Annalie Longo

Western Sydney Wanderers' Gabriel Cleur and Wellington Phoenix's Annalie Longo received the PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarships , to support their professional development off the field.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar defender Chelsea Blissett and Adelaide United's Chelsie Dawber were… pic.twitter.com/nBNxOgvrol

— Professional Footballers Australia (@thepfa) December 27, 2024

Nice little reward + acknowledgement for Annalie Longo, who receives the PFA Kimon Taliadoros scholarship - Awarded to two players each year who demonstrate excellence in education or business. 

On top of receiving the scholarship, Longo will receive a handy $2500 towards her development as well.

Excuse the cross-posting from Regional Football, but there's a nice bit from Flea at the end so I couldn't decide between threads:

The rise of women’s football in New Zealand

Longo always dreamt of playing in a world cup as a little girl but never thought she would get the opportunity to play in one hosted on home turf.

“It was one of the first times I've run out to a New Zealand crowd, chanting for the Ferns … That's when I got goosebumps.”

Up until four years ago when the Phoenix women’s team was formed, there were no professional women’s teams in New Zealand and no real pathway to become a Fern, she says.

The ability to now watch the Phoenix women’s games on TV and hearing people talk about it and consider it as a career – whether it’s playing, coaching, refereeing, administration – “is huge”, she says.

But despite the growth, there were still inequities across the game, including pay inequality and shorter contracts than men’s.

In the 2023-2024 A-league Women Report, it found 62% of players worked outside of football, with 44% working more than 20 hours a week.

“I think with Fifa, there's a lot of support for women's football and so it's continuing to ask questions, to be curious, to learn and just to do better,” Longo says.

“We'll keep fighting and keep pushing, but I think we're certainly headed in the right direction.”

Season stats for the A-league show how dominant and influential Longo has been for the team. 1st in Chances created = 52 (2nd best player has 43) & 1st in Completed crosses = 120 (2nd is Lara Well with 92). So well ahead of the rest. 

Those chances have led to 5 goal assists (good enough to be 3rd equal best player) but the team goal tally is 11th of the 12 teams. A poor conversion rate. 

That conclusion won't be a surprise to anyone though. 

Just tough for Longo to be so consistently good through the season and do so much work and have teammates not at her level.

I think what you say in your last paragraph was what impressed me most. You’d never know it from watching her play if she was frustrated or annoyed. 

What a leader too. 👏

Longo Bids Emotional Farewell

I didn't want today to be all about me.

That says it all, really.

Probably my favourite Football Fern ever. What a wonderful career, I hope she heads into coaching and is as equally as good as she is/was a player. 

Definitely amongst the best if not the best in the A-league. A huge set of boots to fill. Hope its not the last we see of her at the Phoenix!

Know I'm late to this, and I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said, but thank you for everything Annalie, a true leader.

Sounds like she's left the door open for a potential Ferns farewell, sucks the CT games were cancelled, but regardless what happens, from the Ferns to the Phoenix, she will always be a NZ football legend. Still incredible Annalie was only 15 when she made her Ferns debut in 2006.

All the best with her retirement, next venture/s.

Gordinho

Definitely amongst the best if not the best in the A-league. A huge set of boots to fill. Hope its not the last we see of her at the Phoenix!

 ... technically a small set of boots ... :-)

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why does Rollo think this about Annalie

imanixsupporter

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why does Rollo think this about Annalie

There have been a lot of whispers from many in and around the club that have hinted the same thing about Longo staying on. I don't think it's quite as clear cut as putting a contract in front of her and extending though. We shall see.

I think she has got coaching ambitions. That might have something to do with it. Only guessing though.

Sounds from yesterday's article in the Christchurch Star newspaper that it's unlikely that Flea will return to play for the Nix.
She's currently back in Chch and has signed for Cashmere Technical for the South Island League campaign along with Lara Wall and Rebecca Lake (an off-season gig for the duo before returning to the Nix next A-League season).
Longo may debut for her old club Tech this weekend:
 
Article in the Star (page 18):
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70645947/the-star-july-10-2025 
 

Big Pete 65

Sounds from yesterday's article in the Christchurch Star newspaper that it's unlikely that Flea will return to play for the Nix.
She's currently back in Chch and has signed for Cashmere Technical for the South Island League campaign along with Lara Wall and Rebecca Lake (an off-season gig for the duo before returning to the Nix next A-League season).
Longo may debut for her old club Tech this weekend:
 
Article in the Star (page 18):
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70645947/the-star-july-10-2025 
 

Written by one of our forum's very own!

We can always hope.

We long for Longo

imanixsupporter

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why does Rollo think this about Annalie

On Maya Hahn - she's not coming to Wellington. Instead, she's signed for Viktoria Berlin in the 2.Bundesliga:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLIMO2JoXBl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Big Pete 65

Sounds from yesterday's article in the Christchurch Star newspaper that it's unlikely that Flea will return to play for the Nix.
She's currently back in Chch and has signed for Cashmere Technical for the South Island League campaign along with Lara Wall and Rebecca Lake (an off-season gig for the duo before returning to the Nix next A-League season).
Longo may debut for her old club Tech this weekend:
 
Article in the Star (page 18):
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70645947/the-star-july-10-2025 
 

 Posted elsewhere

Half a Pint

Big Pete 65

Sounds from yesterday's article in the Christchurch Star newspaper that it's unlikely that Flea will return to play for the Nix.
She's currently back in Chch and has signed for Cashmere Technical for the South Island League campaign along with Lara Wall and Rebecca Lake (an off-season gig for the duo before returning to the Nix next A-League season).
Longo may debut for her old club Tech this weekend:
 
Article in the Star (page 18):
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70645947/the-star-july-10-2025 
 

Written by one of our forum's very own!

Pretty good piece, if I do say so myself. I'll say this - I know as much about Flea's next steps as everyone else in this forum. Don't read anything into it.

I bumped into Annalie at my local Pak 'n Save last night here in eastern Christchurch.
Had a good little chat about how she's enjoying turning out for Cashmere Technical (made her debut last weekend and scored) and their improving form after a bit of a slump early season (won the South Island League last season)
 Annalie and the team head south to take on Roslyn Wakari this weekend. Exceptional recent results since the three Phoenix players signed, sees them go into this game with 17 goals scored in their last 2 games as part of a 3-game unbeaten run: 10-0 away at Halswell; 7-0 last weekend at home v NW United. 
                            ___________________________________
I asked her if she was going to turn out for the Phoenix this season.
Her reply was "Well...ummmm...."
Entirely non-committal either way.  
She said she will still be available for the Ferns this year, if selected.

Good on you for asking her. Is she waiting for something to happen I wonder.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Good on you for asking her. Is she waiting for something to happen I wonder.

 
Well it’s sounding increasingly likely that she’ll be at Fraser Park on August 16th…

When Bott and Longo are confirmed will they build a wheelchair ramp at Trentham?

Starwars

When Bott and Longo are confirmed will they build a wheelchair ramp at Trentham?

WTF Nothing about Fleas performance last year showed any sign of a wheelchair would be needed any time soon. Even in jest thats such a stupid statement and shows you obviously havnt seen her play in the last 12 months. 

ballane

Starwars

When Bott and Longo are confirmed will they build a wheelchair ramp at Trentham?

WTF Nothing about Fleas performance last year showed any sign of a wheelchair would be needed any time soon. Even in jest thats such a stupid statement and shows you obviously havnt seen her play in the last 12 months. 

Breathe champ. I was tongue in cheek  drawing attention to the fact that the team is transitioning from one of the youngest teams to the oldest in the ALW. 
If those 2 sign which is sounding promising they will have more 30+ players than any other team.

Seeing how Flea put another couple away for Tech today, I don’t think she’s ready for her rocking chair quite yet.

Annalies last game for the Ferns tomorrow against Australia,

thank you for your service.

Procrastinixing

Annalies last game for the Ferns tomorrow against Australia,

thank you for your service.

Yeah,thanks to her, well played, shes been great, but why wasn't she stood down a year ago?

Same as Moore, and Riley, selected well beyond their time.

Maybe a bit of the Tommy Smith effect? 

Still selected because she is still our best midfielder.

Not to mention an awesome ambassador for the game in general. I hung around after tonight’s game in Adelaide and managed to get her signature on the Flying Kiwis banner, but while I was waiting an Aussie kid asked her for her boots - and you wouldn’t believe it but Flea gave them to her.