Head coach Tracy Wrigley has named her final Auckland Football squad for the upcoming National Women’s League season.

This year the squad features a selection of players who played out the 2018 winter season registered at Auckland Football clubs.

The team will be captained by Football Fern Stephanie Cleave (nee Skilton), who played her 2018 Lotto NRFL season with Papakura City under Wrigley and assistant coach Liam Martin.

“Steph contributes more than her playing quality, along with her experience of playing and training at the highest level, she is also a fantastic example for players of how to constantly add to a group,” Wrigley said.

“Those qualities as well as her playing ability make her more than qualified to lead the squad through the National Women’s League season.”

Also joining the side are U-20 Internationals Nadia Olla, Liz Anton, Sarah Morton (all Western Springs), Nicole Mettam, Grace Jale (both Eastern Suburbs) and Paige Satchell (Three Kings United), who all come off the back of a strong FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign.

Jade Parris makes the squad after a magnificent season in the firing lines for Eastern Suburbs. Parris wrapped up her 2018 Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Division season by finishing as the league’s golden boot recipient with 15 goals.

“Jade was outstanding in front of goal all season and we’ve already seen that during our selection process” Wrigley said.

“Good news for us is that she’s already talking about being more clinical – I’ll be excited to see that positive attitude continue as well as her red-hot goal scoring form.”

Alongside Parris, Corina Brown, Rebekah Van Dort, Leah Mettam and Lucy Carter make up the rest of the Eastern Suburbs contingent, after they occupied key roles in the Lily Whites’ NRFL season.

Genevieve Ryan, Margot Ramsay (both Western Springs) and Britney Cunningham-Lee (Papakura City) are all fighting for their place to represent New Zealand at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

With the bigger picture in mind, the trio will be putting in the effort to shine at national league level this season.

Wrigley spent a whole season coaching Cunningham-Lee at Papakura and says the teenager has a lot to offer for this year’s National Women’s League season.

“Britney has had a very strong NRFL season and has been influential up front for Papakura, playing out some key performances throughout the season,” Wrigley said.

“We’ve got good competition for selection in the attacking roles and we will be looking for all those players to bring their own strengths and qualities to the pitch.”

Bianca Stiles, Bernadette Goulding, Kim Nottingham and Jade Morrissey played out significant performances this season for Western Springs to earn themselves a spot each in the squad.

Sam Muirhead, who holds previous experience in the league, returns to the Auckland Football fold after taking a season off to establish herself in a work environment. Muirhead recently played for Western Springs and has represented Auckland at age-group tournaments in the past.

Tessa Leong and Jenna Dodd (both Three Kings United) have previously turned out for Auckland in the Women’s Futsal National League.

Recently, Leong represented New Zealand at the FISU World University Futsal Championships held in Kazakhstan. Leong also enjoyed a stellar footballing season with Three Kings, notching 11 goals in the league.

Forward Kathryn Gow (Three Kings United) also joins the squad, having previous experience in the National Women’s League representing Auckland.

“I’m confident we have a good balance of players and a group of good people who will represent Auckland well regardless of who takes the field,” Wrigley said.

“It’s a long season for some of these players and playing for Auckland in front of friends, families and supporters makes the commitment all worthwhile.”

Auckland Football National Women’s League squad

Goalkeepers:
Nadia Olla (Western Springs)
Corina Brown (Eastern Suburbs)

Defenders:
Stephanie Cleave [nee Skilton] (Papakura City)
Liz Anton (Western Springs)
Rebekah Van Dort (Eastern Suburbs)
Bianca Stiles (Western Springs)
Sarah Morton (Western Springs)
Bernadette Goulding (Western Springs)
Leah Mettam (Eastern Suburbs)
Genevieve Ryan (Western Springs)

Midfielders:
Sam Muirhead (Western Springs)
Margot Ramsay (Western Springs)
Lucy Carter (Eastern Suburbs)
Jenna Dodd (Three Kings United)
Nicole Mettam (Eastern Suburbs)
Grace Jale (Eastern Suburbs)

Forwards:
Paige Satchell (Three Kings United)
Tessa Leong (Three Kings United)
Jade Parris (Eastern Suburbs)
Britney Cunningham-Lee (Papakura City)
Kathryn Gow (Three Kings United)
Kim Nottingham (Western Springs)
Jade Morrissey (Western Springs)

Head Coach: Tracy Wrigley
Assistant Coach: Liam Martin
Assistant Coach: Rebecca O’Neill
Technical Analyst: Dani Briggs
Physio: Emily Lo
Team Manager: Kelly Bolus
Media Officer: Mark Casson

Story courtesy of Auckland Football

Article added: Thursday 06 September 2018