Promising Young Matildas star striker Kyra Cooney-Cross has become the latest high profile recruit to sign for a National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s side with the Blacktown Spartans winning the race in snapping up the 18-year-old.
After a successful W-League season with the Western Sydney Wanderers, Cooney-Cross was on the hunt for keeping match fit ensuring her development continued with the Spartans recruiting the Queensland born star.
“A few people had mentioned the club to me about how great it is, their good coaching staff and having a good bunch of girls – I saw they did well in the 2019 Women’s NPL competition and jumped at the chance.
“The Women’s NPL is a high-quality competition for girls in NSW, it’s also a league where your noticed by W-League coaches too.
“It’s a league where players can express themselves, have fun and enjoy the game in a competitive environment – these were the other reasons for joining the Spartans.”
With restrictions slowly easing post COVID-19 football lockdown that took place in March, training sessions only have commenced with the hope that senior competitions were next on the list allowing players such as Cooney-Cross to recommence her journey.
“I am obviously very excited for Football to slowly be coming back.
“I’ve enjoyed the time having a break as we don’t get it very often and I think it was good for a lot of the players to have this time off so that we’ll all be back fresh and ready to go.
“I personally can’t wait to be back on the pitch and being with a new team environment enjoying football again.”
The former Wanderer was fortunate that during the COVID-19 self-isolation period she had the help of a specialised Matildas program that kept her fit and raring to go along with landing herself a job.
“That’s right. during COVID-19 restrictions I was lucky enough to be involved with the Matildas and future Matilda’s programs we had which I did daily, keeping up my fitness levels and sharpening up my ball technique.
“I also got a job and started working daily for the first time that kept me busy.”
The move to the Western Sydney Wanderers from the Melbourne Victory last year worked wonders as the ace striker really enjoyed her football which led to her side playing finals football during the 2020 W-League season.
“The move to the Western Sydney Wanderers worked out great for me.
“When I initially signed they had new training facilities as well as coaching staff who were really supportive and helpful.
“The girls were amazing, we all got along really well, they made me feel so welcome and comfortable straight away which helped me to perform at my best.”
One things for certain, the lure of Cooney-Cross, a rising female footballer to our NPL Women’s competition is a huge move and something she hopes will spearhead her to more successes in the not too distant future.
“Hopefully in the coming years I get the opportunity to play overseas with some of the best players and experience being with the Matildas squad, until then I will do my best here in Australia and with the Spartans.”
Along with Cooney-Cross, former Wanderer, Canberra United and Macarthur Rams ace Rosie Galea also penned a deal with the Spartans further bolstering Stephen Peters’ squad.
Happy Little Spartans: Kyra Cooney-Cross (left) shown with Rosie Galea with their new kits