Football Ferns forward Hannah Wilkinson is focused on recovering from a knee injury in time to be ready for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. She is taking some time out from her training and rehabilitation to be in the thick of the action of Girls and Women’s Week for New Zealand Football this week. We caught up with the striker on how she first got in to football and what it is like to be a role model. 

When did you first start playing football?

I started playing around 8 years old. I just followed my brothers into it, and my dad was a coach so it was the family sport.

Where did you first start playing football?

Kamo Swifts. There was no girls team when I was growing up so I was training with the boys until I was 16. I think that was good. In an ideal world, girls would be socialised into the same boyish, athletic ways that boys do get socialised into: be active, physical whereas girls are more protected. If they can join in with boys at an early age, they’ll be better.

Who were your role models growing up?

I had a poster of Maia Jackman on my wall, which I think is so funny because now Maia is like a mate. It’s funny how that works out. I wanted to play for New Zealand as soon as I fell in love with the game and she was the female superstar at the time. And also a couple of the Americans like Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach. Even when I started playing for New Zealand I watched [Wambach] play, because that’s how I wanted to play.

Were you aware of the pathway to the Ferns growing up? When were you selected?

Only when it became evident that I could realistically make those teams. The Under 17 World Cup in New Zealand, that was a big thing- I was still living in Whangarei and I was like ‘I want to make those teams so bad’. I would travel down to Auckland twice a week-my dad would drive down-just to get exposure. But it wasn’t till I moved down when I was 17 that things started happening. I started off at Glenfield Rovers and I really enjoyed that. But when I played for the NZSSC team, that put me on the map. After that there was a trial for the U-20 qualifiers, and I got picked for that and then after that the Ferns. It happened pretty fast.

How did the experience of the Ferns compare to how you imagined it?

I came in pretty young so I was terrified, and I had no reason to be. But I was in amongst all these big guns and that was when girls started to look at going overseas and playing professionally, and that was a big thing. Imagine that, going overseas and playing football and being paid for it. I was 17, I hadn’t even thought about that. But the girls all took me in and the more experience I got playing alongside them, the better it got. Once you start playing you just want to win and that’s all you think about.

Did you have anything like Girls and Women’s Week to help get you engaged with the game?

No, not at all. But it was awesome to have role models, to follow those professional behaviours. Now it’s come so far. Girls now have a fantastic opportunity. The role models at that age are more active and more present than they have ever been before- The Kiwi Football show with Greggo [Sarah Gregorius], that’s awesome! And the Under 17s have really pushed us down the right path. It’s tough because you have to perform to get investment so they’ve helped us, they’ve shown that this is what we can do.

Now you’re one of those role models, playing professionally. Are there challenges that come with that?

There’s more pressure, if you’re not performing you won’t play or won’t be signed again. But that also pushes you to be the best player you can be. It can also be tough being injured, but I’ve been really grateful for New Zealand Football’s support with that.

What are the most rewarding parts?

It’s been awesome. The first thing that struck me is I have a lot of time. Your work day is a 2-hour training, maybe another 2 hour or a gym session, and after that you’re resting. The time you get outside is amazing and all you have to focus on is your performance. You’re a footballer and that’s what you do and that’s exactly how you improve as a player.

Article added: Wednesday 13 February 2019