Football Ferns

Apparently she's studying and just signed with the university of Tennessee.

absolutely.  we're falling apart now

Both keepers cannot kick a ball!

FUUUUUUUUCK.

cannot belive this.  poos

Hmmm. 2 goals in the last 3 minutes, including one in the final few seconds.

well hopefully the other two big games today can cheer me up.  Go Team Wellington and the Nix.

positives - we competed well with the USA. 
Dubious reffing call.  Would have said a draw was a fair result.  That was a sad finish to a good game.

on another note, david chote said Renee Leota is playing sevens rugby. 

Unlike a lot of people on this forum, I actually really do like rugby and to a lesser extent rugby sevens. But there is no way on hell that sevens should be in the olympics. What next half court basketball? Like it's a 7-a-side version of a normal spot and is only played by players not deemed good enough to play 15 a-side for a fulltime job. Why they decided to then include womens sevens makes it even weirder. Do countries actually play womens sevens? Easiest gold medal NZ will ever get and it's basically like "hey want to play for the nz womens 7s team? then come to the olympics!"

Unlucky.........they will take a lot of self belief tho from that near result.

Fred sums it up well
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6404753/Heartbreak-for-Football-Ferns-in-US

Didn't the sevens only get into the olympics because someone fairly high up liked the sport.  In fact there are a lot of sports that should not be there, it's gotten out of control.

They didnt even mention the game on the news??

I've never seen a bus parked so badly

Would it have been the biggest upset win in NZ football international history?

Keep in mind it was a friendly.

Um, so is this a reflection of the depth of goal keepers in NZ?  That a former cricket representative, can stroll into the football ferns squad after not playing for 16 years?  Seems a bit unfair for the young players out there.  Could Aroon not get time away from Liverpool to compete?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6474020/Rebecca-Rolls-in-shock-Football-Ferns-recall

Strange. But there prob isnt much outside of Aroon and the age group players. Bindon is minging anyway.

Selections are a bit insestuous sometimes as some welly players have found out.

Well, I'm always available, if they don't mind a keeper whose goal kicks only go about 30m.

a win and a draw for the football ferns at the cyprus cup.  Last game is against Korea Republic on the 5th, 1:30am NZ time.

The Ferns drew 1:1 with Korea this morning. Cant understand the format of the Cyprus Cup where the Ferns can only at best come 7th even if they won all their matches.

We are in group C.

Ok. In 2011 NZ were in group B but lost 2 out of 3 games. So were demoted this year.

http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFerns/holland125.htm

Hi all,

 

Above is a wrap-up on today's Dutch encounter.

 

 

Cheers,

 

JR

where will the qualifier for the olympics be played?

We're playing in Whangarei!  $5 admission, cheap as chips.

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1509&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=b9cba4f357

Awesome news. Can't say I'm a massive Women's football fan but will definitely be heading along to this. I think if they promote it right they will get a massive crowd in with admission only set at $5. Northland isn't a massive football area but the low admission will get along alot of people just to check it out at the very least. Nice work NZF!!

Football Ferns at full strength for Olympic playoff Football Ferns coach Tony Readings is leaving nothing to chance on his side�s final steps on the road to London, naming 12 overseas players in his 20 player squad for the two legged OFC Women�s Olympic final against Papua New Guinea beginning in Whangarei this Saturday.

March 28, 2012

AUCKLAND � Football Ferns coach Tony Readings is leaving nothing to chance on his side�s final steps on the road to London, naming 12 overseas players in his 20 player squad for the two legged OFC Women�s Olympic final against Papua New Guinea beginning in Whangarei this Saturday.

The squad, which will be trimmed to 18 for each of the two matches � the return leg is in Port Moresby on April 4 � is drawn from leagues in six countries with the German Bundesliga alone providing six players.

Papua New Guinea reached the playoff after winning a preliminary tournament in Tonga earlier this month, while New Zealand have been seeded to this stage after romping through 2011 FIFA Women�s World Cup qualifiers with a goals for and against record of 50-0 across their five matches, including an 11-0 win over Papua New Guinea in the final.

New Zealand coach Tony Readings is happy with the favourites tag but tough 2-0 Olympic qualifying win in Port Moresby four years ago serves as reminder of the importance of making the most of home advantage.

�We go into this game as favourites especially at home, and I guess that�s a position we have earned in respect to games against Oceania opposition, but we know from the 2008 Olympic qualifier how tough it can be up there.

�Being in professional environments week in and week out has only increased our players� determination to do what they need to win, and the job in front of us is to take the tie away from Papua New Guinea before we travel to their conditions.

�We have big expectations of this team for London but we need to qualify first and we can take a big step this Saturday in front of a home crowd in Whangarei.�

The squad assembles in Auckland on Thursday.

New Zealand squad to face Papua New Guinea
OFC Olympic Qualifier Final
March 31 and April 4
(Club � caps/goals in brackets)

Goalkeepers
Jenny BINDON (Hibiscus Coast � 65/0)
Rebecca ROLLS (Fencibles United � 12/0)

Defenders
Katie BOWEN (Glenfield Rovers � 6/0)
Hannah BROMLEY (Glenfield Rovers � 6/0)
Abby ERCEG (Adelaide United, AUS� 67/4)
Anna GREEN (Leipzig, GER � 45/5)
Ria PERCIVAL (FFC Frankfurt, GER � 64/7)
Ali RILEY  (Malm�, SWE � 57/1)
Rebecca SMITH (VfL Wolfsburg, GER � 63/3)

Midfielders
Katie HOYLE (Bad Neuenahr, GER � 56/6)
Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United � 37/0)
Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers � 1/0)
Betsy HASSETT (Univ. California Berkeley, USA � 32/3)
Hayley MOORWOOD (Chelsea, ENG � 74/7)
Kirsty YALLOP (Vittsj� GIK, SWE � 55/11)

Forwards
Sarah GREGORIUS (Bad Neuenahr, GER � 22/11)
Amber HEARN (USV Jena, GER � 54/26)
Sarah MCLAUGHLIN (Claudelands Rovers � 11/0)
Rosie WHITE (UCLA, USA � 33/7)
Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers � 28/10)

Management Staff
Coach: Tony READINGS
Assistant Coach: Gordon FORREST
GK Coach: Danny ROBINSON
Manager: Julie HOGG
Doctor: Chris HANNA
Physiotherapist: Jen SAYER
Sports Scientist: Brad CONZA
Technical Analyst: Gary CONNELL
Media Officer: Jamie SCOTT

Matches
New Zealand v Papua New Guinea
Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Saturday March 31
Kickoff 5pm

Admission $5

Papua New Guinea v New Zealand
PMRL Stadium, Port Moresby
Wednesday April 4
Kickoff: 2pm (5pm NZT)

Jackman hangs up her boots Maia Jackman is hanging up her boots after a 19 year career as a Football Fern, officially retiring from international football with her place among the game�s great servants assured.

March 29, 2012

AUCKLAND � Maia Jackman is hanging up her boots after a 19 year career as a Football Fern, officially retiring from international football with her place among the game�s great servants assured.

Jackman, 36, will be presented with her official New Zealand Football blazer at the home leg of the Football Ferns� Olympic Qualifier against Papua New Guinea in Whangarei this Saturday and said the decision to call time on a distinguished career was not an easy one.

�It�s been on my mind over the past couple of years and at one stage I was going to go all out for the World Cup and Olympics and end it there, �Jackman said, �but the psychological challenge of being in, being out, took its toll. I had a chat with Ferns coach Tony Readings in terms of where he saw me leading into the Olympic Games. I just thought I don�t know if I have the patience or the will to do it anymore. I guess I just wanted to do something different while I still can, while I am still young enough. I just said to Tony, �Yeah, I�m done�.�

Jackman�s 50th cap during World Cup qualifying in October 2010 proved to be her last, coming 17 years after her 1993 debut against Canada in New York and she retires as one of just 13 women to play 50 or more �A� internationals and her longevity at the highest level is borne out by the fact that all but three of those players made their debut after Jackman. Jackman has a host of successes to reflect upon and one stands out above all others.

�Definitely my debut in the match with Canada in �93 stands out. It was such a huge transition going from Auckland U-19s straight into senior international level � it was a massive eye opener. But the one achievement that stands out was being part of the FIFA World XI in China in 2007. To play with some of the best players in the world, and be recognised as one of them, was pretty humbling,� Jackman said.

Beginning her career as a striker, Jackman�s dozen goals for New Zealand is bettered only by six players and includes a streak of hat tricks in three consecutive matches � a feat yet to be repeated by a Kiwi. Not a bad return for a youngster who got noticed as a 14 year old when tackling Kevin Fallon and being mistaken for a boy. That resulted in an invitation down to Fallon�s school of excellence.

Although Jackman is bowing out of competitive football, she has been offered the opportunity to take a closer look at a potential career in coaching with Football Ferns coach Tony Readings fully supportive. With so many Football Ferns based overseas as full-time professionals, Jackman will continue to train with the squad to add experience.

 ï¿½She�s been the consummate pro on and off pitch, a natural leader and a great personality to have in the camp. She�s been inspirational to a lot of the younger players that have come through and established themselves now - we�ll be trying to keep her involved in some shape or form as she still has a lot to offer the game,� Readings said.

�Maia is a legend in the women�s game and I don�t use that term lightly. To have a career that spans different eras of the game like she has is phenomenal. And to evolve and adapt her game in that time to be able to compete in the modern game and in different positions is just outstanding,� Readings said.

New Zealand Football plan to honour Jackman�s contribution to the sport by presenting her with her official blazer � a process NZF began  last year to honour its past players.

The MVP trophy for the ASB Women�s Knockout Cup final will also be renamed The Maia Jackman trophy in honour of her achievements in that competition � which she won five times as a player� and her overall contribution to women�s football.

Maia Jackman � fact file

�A� Internationals
Played: 50 (2 as captain)
Goals: 12
Debut: August 6, 1993 v Canada (0-0)
Last game: October 6, 2010 v Solomon Islands (8-0). (Was captain for this game, her 50th)

All matches
Played: 59 (2 as captain)
Goals: 15
FIFA Competitions
FIFA Women�s World Cup China 2007 (played every minute for NZ)

Individual awards
ASB Women�s Knockout Cup Final MVP 2 times (1996, 1998)
Golden Boot � 2003 OFC Women�s World Cup qualifiers
Club/Federation Honours
Northern Premier Women's League champions - 7 times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006)
ASB Women�s Knockout Cup winners - 5 times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2007)
ASB National Women�s League / National Women's Tournament winners - 9 times (1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009)

Other notes
� Played professional football in China in Dalian Shide in 2002
� Fifth player to make 50 appearances for the Football Ferns
� Has played top level club football for 21 seasons
� Won the NZ Knockout Cup five times with four different clubs
� Five time finalist for NZ International Player of the Year award
� Scored hat tricks in three consecutive internationals (only Kiwi ever to do so)
� Selected for the FIFA women�s All Stars team in 2007
� Served as a Small Whites ambassador along with Ryan Nelsen.

All the best Maia. Hopefully see you involved in management/coaching of NZ teams in future.

Well done Football ferns on their first leg victory over PNG. 8-0 was the final score.  2,243 were there to see it.  Amazing.

2nd leg is on Wednesday in Port Morseby.

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1559&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=11dd35bf5b

Not that it will happen but imagine if PNG came back to win

Still not over Maia's goal at Newtown Park (four seasons back?) whoch is up there as one of teh best I have ever seen.

Great player. Great attutude!!!!

Hope not!  I think the girls would be a better shot at getting close to a medal at the Olympics than the boys team.

Ferns vs PNG goals hereaxxaa2012-04-02 09:10:15

Feel sorry for the Ferns to have to play a game like that. tbh.

omg. png are not even vaguely athletes let alone footballers

random question but how does rebecca smith qualify to play for NZ? her wiki page says she was born in the states and as far as i can see she grew up there and the closest she got to nz was playing for the jets? is a parent a kiwi or is there something else?

Her parents are NZers and she's got tons of family here

Yippee Football ferns 7-0 over PNG, 15-0 on aggregate.   Congratulations girls, do us proud in London!