Massey footballers making their mark

Over the past year, current students, graduates and alumni have won professional titles, earned international selection and competed in leading leagues while balancing the demands of university study.

Sport Massey Manager Angela Rainham, says the achievements reflect the commitment and determination of Massey's student-athletes.

"Balancing university study with elite sport isn't easy, but our student-athletes are incredibly dedicated. They're managing the demands of study alongside training, travel and competition, and it's fantastic to see them succeeding in both."

The impact of Massey students on the international stage has been particularly significant this year, with seven current and former students selected in the All Whites squad for the FIFA World Cup. Club success has also been a feature of the past year, with Auckland FC's historic inaugural A-League Championship-winning season including three current Massey students who played key roles in the club's title-winning campaign.

One of those students is Bachelor of Business student Jesse Randall, whose football journey to date reflects the determination required to succeed as both an elite athlete and a university student. Studying with Massey has given him the flexibility and support to continue his education while playing professionally for Auckland FC and representing New Zealand in the All Whites.

The university's impact also extends across the women's game, with current students, graduates and alumni representing the Football Ferns, as well as professional clubs in New Zealand and overseas. This year’s Wellington Phoenix women's team included six current Massey students, as well as two alumni during the club's most successful season, becoming the first New Zealand side to reach an A-League Women’s Grand Final. Massey-connected players also continue to feature prominently for the Football Ferns.

Among them is Football Ferns captain Kate Taylor, who has recently been playing professionally in France while studying towards a Bachelor of Health Science. Kate says Massey's flexible distance learning has enabled her to continue working towards her goal of becoming a midwife while pursuing her football career.

"I chose to study through Massey because I had heard really good things about how it supports students living overseas and studying by distance. The added bonus is that I can apply a lot of what I'm learning to my day-to-day life, giving me more knowledge and tools to help me become a better athlete."

As a recipient of Massey’s Academy of Sport Returners Scholarship, Kate says the Academy has played an important role in helping her balance the competing demands of study and professional football.

"The scholarship and the Academy of Sport services have supported me by helping me navigate university deadlines and clashes. The nutritional support, onsite gym memberships and educational webinars have all helped me a lot."

Ms Rainham says it is rewarding to see Massey students and alumni succeeding across every level of football.

"When you see our students winning professional titles, representing New Zealand at world cups and continuing to work towards their degrees, it shows what's possible when people are committed to both their education and their sport. Seeing so many of them do so well in both is something we're incredibly proud of."

New Zealand’s next generation of footballers will experience Massey's sporting environment later this year when the university hosts the New Zealand Secondary Schools Premier Boys Football Tournament on its Manawatū campus. As the country's leading school teams compete for national honours, they'll do so at a university where elite footballers continue to demonstrate that success in sports and in their studies can go hand in hand.