent appointment of Tony Gustavsson as the Matildas new head coach certainly meets with Ella’s approval: “I think like everyone else, I was excited by the news of his appointment. Obviously he has bags of experience at the highest level with one of the best teams in history with an incredible winning mentality. With the talent our squad has already coupled with his experience it will be fantastic.”

I have always thought that here in England it is not completely understood how big the Matildas are and what they mean to the Australian nation. So I was particularly keen to find out from Ella what it is like to be a Matilda: “To represent your country is the highest honour you can achieve as a footballer. The Matildas were voted the most loved National Team out of all of the Australian sporting sides last year so it’s just credit to how far women’s football and women’s sport in general has come in the Australian sporting landscape. Football is currently the number one participated sport in the country so in the present day it is massive. Interest and investment into women’s football has never been higher and with the 2023 World Cup coming to Australia and New Zealand it is such a special time.”

Above: Ella (number 14 back row) with a 2007 Matildas Youth Squad. Eagle eyed readers may also recognise the likes of other current Matildas Kyah Simon, Emily van Egmond and Tameka Yallop. Photo: @TheMatildas

The next three years are huge for the Matildas – with the Olympic Games, AFC Asian Women’s Cup and then a home World Cup. I asked Ella what she believes the team need to focus on in order to be challenging for trophies and gold medals.

“I think we already a very solid foundation of having world class talent, we just need an extra 1% to hopefully take us to the next level. I think if we can really start to build a winning ruthless culture I think we can see us really going far into the big tournaments.”

With the W League just having got underway for 2020/21, I questioned Ella on how it compares with the FAWSL. “The W-League is a fantastic league and has given pretty much all of us in Australia a great place to make and progress our careers. It’s just a shame that it’s still so short and not a full home and away league (yet). The FAWSL has been quite different, so many teams play so many different formations, tactics and styles of play. Where compared to the W-League every team bar maybe one or two play the same or similar formations. The FAWSL is also very fast and physical with so many world class players in the league, so it makes for a great challenge!”

Above: Ella in action for Melbourne Victory – where she had lots of success. Photo: @Ella_Mas11

With Ella joining the vast majority of the Matildas in leaving the W League to play in Europe, the W League will have a different look to it this coming season. I asked Ella how she sees the future of the league in the short to medium term: “It will now give the young players coming through obviously much more opportunities to get some valuable game time at the highest level in Australia which is crucial for their development and finding the next generation of Matildas. Also it gives some girls from the state leagues to make the leap and give them a chance in the league which will be invaluable experience. I think it’ll be great for the development and future of Australian football.”

We ended the conversation on a less serious note – but one which anyone who has been to Australia will appreciate. Ella comes from Fremantle – a part of the world where I myself have family and know very well. She and I recently had a discussion on social media about how much we both love Chicken Salt – the famous Aussie staple and how it is hard to get it in England. People here have long thought I’m crazy for going on about loving Chicken Salt with Fish and Chips. There is now one company – (chickensalt.co.uk) offering it to buy in the UK. As my friends won’t take any notice of my urgings to find proper Aussie Chicken Salt for their fish and chips, I suggested that Ella, as a prominent international women’s footballer may be more persuasive.

Above: Chicken Salt – just listen to the Maestro. Photo: chickensalt.co.uk

Everyone – listen to Ella Mastrantonio: “Hey! Just get some proper Aussie Chicken Salt, put it on a chip and your face will just light up!”

Impetus Launches Partnership with Chorley Women & Lisa Topping Sponsorship

Impetus is delighted to announce the latest of our player sponsorships and club partnership relationships with FA Women’s National League Division One North side Chorley Women. The deal sees Impetus sponsor Chorley’s Lisa Topping, who played top flight women’s football for Liverpool at the age of sixteen. In addition, we will run regular features on both Lisa and the wider club to give our readers a taste of what it’s like to be a club and player at a National League level. To launch the sponsorship, Lisa spoke to Ben Gilby about her footballing journey, her influences and what life is like at Chorley.

Artwork: Graphics by PW

Speaking about the announcement of our sponsorship with her, Lisa said: “Receiving sponsorship to play football is fantastic. The financial benefits it brings to myself and the club is something so important to the women’s game and Chorley Women, who rely on sponsors to successfully function. This year has been tough financially for people and receiving sponsorship makes things that bit easier. Knowing that someone has faith in you or supports you is a great feeling. I really appreciate Impetus Women’s Football Site sponsoring me!”

Lisa then introduced herself to our readers: “I’m 29 years old and was born in Preston, Lancashire. I grew up five miles down the road in Leyland where I attended Worden High School and Preston College before heading out to Texas, USA for University on a full-ride soccer scholarship. I returned to my home town in December 2016 and continue to live in Lancashire now with my partner and rescue beagle. I have an amazing nuclear family of my sister, mum and dad who are and always have been extremely supportive of me throughout my life and endeavours.”   

“Away from football, I work in research, monitoring and evaluation, which I really enjoy. I love statistics and data so it’s a very fitting job. I do like to keep fit away from football training so I do spend some evenings running or doing my own ball workouts in the local park. I have a passion for dogs and animals and have a Lemon Beagle who I rescued from a dog pound in Texas and flew back to the UK. I spend a lot of my weekends and evenings taking her for walks or hikes with my partner and family. Like most people, I’m also a fan of binging Netflix movies and overindulging on chocolate!”

Above: Lisa Topping in action for Chorley against Brighouse Town this season. Photo: John Shirras.

Lisa’s love of playing the game started from an early age: “It all started when I was eight years old during P.E class in primary school. I was the only girl to join in as football was offered to the boys and netball to the girls. I had a brilliant primary school headteacher, Mr D, who always supported my love of football, including allowing us to wear astro-turf trainers to school so that we could play properly at break time!”

Like many players, Lisa’s family played a key part in her development: “My Dad has been central to my football career from giving me extra training and advice to encouraging me to make the step up and take the opportunities that came my way. He encouraged me to go down and join a girls’ team.”

Joining a girls’ team meant that Lisa began to be exposed to the work of coaches: “When I was ten, I had a spell at Penwortham Girls before moving on to play for Euxton Girls FC for a few years. I had great coaches here including Steve Barker who really propelled my love of the game. His daughter, Nicola Barker, also played on my team, and now does an excellent job in coaching at the club. At the same time, I was involved in Blackburn Rovers’ Centre of Excellence at U14 and U16s age levels. These required trials to get in. My Dad told me to wear something that made me stand out, so I rocked up with a bright yellow Cameroon National Team football shirt which obviously caught their eye as I was successful in getting selected for the sixteen person squad. At fifteen, I left Euxton Girls and signed for the first Blackburn Rovers Ladies U16s team.”

Above: Lisa battles for possession for Chorley against Newcastle United this season. Photo: John Shirras.

Lisa had some memorable moments when she moved on to Liverpool. “At sixteen years of age, I played for their first team in the FA Women’s Premier League, which was the top-flight football league at the time. We travelled to play the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, which was a great experience. Here I played with some really experienced players, such as Jo Traynor and Gayle Formston, who had national team experience. They were really welcoming, and although I was much younger, they made me feel part of the team. I still remember Gayle saying me to me before a game against Chelsea “your lungs will burn, that’s normal – run through it. It will go away.” I now actually use this line with some of our younger players!”

After two years at Liverpool, Lisa moved further afield: “I moved to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, USA on a soccer scholarship to play and study for my degree. Here, Dewi Hardman was my coach who really helped me to develop my game from left wing to centre midfield. He was a tough coach and demanded quality – but looking back this has only helped me to get better. After playing for four years, I then spent four years coaching in the States whilst studying for my post graduate degree and working.”

Lisa returned to England in December 2016.  “I had a short spell at AFC Fylde Women for the second half of the season. I had lost some desire to play but my Dad said to give another team a go and see if that passion returned. So, for the 2017-2018 season I signed for Chorley Women and four years later I’m still here! There are so many influential people at Chorley, one being Janet Mitchell our previous captain and current Chair. The passion she and her family have for the sport and the club is second to none and this really cascades down to the management and players involved in the club.”   

Above: Firing in an effort for Chorley: Photo via: Lisa Topping.

I asked Lisa to tell us more about why she feels Chorley Women are such a special club: “It is a great club to be part of, as a player, as a coach, as a supporter. There is a special vibe at this club that makes it a fantastic and supportive place to be. The team always get on so well on and off the pitch, which is so important, and there is a real focus on family. We have annual social and fundraising events that really build that sense of community and teamwork.”

“Playing at Chorley is fun yet focused where development of players is key. The coaching is fantastic where there is a real emphasis on learning and improvement. I feel that I learn something and improve every training session, which is so important. We have the ethos of ‘one club’ where a clear progression pathway is in place. This is vital for the longevity of the club. In terms of team-mates, Chorley Women have the best group of girls. There is never a dull moment on the training pitch or in the changing rooms and everyone is extremely welcoming, supportive and positive. Although small, in relation to other clubs, Chorley Women have big ambitions. We want to be a force to be reckoned with in the FA Women’s National League as well as producing quality and successful players along the way. The pathway we have in place gives us the opportunity to really help young players move through the footballing system in a positive and well-coached environment.”

We then touched on some of the challenges that Lisa has faced on and off the pitch throughout her career: “The biggest challenge I faced as a footballer was juggling working, studying and training. When I was a student-athlete in the States, the demand across all of these domains was extremely intense. Plus, doing this whilst being alone at eighteen years of age, in a different country, without your family was tremendously hard. I remember being awake at 5.15am for two hours of morning training before a full class schedule, ending with mandatory study hall, volunteering and coaching children. It was hard, but looking back I gained some valuable life lessons and built a ton of resiliency.”

Above: Lisa going for goal for Chorley. Photo via: Lisa Topping.

Coronavirus restrictions have brought their own unique difficulties: “It’s been tough both on and off the pitch. Personally, off the pitch it has been a real struggle not seeing family as often as usual, as we are really close. But, football has always been my outlet in stressful situations so getting to be part of Chorley Women, with supportive managers and amazing teammates, makes Covid frustrations a little easier. Off the pitch, there has been struggles with long gaps with no training or playing games. It’s really hard to get on a good run when this happens as just as you think things are starting to get going it suddenly stops again. Our management team at Chorley have been really good about organising fitness competitions and virtual sessions to keep team moral and fitness high, which has been really beneficial.”

The conversation then moved on to matters off of the pitch – Lisa’s own footballing heroes: “They not world-famous. They are my Dad and Grandad – Steve and Derek Topping, who both had successful careers in the sport as well as supporting me fully with mine. Without them, I would never have had such a successful and exciting career in football. Since I was five years old I would spend my Saturdays stood with my Grandad on the side line watching my Dad play. When my passion for football exploded, my Dad gave up playing to allow me to pursue my career. He also spent endless evenings and weekends kicking the ball around with me on the local park, helping me get better. Both my Dad and Grandad still ring me up before a game to give me advice and motivate me and they are both on the side lines twenty years later.”

We concluded our chat by looking to the future and Lisa’s aspirations for the next few years of her career: “I want to play and enjoy the game for as long as I can. I’ve seen players have the game they love snatched away from them too soon due to injury. I want to continue to be a driving force for Chorley Women and support the young talent that we have coming through. In five years time I’d love to still be playing with Chorley Women and competing in the FA Women’s National League. When my playing time is up, I want to remain involved in the game possibly in a coaching capacity where I can continue to support the positive progression of the women’s game.”

Impetus will be catching up with Lisa each month to find out how things are going on. We will also be carrying features on the wider club at Chorley. To find out more about the Lancashire side, we published an interview with Chorley Chairwoman Janet Mitchell in October. It can be viewed here.

To find out more about our club partnership and player sponsorship deals with various grassroots women’s football clubs, click here.

Artwork: Graphics by PW.

Returning Hero Heyman Settles Classic

Canberra United 4-3 Adelaide United

By Kieran Yap

This game was a classic, by the end of the evening even Canberra’s returning star Michelle Heyman looked like she could barely believe what she had been a part of. This game had everything, seven goals, one hat-trick, two long range rockets and end –to-end football for the majority of the night.

Above: Club legend Michelle Heyman marked her return to Canberra United with a match clinching hat-trick. Photo: @CanberraUnited

Canberra United began the game on the front foot, trying to control possession and attack early speedsters Nicki Flannery and Paige Satchell flanked Heyman as the centre forward.  Adelaide took about half an hour to settle, absorbing early pressure and escaping an early Canberra chance after Heyman found space in the penalty box and whipped a ball across the face of goal.

Although Canberra had looked more dangerous early, Adelaide scored with their first real chance of the game, new signing Fiona Worts intercepted an attempt to play out from the back and fed Maria Rojas who still had plenty to do. The Chilean international twisted and turned into the penalty area before finishing sublimely past Sally James.

Above: Maria Jose Rojas (right) in action on her debut for Adelaide United. Photo: @AUFCWomen.

Canberra looked to respond positively with Heyman missing an opportunity after running onto a long ball but Adelaide extended their lead after Emily Condon dissected the Canberra defense with a perfect pass for Isabel Hodgson to place past James with a wonderful first time finish.

Adelaide’s defence was holding up but also testing the limits of good fortune, they were lucky to avoid either Koulizakis or Satchell scoring from close range and Flannery would also have expected to score with only the keeper to beat. At half time Adelaide looked to be in control but Canberra’s fans had seen enough to be hopeful, why wouldn’t you be if you had the number 23 up front?

Michelle Heyman had publicly wondered about making a return to W League football and it was met with enthusiasm, when she announced her official comeback it was exciting, when she scored the first goal of the night, it felt inevitable. Matilda McNamara had proven to be a stubborn opponent all game but once Heyman accelerated past Adelaide defense she was able to finish coolly past the oncoming Fryer-Mclaren and the ball settled into the bottom corner, Canberra had deservedly pulled one back and confidence was high.

Above: Fiona Worts crossing the ball in on her Adelaide United debut. Photo: @AUFCWomen.

The second goal was born of persistence, Canberra were fortunate not to concede again after Fiona Worts hit the crossbar for the Reds and Canberra launched a long ball to forward which was kept alive by Flannery and substitute Haley Taylor-Young. In the penalty area chaos, Heyman managed to bury the ball into the net, striking on the turn and collapsing in celebration.

As the clock ticked over 80 minutes the scores were still locked at 2-2 but the final ten minutes were some of the most eventful and spectacular the W-League has seen. First Heyman hit the post after a deflected shot following a long run and pass from Kendall Fletcher, then as stoppage time began Laura Hughes took the lead for Canberra. She cleverly created some space for herself then crashed a shot onto the crossbar, which somehow hit the keeper’s back and rolled over the line.

As Adelaide surged for an equalizer, Heyman scored her third goal in the 91st minute, gambling on a defensive error, the ball fell to her off a defender then she stylishly clipped the ball into the net. The home side was up 4-2 and the result looked safe but Mallory Weber had other ideas, Adelaide’s U.S international cut in from the left wing and sent a dipping shot over James into the far corner of the goal.

Above: Michelle Heyman back in green and back to her influential best. Photo: @Mheyman23.

In the end Canberra held on, they celebrated a famous comeback, a stunning win and Heyman played the dream comeback game. Adelaide showed that they might be able to trouble most teams and fans that had long awaited a return of “The Dub” were rewarded with a game for the ages.

Teams: CANBERRA UNITED: James, Foletta, Keir, Nash, Fletcher, Hughes, Satchell, Maher, Flannery, Heyman, Koulizakis. Substitutes: Richards, Goldstein, Ilijoski, Galic, Taylor-Young.

Goals: Heyman 48, 75, 90+3. Hughes 90+1.

ADELAIDE UNITED: McLaren, E. Hodgson, Weber, McNamara, Holmes, Campagnale, Rojas, Condon, Dawber, I. Hodgson, Worts. Substitutes: Grove, Kirkby, Mullan, Tonkin.

Goals: Rojas 21, I. Hodgson 28, Weber 90+4.

Referee: Kate Jacewicz.

Princess Perfect Seals Derby Day Revenge For Sydney

Western Sydney Wanderers 0-3 Sydney FC

By Kris Goman.

Featuring Kris Goman’s photos which are EXCLUSIVE TO IMPETUS.

Sydney FC fronted up to Wanderland (Bankwest Stadium) against Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney derby to gain revenge for the 5-0 thrashing they received on their last visit to Parramatta.

Above: Georgia Yeoman-Dale at the centre of much of Western Sydney Wanderers’ early threat. Photo: Kris Goman.

However, Wanderers have a very different team now with none of the foreign superstars like Denise O’Sullivan, Lynne Williams, Kristen Hamilton and Sam Staab or even the local talent that went OS such as Ella Mastrantonio and Amy Harrison that helped them to the finals last season.

Saying that, Sydney is also missing players like Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo, Aubrey Bledsoe and Veronica Latsko but somehow the Sydney team still looks and feels much like it did last year, relying instead on its home grown, younger talent.

Above: Ally Green crosses in for Sydney FC. Photo: Kris Goman.

From the start, Sydney looked tighter, smarter and faster. Back from a two year for injury, Georgia Yeoman-Dale (why does no one call her Yeo-da?) injected some pace down the side and along with Leena Khamis, they looked dangerous but Sydney had the bulk of possession.

The Sky Blues kept pressing until about 25 minutes in when Remy Siemsen, one of last year’s golden boot winners, took it down the left side and passed across the back of the box to Cortnee Vine who took one touch into the box and struck it cleanly into the net for her first goal of the season against her old club. It stayed 1-0 in Sydney’s favour until the break.

Above: Teresa Polias’ influence grew as the game went on. Photo: Kris Goman.

At the 60 minute mark, Teresa Polias sent a long ball out to Princess Ibini on the left. She brought it forward towards defender Danika Matos, sidestepped her on the right and sent the ball past keeper Courtney Newbon to the top right hand corner. It’s pure top bins and Newbon had no chance.

At 2-0, Sydney had the match in the bag. Khamis and Yeoman-Dale, Wanderers’ most experienced players, both went off at half time and it was hard to see how the Western Sydney side could come back from this. 

To add salt to the wounds, just before full time, Polias headed the ball over the Wanderers defence to Mackenzie Hawksby who passed it to substitute Allira Toby on the right. Toby  made a little no look pass through the defence to find Ibini who ran onto into the clear and popped it into the top left past Newbon’s outstretched arms for her second goal of the day and Sydney’s third.

Photo: Princess Ibini (left) dispatches her second goal into the net. Photo: Kris Goman

In the end, it’s a convincing win and just revenge for the thrashing last time Sydney were on the receiving end of here.

Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: Newbon, Matos, Nevin, Chauvet, Cooper, Copus-Brown, Middleton, Price, Yeoman-Dale, Khamis, Henry. Substitutes: Willacy (GK), Gomez, Galea, Keane, Russell.

SYDNEY FC: Mathyssen-Whyman, Maclean, Green, Brush, Tobin, Polias, Hawkesby, Ray, Siemsen, Vine, Ibini. Substitutes: Offer (GK), Cholakian, Hristodoulou, Lowe, Toby.

Scorers: Vine 27. Ibini 60, 86.

Attendance: 3,027.

Referee: Kelly Jones.

Magnificent Micah Prevents Brisbane’s Roar

Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City

By Ben Gilby

Brisbane Roar totally dominated defending champions Melbourne City in the season opener at Dolphin Stadium, but a combination of below par finishing and some outstanding saves by City keeper Teagan Micah ensured that it was a frustrating afternoon for the Queensland side.

Roar were absolutely rampant from start to finish and, apart from a brief Melbourne City improvement towards the end of the middle quarter of the game, the home side dominated territory and possession to an extent that was embarrassing for the Sky Blues.

Within the first two minutes, Australian international Emily Gielnik was causing problems down the right as just one example of the Roar’s real hunger to take the game to City.

Seconds later Winonah Heatley put Gielnik in again and her curled effort towards the back post found fellow Matilda Tameka Yallop. Her effort cannoned down off of the cross bar and out.

Before the fifth minute mark Gielnik again weaved her magic to get past Tyla-Jay Vlajinic and play a ball in to Mariel Hecher whose effort was narrowly wide.

Hecher came agonizingly close again on the quarter-hour mark when she combined with Gielnik on the right of the hour. The dominant Roar striker found Isobel Dalton who in turn laid it off to Hecher who saw her effort come back off the post.

Above: Leticia McKenna hits another effort goal wards for Brisbane Roar against Melbourne City. Photo: @brisbaneroar

Brisbane continued to dominate possession but could not make it count on the scoreboard.

Six minutes before the break, the team in orange created another golden opportunity. Heatley played in Yallop who was in acres of space but frustratingly, she took one touch too many which resulted in her having to cross rather than shoot. Yet that cross created chaos in the City penalty area despite Teagan Micah managing to get a hand to it. First Leticia McKenna and then Hecher had efforts but City escaped.

There was time for two more chances for Roar before the break. Gielnik’s rampaging down the right caused yet more carnage. She found McKenna who was clear through only to be denied by a sensational block by the legs of Micah.

Right on half time, there was an incredible miss from Yallop. Dalton got free down the left and crossed. City defender Tori Tumeth completely misjudged the bounce and allowed Tameka Yallop, in the six yard box to get an effort away, but such was the midfielder’s surprise at getting the chance, she scooped her effort over the bar.

The second half was equally one way traffic. Within four minutes of the re-start, after claims of a penalty for a potential foul on Yallop were waved away, Emily Gielnik put a follow-up effort wide from the right.

Gielnik’s outstanding performance continued with another great run which ended with a pass in to Mariel Hecher. Her exquisite lay-off into the path of Leticia McKenna who was only denied by yet another superb stop by Teagan Micah. To add to Brisbane’s frustration, Katrina Gorry’s eventual follow-up then came crashing off of the top of the bar.

Above: Teagan Micah was in sensational form for Melbourne City at Dolphin Stadium Photo: @TeaganMicah.

Two more opportunities came and went for the home side. First, Hecher found Yallop. Her deflected shot needed yet another world class save from Micah to prevent it hitting the net. Then, in stoppage time Dalton’s effort from the edge of the area was comfortably stopped by the City goalkeeper.

Despite their inability to transfer total dominance into goals, this performance by Brisbane Roar against the reigning champions is one which confirms their status as the team to beat in the W League this season.

As for Melbourne City, their inability to create anything in the attacking third means the jury is out on their chance of retaining the title. For now.

Teams: BRISBANE ROAR: Worth, Heatley, Rankin, Polkinghorne, Carroll, Dalton, Hecher, Gorry, Gielnik, Yallop, McKenna. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), Murphy, Horsey, Freier, Sutton.

MELBOURNE CITY: Micah, Johnson, Tumeth, McCormick, Davidson, Vlajnic, Allen, Cain, Dobson, Palmer, Robinne. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Sardo, Thomas-Chinnama, Muldeary, Withers.

Attendance: 1,174.

Referee: Rebecca Durcau.

2020 – The Year The Impetus Increased

In this second part of his review of the year on Impetus, site founder Ben Gilby focuses on October to December, months when the influence of one article on an Australian international transformed the site from one with a small but loyal UK based readership to one with a large global one. It was a period which led to a total site redesign and allowed us to form sponsorship and partnership deals with grassroots women’s football clubs and attract new contributors from across the world.

OCTOBER 2020:

The new month opened with a feature on Helston Athletic a club who thanks to some incredibly creative social media content, hugely talented players and coaches and a great relationship with the club’s men’s team are achieving great things. Our piece on the Cornish side who had a great run in the Women’s FA Cup this season can be read here.

Above: Chorley Women – a great story. Photo: John Shirras.

This was rapidly followed up by sharing the fantastic story of Chorley Women. A club who can boast a victory over Manchester City in their past and continue to overcome the odds in the National League Division One North. If you missed it the first time, be sure to catch up here: Chorley Women: Still Defying The Odds.

Then came the moment that Impetus was transformed from a women’s football site with a small UK based audience to one which is now read worldwide in ever increasing numbers. Over the weekend of 10th and 11th October, Australian superstar Sam Kerr came off of social media as a direct result in the ever growing amount of abuse she had received from some “fans” due to them believing she had not scored the number of goals that were expected of her.

This prompted us to write the piece Enough is Enough: In Defence of Sam Kerr and the response was phenomenal. Over a thousand views in the first 24 hours alone – which, within three days had ballooned to over 3,500 views – had seen the piece read in huge numbers in Australia as well as in the UK and Kerr’s previous club playing location of the USA. It was shared widely and we received private messages from a number of prominent players and coaches from women’s football which completely took us by surprise. If this was incredible, what was even more surprising was the fact that we have retailed a big number of these readers. Impetus now gets over 25% of its readership from Australia and large numbers of regular readers from the USA, Scandinavia and France.

Above: An article defending the social media abuse of Sam Kerr transformed Impetus from a site with a small UK based readership to one with a large number of readers around the world. Photo: Ben Gilby

As a result of these statistics, the site has thought carefully about how to cover the game more widely in the countries that our new readers are based in as well as maintaining our support for the grassroots of the women’s game in the UK.

We began an occasional series on the women’s game in Australia, starting with a two part interview with the Matildas Active Support group – whose members do so much to make Australia’s women’s football such a vibrant scene. Part One of the piece can be read here with Part Two available here.

NOVEMBER 2020:

November saw us welcome new contributor Jean-Pierre Thiesset. His weekly articles which review all the action in the French top flight of women’s football, D1 Arkema, have provided a new frontier for our coverage. In addition to this, Jean-Pierre’s in-depth feature articles which unpicked the challenging situation within the French women’s national team were enjoyed by a large number of readers: Sarah Bouhaddi’s interview with OLTV and Amandine Henry’s incendiary interview on Canal + being just two of them. He also gave us a wonderful insight into what a normal, pre-Covid matchday from a fan’s perspective at Olympique Lyonnais was like.

Above: Matchday at Olympique Lyonnais Feminin – new contributor Jean-Pierre Thiesset brought new colour to our coverage of women’s football. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset.

Also on the site in November was a feature on Sutton United Women – a club who we were to form an exciting relationship with in the near future. We also had a chat with Coventry United General Manager Jay Bradford about her FA Women’s Championship club who are about to enter an exciting full-time future.

The second part of our occasional series on Australian women’s football saw a feature on newly appointed Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson.

With the huge increase in traffic to the site, it was now apparent that the original Impetus website and design was now not the sort of look that we should be showing and so things changed. But before they did, we re-visited the first feature article that appeared on the site, on the Swedish then third tier outfit Älvsjö AIK FF Dam. They have a staggering story to tell and had also achieved some amazing things over the past twelve months which was worthy of sharing: Exceptional Alvsjo – A Year On.

NEW LOOK – LATE NOVEMBER 2020:

Back in August, the site had run a piece on Paige Walder and her Graphics by PW company – check it out here. Paige had secured a partnership deal with Lionesses and Chelsea star Fran Kirby and was producing some incredible women’s football artwork. We got in touch with Paige who not only agreed to re-design our logo, but would also provide the site with all future artwork in an official partnership deal – something which has enhanced the look of Impetus in a way we never thought possible.

With our new look arranged, the site’s growing audience enabled it to secure an exclusive interview with Hedvig Lindahl’s The One Goal charity as it was in the middle of its #ShirtsForGirls campaign, where fans could donate for the chance to win one of over twenty match worn shirts from some of women’s football’s biggest names. All proceeds would go to the girl’s academy of El Cambio Academy in Uganda. Our interview with The One Goal’s co-founder Daniela Porcelli can be read here.

Above: An exclusive interview with Hedvig Lindahl’s The One Goal charity kicked off the new look of Impetus. Photo: @hedvig_lindahl.

DECEMBER 2020:

The month started with an announcement of the first of a raft of partnership and sponsorship with grassroots women’s football clubs. Our first deal was arranged with Penryn Athletic Ladies FC, who play in the seventh tier Earthbound Electric Cornwall Women’s Football League. The partnership allows for monthly features on the club with various players and officials which will give readers a true behind the scenes picture on the reality of women’s football at the grassroots. The partnership was launched with an exclusive interview with Penryn Athletic’s Player-Manager Yaina Andrew.

Above: The first in a series of sponsorship and partnership agreements was announced at the start of December with Tier Seven side Penryn Athletic Ladies. Artwork: Graphics by PW.

With crowds allowed back into FA Women’s Super League grounds for the first time in almost ten months, we celebrated with our first ever interview with an international footballer. Sweden and Chelsea’s Jonna Andersson did a great piece with us about her footballing journey and is well worth checking out here – Jonna Andersson interview.

I was very fortunate that weekend to be one of only several hundred people allowed into Kingsmeadow Stadium for Chelsea v West Ham United in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. It was a very different experience and one which prompted this article: Watching FAWSL Action in the Covid age.

Above: Jonna Andersson – the first international player to be interviewed by Impetus. Photo: Mia Eriksson.

A feature on tier seven club Brentford Women, who celebrated their thirtieth birthday in 2020 was followed by the welcome return of original contributor Daisy Wildsmith. Daisy’s piece entitled Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Wear Waistcoats was a thought provoking article designed to be a counter balance to the negative press that Lionesses boss Phil Neville had been racking up.

As we neared Christmas and the inevitable lockdown of much of the country, we needed some good news stories, and plenty were unveiled on the site over a two week period.

First there was an interview with Huddersfield Town Women manager Jordan Wimpenny about a club pushing for a place in the FA Women’s Championship next season with a superb player development pathway for girls as young as six.

Then, a flurry of announcements of extremely exciting sponsorships and partnerships with more forward looking and ambitious grassroots women’s football clubs.

First, with Wroxham Women of the fifth tier Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier with whom we announced a Player Sponsorship deal with Harriet Meers and club Content Partnership. The arrangement means that, as well as monthly updates from Harriet Meers, a 20 year-old defender at the start of her senior football career, we will be catching up with other members of the squad, coaching staff and those responsible for the club’s girls development programme at Bury Valley Wildcats YFC. It will be a great chance for readers to find out what life is like at this level of the women’s game. The first feature article, introducing the club appeared on 23rd December – Wroxham Women Partnership.

Above: The second sponsorship deal saw Impetus become the sponsor of Wroxham Women’s Harriet Meers. Artwork by: Graphics by PW.

Christmas Eve brought about another major announcement – in partnership with the hugely respected women’s football site Since ’71, a Player Sponsorship deal with Sutton United Women’s Olivia Watson. Ever since our chat with the club’s founder Duncan Muller (see November), we had developed an increasing awareness of and respect for the great work going on at Gander Green Lane and had witnessed several matches that this club’s hugely promising young squad had played in the sixth tier London & South-East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North. The sponsorship of Olivia Watson, a 22 year-old attacking midfielder with huge potential will see us catch up with Olivia regularly to find out how things are going with her career and events round the club. The relationship is likely to grow to offer further content which will be of great interest to our readers.

Our overseas audience has also been catered for with the launch of a new weekly round-up of all the news from Swedish Women’s Football through new contributor @DandalBs and we are about to begin the most comprehensive coverage of Australia’s Westfield W League by any UK based women’s football website. This has been made possible by the introduction of new contributors Kieran Yap (who will report exclusively for us on at least one game per round) and Kris Goman (who will be sending us exclusive match photography from W League games). More detail can be read here. We will also be running the same weekly round-up of action from games that was so popular last season.

Above: A third Impetus sponsorship deal saw us team up with Since ’71 to sponsor Sutton United Women’s Olivia Watson. Artwork by: Angelo Tirotto.

As we enter 2021, we have many exciting features up our sleeve – from more grassroots club features and sponsorship deals to interviews with women’s club fan groups and an interview with another international woman footballer!

Our huge thanks for being part of the ever growing family of Impetus readers, contributors and sponsorship/partnership clubs.

The Impetus has grown rapidly – and it is thanks to YOU!

If you missed Part One of this review of the year, click on this link to read it.