Coastal also never built a side for WPL from siphoning off the Rep and FTC programs.
Depend on the prism through which you view an issue. Current Coastal WPL squad has 7 x U17 players who were not playing for Coastal at U12 level I think (all FTC players by the way): Lake and Herman-Watt from Waimak: Bray and Nicholson from FC20: Clarke and Falco from Cashmere: Taylor from Parklands. Until recently neither Parklands nor Waimak offered WPL teams.
Did these players (parents) decide that Coastal's innovative in-house academy, commitment to Kanga Cup and other tournaments, pathway through to WPL and real belief and support from Board level to First Kicks for female football was the best environment in which to develop? Probably.
Did the players/parents look at their own club's commitment and opportunity to develop female players in comparison? Likely.
Were they enticed to Coastal through rep and FTC prorammes? Who knows; players talk to each other about what their club is doing or not doing.
The recent record of Coastal has been excellent and clearly the benchmark. If clubs want to hold onto their players it's up to them to step up to the benchmark, is it not, Gaffa and Foal?