As one long journey ends for the Wellington Phoenix, another is only just beginning

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As one long journey ends for the Wellington Phoenix, another is only just beginning
As one long journey ends for the Wellington Phoenix, another is only just beginning

OPINION: Eleven women will step onto the field in the Wellington Phoenix black and yellow jersey for the first time on Friday to play a game that has been going on for a decade. The first mention of a Phoenix women’s team in the Stuff Archives was in June 2011 when the prospect was brought up as part of a report on how Wellington teams can win. Later that year, when the WelNix consortium, led by current chairman Rob Morrison, bought the club from original owner Terry Serepisos, it became a realistic goal. Mark Evans / Getty ImagesWellington Phoenix captain Lily Alfeld and vice captain Kate Taylor are ready. But while the owners and general manager David Dome had long been keen to add a women’s team, it wasn’t until last year that serious momentum began. Read More (at that time still W-League) has not been on the table since 2012 and a Wellington entry significant challenges in terms of travel and costs for what was (and is) still a growing league. Another challenge was the longstanding conflict between Football Australia and the A-League clubs over how the competitions should be managed, which was finally resolved on New Year’s Eve last year. New Zealand and Australia’s successful joint bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last June was a catalyst to get things moving, and the Phoenix were on the verge of putting together a women’s team last season, with NZ Football came on board to provide substantial financial backing and most of the staff on the team. They stood in the way of Football Australia, who said they would not change their player admission rules on short notice. Even though the leagues are now running independently, Football Australia remains in control of the regulations, which has required a compromise. The Phoenix were initially only allowed to sign 11 Kiwis – but were later able to add two more – and had to sign at least seven Australians. If they wanted to sign Visa players who continued to come from abroad, it had to be at the expense of the Kiwis, and they didn’t, which left them at a disadvantage compared to the other teams. Keep this in mind as you look at them in the coming weeks and months. Ultimately, a severely restricted Phoenix women’s team was better than no Phoenix women’s team, especially in view of the upcoming 2023 World Cup. Since the admission confirmation at the beginning of September, there has been a lot of celebrations – and a lot of anticipation. Your game against the Western Sydney Wanderers [kickoff 7.05pm NZ time] will be a truly historic event. It’s a moment to enjoy the 193 Football Ferns and their survivors, from first captain Barbara Cox and her teammates in 1975 to Ashleigh Ward, who debuted this week. For the country’s amateur clubs who have invested the time, money and effort building women’s football at the grassroots level where a dozen members of the Phoenix squad began their football trips. For the associations that have contributed to the growth of the national league over the past decade – a competition that will continue to play an important role in preparing players for promotion to the new level they now have. For the women who play, especially the 12 from New Zealand who have signed contracts and are traveling across the Tasman, where they are led by Captain Lily Alfeld. And for the young girls who will be watching them at home. It cannot be said often enough: you cannot be what you cannot see. That changes for women’s football on Friday night with a game that will be broadcast for free on Prime. After the kick-off, the time of sentimentality is over. This will be a real football team to face challenges including these squad rules, the lack of commercial support for them, although a few sponsors were announced on Thursday and when they can play in New Zealand. The bar this season is on a single win, not higher, but there’s every chance they’ll surprise some. For now, however, it is worth thinking about what happened here. Morrison and his co-owners have kept professional men’s football alive for the past decade through all sorts of challenges – particularly the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Bringing professional women’s football to life – with the support of NZ Football – could be her greatest achievement to date. The Long Rise of the Phoenix Women June 11, 2011: The prospect of such a team is first mentioned in Stuff September 23, 2011: WelNix Ownership Group takes control of the Phoenix from Terry Serepisos June 26, 2020: New Zealand and Australia award hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup November 10, 2020: Football Australia stops Phoenix push to join A-League Women last summer September 10, 2021: Phoenix’s entry this summer is confirmed October 11, 2021: Gemma Lewis appointed team first coach December 1, 2021: Lily Alfeld appointed team first female captain; Kate Taylor as first vice-captain December 3, 2021: Phoenix makes his debut in the A-League Women against the Western Sydney Wanderers

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