ANUWFC will be looking to thrive in the season to come as they enter into the highest competition in women’s football in the ACT, the Women’s National Premier League.
Following on from their dominant form in State League Women’s 1st grade in previous seasons, ANUWFC enters the NPLW competition this season with a team looking to contend amongst the rest.
In their first season back at the NPLW level in some time, the club will look to test their competitiveness when they face a new level of quality opposition this season.
Club President Chloe Hay is confident that the club can relish the opportunity to remain competitive and make a name for themselves in the NPLW.
“It’s a complete change of pace. New rules, new structure, new expectations so I’m just hoping that they enjoy themselves and that they do well in the space that they’re given,” said Hay.
With both of their first-grade sides last season making the final of their competition, Hay stated that the sides were very proud of their efforts after displaying strong performances all year long.
“We didn’t just have one successful team, we had two incredibly successful teams and that really showed throughout the season,” she said. “They enjoyed it… and I think it was honestly just a celebration of their hard work throughout the years that led up to that point.”
The ability to retain most of their players and coaches across their first division squads for the NPL season ahead has assisted the teams in maintaining chemistry and the skillsets that they have built over the past few years.
“I don’t think we’re going out there with this expectation to win every week but we are going in with an expectation to be competitive and to make the other teams work hard against us and to earn a bit of respect at that level,” Hay commented.
As much as being competitive on the field is the club’s focus, having safe, supportive and friendly environments to play in is equally important.
Allowing players, coaches and members of the community to grow their footballing skills but also grow as a person, making new friends and being a part of a support network is instrumental to the club’s vision.
With the help of the Heather Reid AM Bursary, players who require financial assistance have been able to access funding so that players can get involved and participate with their friends.
Heather Reid AM was the founding member of the club back in 1978 and with the 45th anniversary of the club this year, this bursary aims to break down the barriers of financial hardship hindering people from playing football.
“We awarded I think 12 players this year with the bursary, which means that’s 12 people who otherwise would not have played football and those players are anywhere from our NPL side all the way down to our sixth grade side,” Hay revealed.
“And being able to remove that blocker means that we get to field them and they get to be included in all of our events, our games, and our community.”
Building the culture of the club is pivotal to the environment and success of the club, with the high influx of players and people wanting to get involved is representative of how welcoming and supportive the club is.
From trivia nights to Matildas watch-along parties, all teams and players have the opportunity to cross-connect and celebrate everyone’s successes.
Since the switch to the home and away system, it gives the chance for ANUWFC to open up a canteen.
Hay spoke about how eager she is to get the canteen up and running and engage people for a whole day of football each weekend.
“I’m really excited to see how that pans out this year and if we happen to make a few extra dollars for the club on top of building some good friendships and networks through our teams, through the canteen, it’d be fantastic,” said Hay.
Words: Harrison Frater