Canterbury United has named a squad full of experience mixed with up-and-coming talent, as the Pride prepares to defend its National Women’s League title.

Pride Head Coach, Alana Gunn (Gunnie), has named 22 players and says “any one of them could make the starting line-up. The issue with naming such a strong squad will be getting the balance right. It’s going to be a tough training environment to select the 15 or 16 that travel and play each week.”

Led again from the mid-field by Football Fern Annalie Longo, who is accompanied by Pride stalwarts Chloe Jones, Whitney Hepburn, Rebecca Lake and Annie Gilchrist.   

Kate Taylor is back for her second campaign and is joined by fellow youngster Sammie Senior, both wore the captain’s armband during the recent NZ Football U16 tour to China.

The depth of the squad, combined with the fact that over half the number have already represented New Zealand, is further validation of the Pride’s Development Programme.

According to Canterbury United General Manager, Martin Field-Dodgson, it is the result of “a region working well, and together with aligned programmes that place the player at the centre of the model.” 

“The Pride Development and Pride Youth programmes are examples of this and when you add in the calibre of people we have such as Gunnie, Annalie – as Women’s Development Officer –  along with our local club coaches, we really do have a system that produces not only good players but even better people.”

Coach Gunn says “It’s fantastic knowing we have the depth in the region to assemble such a strong squad especially when you know there are girls out there that have made the decision, for one reason or another, to not commit to the programme this season.” 

Current Mainland Women’s Premier League (WPL) Golden Boot and long-time Pride striker Mel Cameron, has made the decision not to play this campaign, and will instead take up a role as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

Britneylee Nicholson re-joins the Pride after a year in Otago, and Bel Van Noorden and Lauren Dabner return after completing their studies in the United States.

“It’s awesome to see girls finish their time at college in the USA and came back really looking forward to playing for the Pride.”

Asked if the Pride’s success in recent years resulted in added pressure to succeed in 2019, Gunnie replies “from a media point of view there’s pressure but we are training earlier than other teams and we have a strong squad, so it’s realistic pressure and an expectation we should have on ourselves.”

“My expectation is 100% to win the final. Last year’s goal was to make the final and this year, with a similar or even stronger squad, we don’t have any excuse to not be there.”

The Pride open their NWL defence on September 15, when they host 2016 finalists, Capital Football at English Park; kick-off 12pm.

The 2019 Canterbury United Pride Squad is:

1.  Una Foyle
Goal Keeper - Coastal Spirit

2. Marisa van der Meer
Defender - Cashmere Technical

3. Rebecca Lake
Defender - Coastal Spirit 

4. Lara Wall
Forward - Cashmere Technical

5. Annie Gilchrist 
Defender - Cashmere Technical

6. Chloe Jones
Defender - Coastal Spirit

7. Gabi Rennie
Forward - Waimakariri United

8. Tahlia Herman-Watt
Defender - Coastal Spirit

9. Jayda Stewart
Midfield - Waimakariri United

10. Annalie Longo
Midfield - Unattached

11. Macey Fraser
Midfield - Cashmere Technical

12. Lauren Dabner
Midfield - Coastal Spirit

13. Whitney Hepburn
Midfield - Coastal Spirit

14. Jasmine Donald
Defender - Coastal Spirit

15. Britney Lee Nicholson
Forward - Coastal Spirit

16. Sam Senior
Midfield - Cashmere Technical

17. Cody Taylor
Forward - Coastal Spirit

18. Frankie Morrow
Forward - Cashmere Technical

19. Ellena Firth
Midfield - Coastal Spirit

20. Kate Taylor
Defender - Cashmere Technical

21. Nicola Dominicovich
Forward - Cashmere Technical

22. TBC

23. Bel van Noorden
Midfield - Coastal Spirit

 Prid Shadow Squad  

Alyssa Whinham
Midfield - Halswell United

Margi Dias
Forward - Halswell United

Zoe McMeeken
Defender - Selwyn United

Claudia Wilson
Defender - Cashmere Technical

Annie Foote
Goal Keeper - Halswell United

Alex Tutty
Goal Keeper - Cashmere Technical

Freya Lodge
Defender - Waimakariri United

Darsha Keogan
Midfield - Christchurch United

Article added: Friday 16 August 2019