Why the ‘Matildas effect’ plays out differently in a small country town
November 21, 2023

It’s a few months until the next football season gets underway and Sophie Edwards is wasting no time.

The 16-year-old has her sights set on playing with an elite team in Newcastle next year, so she gets to training early to squeeze in some extra practice with her dad.

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“It’s just a big dream of mine,” she says.

“I want to really play for my country — that’s also my next big dream.”

Sophie is from the Upper Hunter in New South Wales, and she’s sharpening her skills with her local team, the Muswellbrook Eagles, over summer.

She commutes to Newcastle three times a week for training and trials, spending more than three hours in the car each time.

Two soccer players practice dribbling.

Muswellbrook has a crop of talented young female footballers coming through.(ABC Upper Hunter: Bindi Bryce)

“I absolutely love it. I get to socialise with my dad,” she says.

“I normally just have fun while I’m there. I live in the moment.

“I just want to put a smile on my face and my parents’ faces.”

Money is a factor

Sophie’s dad Greg Edwards believes high-level coaching in Newcastle is paying off.

“I’m a proud parent,” he says.

“I basically said ‘I’m willing to take you wherever you want to go as long as you put the effort in’.”

It takes a lot of time, and money, to support Sophie’s development into an elite player.

“Her rego fees last year were around $1,500. That was just for her training gear and playing gear,” Mr Edwards says.

“And that’s without me driving.

“I’m lucky I have a job that pays well. If I was in a job that didn’t pay as well, we probably wouldn’t be taking these opportunities.”

A soccer coach teaching his players.

Douglas Thomson put his hand up to coach for the first time this year.(ABC Upper Hunter: Bindi Bryce)

A women’s team comeback

The Muswellbrook Eagles are one of many clubs seeing the ripple effect of the Matildas’ incredible feats at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“I went to a lot of those games, it was really cool,” new coach Douglas Thomson says.

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Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-22/muswellbrook-eagles-soccer-team-boosted-by-matildas-win/103113732

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