Women’s Football

Coastal Spirit Women’s Legacy

Coastal Spirit has a great tradition in Women’s football. There has been great success, both regionally and nationally for the team, its players and staff. Countless players have represented the Canterbury United Pride and a number have obtained scholarships to Universities in the USA. International honours are plentiful with several players winning New Zealand U17, U20 and full international caps, whist representing their country at World Cups and Olympic Games. We have also seen our players move on to play professional football throughout the world and now here at home with the Wellington Phoenix.

Coastal Spirit was formed in late 2007. The team was first coached by Rowena and Mike Fulham who were successful in winning a Women’s Premier League (WPL) title and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup double in the team’s inaugural season. The following year Gareth Turnbull took over the reins and built a team of young hungry players that went on to win 3 WPL titles and reach the NZ National Cup Final in 2011. Alana Gunn stepped up from Assistant Coach to Head Coach when Gareth departed to become NZ Women’s U17 Head Coach. ‘Gunnie’ continued to take the team forward and won the NZ National Cup in her first season in charge. After several WPL and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup successes, Gunnie was offered the Head Coaching position of Canterbury United Pride, which she accepted and continued to be successful.

Jim Small took on the coaching duties for the 2018 season, winning the WPL title and retaining the Hawkey Shield.

A new era

In 2019, Director of Football Gary Bennett went in search of a new coach, looking for someone young and vibrant who would add some longevity and help build even greater success. The search uncovered an overwhelming favourite in Guatemala International Juan Chang. Juan was brought to Christchurch to play National League football with the Canterbury United Dragons and started coaching at St Albans Shirley Football Club. Juan combined his duties as the Coastal Women’s Head Coach and St Albans Shirley’s Director of Football.

The first season brought success with another WPL title and a NZ National Cup/ Kate Sheppard Cup Final. Relationships between Juan, Gary and both clubs grew, and it was decided that in 2020 the clubs should come together in the senior women’s space to create a stronger pathway and support structure for the WPL team. Coastal Spirit St Albans Shirley FC was born. With added strength the team went on to win a WPL and Reta Cup double, with only Covid 19 getting in the way of another serious assault on the Kate Sheppard Cup, as the competition was unfortunately cancelled. The team once again retained the Hawkey Shield.

In 2021, with the team possibly at its strongest since its formation, the girls went on an incredible winning streak. Winning every game in the WPL, Reta Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup. The streak interrupted but not broken by the postponement of the Kate Sheppard semi-final due to Covid. The game was eventually played in February with the team, now missing Phoenix bound due Alyssa Whinham and Zoe McMeeken, unfortunately went down 3-1 to Hamilton Wanderers

The WPL title, Reta Fitzpatrick Cup, Hawkey Shield and MacFarlane Trophy were again retained. It was truly an amazing year.

2022 saw the Coastal Spirit St Albans Shirley connection become even stronger as both clubs agreed to combine their Girls Youth Programmes to complete the pathway from youth to senior football. The team once again dominated and retained the WPL title, Reta Fitzpatrick Cup and the Hawkey Shield whist winning the inaugural South Island Championship with a 4-1 victory over Dunedin City Royals in the final.

2022 also saw 5 players represent New Zealand at the FISU World University Futsal Championships. Rebecca Lake captained a team that included Elena Firth, Britney-Lee Nicholson, Sam Whyte and Frankie Morrow to a creditable fourth place.