All work and play for rising football star

Born and raised in Christchurch, Kate has been playing football for 14 years, starting as the only girl in the boys team until she could join a girls team at her local club at age 10. Three years later, she joined the regional female training programme, Canterbury United Pride Development, that set her on the path to play professionally.

Her football career over the last few years has included playing for Cashmere Technical in Christchurch, being involved in the New Zealand Under 15, Under 17, and Under 20 national camps, and being part of the Future Ferns Domestic Programme.

“I’ve been very lucky with the direction of my football throughout my life,” Kate says.

The last two years has seen Kate push her talents even further by being part of the first women’s professional team in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Wellington Phoenix. She says it’s been the best stepping stone in making the New Zealand team for the FIFA U-20 Women’s Football World Cup.

“It’s been an amazing experience. I wish I could go back and start all over again because every moment was awesome.”

As the world cup approached, Kate found herself experiencing two childhood dreams becoming reality. The first was getting to play with the Football Ferns in Norway and Spain, where she got her first cap with the senior side.

The second was being announced as the U-20’s captain only a couple of weeks before leaving for the pre-tour. She says stepping into captaincy has been great as she has an amazing team behind her.

“As a team, we understand that everyone brings value in different ways, and we all have different roles and responsibilities both on and off the field. Because of this, my only real responsibilities occur on the field, which is advocating for my teammates wherever I can. We’ve been able to create close relationships with each other and all understand how we want to play, which has helped us hold each other accountable and get the best out of the team.”

The FIFA U-20 Women’s Football World Cup took place earlier this year in Costa Rica, and Kate says the whole experience was a highlight.

“Being able to step onto the field for New Zealand and getting to play the game I love with an amazing bunch of people was awesome. We had a chant we’d say in te reo before every game, and the meaning and the way it brought our whole team together was so powerful. We really loved it!”

Alongside her sporting success, Kate is also studying towards a Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in Integrated Human Health, which she says is something she’s always been interested in.

“Learning about health sciences is great as it’s something that’s applicable to my everyday life. I’m taking a food and nutrition paper this semester which has been really beneficial. I believe it will set me up well for the future as I’m considering becoming a nurse or a midwife following my football career.”

Kate says she choose Massey because she’d heard how the university supported its student athletes both academically and with their sporting commitments.

“Studying with Massey was the best option for me, because I’m able to work my study into my schedule and can complete it anywhere, anytime. For my weekly schedule, I know how long the work for each paper will take me, so I get it done in the morning and keep that time solely for study, shifting my focus to training later in the day. The support offered by Massey’s Academy of Sport is fantastic. If I’m overseas and need an extension or academic advice, all I have to do is reach out and the help is there.”

Following the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Kate was selected to go to Los Angles to play against Mexico and the Philippines with the Ferns. After being away from home for over a month, she returned to Christchurch to catch up with family, and now has settled in Wellington as the Phoenix’s pre-season gets underway.

Enrolments are open now for next semester.