Menu
Menu

Women's National Premier League NSW

Home of the Women's National Premier League NSW

Macarthur Rams commence rebuild for 2021 season

By

National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s side Macarthur Rams have begun its new rebuilding process for the 2021 season after appointing Stephen Peters as the club’s new head coach.

The 36-year-old experienced Women’s coach has held previous positions at the Blacktown Spartans and NWS Koalas will no doubt bring his invaluable knowledge in bringing back the glory days to the Rams once more.

Joining Peters will be the club’s newly appointed Reserve Grade coach Peter Nowakowski who will be responsible for pinpointing future youth talent to the senior squad.

The Rams have also made the decision to appoint Troy Spink as the club’s new Youth Technical Director where he will be able to devote his time, energy and expertise in overseeing the development and progression of all the youth teams.

The club finished in tenth position and will look towards bettering this performance for the 2021 season.

Charalambous keeping the Rams spirit alive

By

Macarthur Rams’ lethal attacker Patty Charalambous has been a shining star in what has been a tough start to the newly rebooted National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s season for the proud club.

The 25-year-old has been on fire having scored five goals thus far in what has been a pretty competitive competition as 2019 Champions Sydney University SFC continues to lead the way currently leading the league ladder.

“It was unfortunate that the season was affected by COVID-19 but this shortened season has made this year’s NPL NSW Women’s competition a lot more exciting and intense I believe.

“We only play everyone once, so every team needs to win as many games as possible to have the best chance to be in the finals.

“I think a lot of teams feel the pressure and have the mentality that there is no room for error because there is simply not enough rounds.

“Overall, all clubs have recruited very well this season to be honest, there was a lot of movement with players going to new clubs and new players coming in.

“For us, we’ve tried to focus on our football, we go out giving 110 percent and demand three-points each week.

“Goal-wise, technically I’ve scored five goals so far as one of those goals is still pending because we still have to finish the second half of the NWS Koalas match that was called off due to poor weather.”

Round six will see the Rams taking on the talented Football NSW Institute side at Valentine Sports Park, a match the W-League star hopes her side can do their thing in claiming maximum points away from home.

“This Sunday’s match will be a good one as the Football NSW Institute side have always been a fast and nippy team throughout the years so we are looking forward to it.

“We know we need to be on our game as we will be facing some talented players but hopefully we can bring the three points back to Campbelltown.”

Proud of her Cypriot heritage, Charalambous’ love for the game commenced at a young age thanks to her father Nearchos who played first team football for Cypriot giants APOEL Nicosia.

Away from the game, the pint-sized Rams star runs her own business designing and creating her own Sports and Travel bags.

“When I’m not on the pitch playing or training I am concentrating on running my own business, HB1.

“It’s something that I’ve been working on over the past year or so now.

“HB1 kicked off early this year and is succeeding so far – I’m excited to see where it can go in the future.

“Our goal is to provide footballers with our bags to change the way they travel to and from matches and training.

“Throughout my career, one thing that we as footballers always receive are football bags, each a different size, style and design. Once I started to get older and playing at higher levels, the teams I played for were required to complete a recovery program after training and games. I found myself carrying a lot more things in my club bag and sometimes even carrying an extra bag because I wanted to keep my clean clothes out and away from my boot bag, that’s where I thought why don’t I just make my own bag?

“I jumped online and did some research to see what type of bags were out in the market and started to draw mock-ups on my laptop and designed and created my little own  prototype out of cardboard and duct tape with rough measurements of what I wanted in an ultimate sports bag.

“With the help of my family, my eldest sister Sam and business partner, HB1’s first samples were created.

“We used samples in real situations at my training, games and getaways to find what was needed to be changed to make the bag better and it’s great to know things are looking positive.”

Check out Patty’s brand here and for those that have yet to register to NPL.TV, for FREE, you can do so by clicking here to view each and every NPL NSW Women’s top tier matches for the 2020 rebooted season.

Rams ready to play attractive football in 2020

By

It was a season to forget for the perennial NPL NSW Women’s powerhouse Macarthur Rams in 2019.

By some teams’ standards, finishing 6th, just outside finals football would be a successful campaign, not at Lynwood park though.

After years of trophies and accolades, Rams’ legendary coach Norm Boardman stepped aside allowing understudy and up and comer Troy Spink to lead the team into the new season.

Spink is raring to go and the former Bankstown City coach will have some rebuilding to do following the departures of some key players.

“The ladies have been working extremely hard in preseason.

We’ve lost a couple players to rival teams and other to overseas opportunities. While other are growing their families, meaning more young Rams in the future.”

One of Spink’s major aims is to provide a pathway for youngsters to the Rams first team and create a squad with a winning mentality.

“I come into the program looking for a way to provide progression for local footballers ato able to play and experience first team football in the Women’s NPL.

“We want to build an attractive brand of football not just in our senior program but right through the club.”

There’s no doubt where Spink sees his side this season but also has other expectations for the younger footballers at the club.

“We want to establish a solid platform for up and coming footballers.

“We’d love to see our team in finals football again.”

“We have experienced players along with a mix of young new players that will be given the opportunity to step up in first grade football.”

Spink’s side welcomed the Emerging Jets at home for the first game of the season on Sunday afternoon.

Major Signings: Natasha Prior (Injured for majority of 2019)

Major Departures: Elizabeth Ralston, Nikola Orgil

Up and Coming Stars: Zoe Dribbus and Ivana Galic

Player to Watch: Rachel Goldstein

By: Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

 

Round 1 Review – NPL NSW Women’s

By

What a way for the NPL Women’s NSW competition to kick off! There was plenty to see across the five live streamed games.

Football NSW Institute v Northern Tigers

It was the perfect start to the season for Leah Blayney’s side, coming away with all three points in their clash with the Northern Tigers at Valentine Sports Park.

The first goal of the game came after only eight minutes as Aideen Keane’s high press saw her disposes Servet Uzunlar and bare down on Eliza Campbell.

Her placed shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post into the path of Bryleeh Henry who placed the ball into the back of the net.

The Tigers held most of the possession and tried to create something through Uzunlar on various occasions but the Young Institute side stood firm in defence.

For the home side, they sat deep and waited for their opportunity on the counter attack and looked to threaten Campbell on the break.

It took the Tigers less than a minute in the second half to find the equaliser as Daisy Arrowsmith crossed for Maddie Bart who headed well into the back of the net.

Gallagher seems to be ‘one to watch’ from the Institute this season and she continued to create issues for the Tigers left side in the second period.

AIdeen Keane should’ve had the Institute back in front in the 67th minute after a fine pass from Gallagher, only to get her bearing all wrong and shoot wide.

But right on 70 minutes it was 2-1 for the home side.

Scarlet Thomas received the ball on the edge of the box and found the top corner, giving an outstretched Campbell no chance.

With 10 minutes to go the Tigers should’ve been level once more.

Aimee Phillips got onto the end of a neat team move, moved in on Olivia Riddel but once again the Institute defence reacted well to avert the danger.

In the 86th minute Campbell kept the Tigers in the game with a fine save.

Some fine combination play from the home side had Keane in on goal but Campbell stuck a leg out to save.

Campbell showed safe hands a minute later, this time saving from Paris Kambouris.

The away side couldn’t create one final chance to find an equaliser as the depleted Institute recorded a excellent opening day win.

FNSW Institute 2 (Henry 7’, Thomas 70’)

Northern Tigers 1 (Bart 46’)

 

NWS Koalas 5 – 0 Emerging Jets

At Christie Park the North West Sydney Koalas faced off against the Emerging Jets.

Morgan Roberts had the Koalas in front seven minutes before half time, easing Jaime Gomez’s half time team talk.

As the second half wore on, the Jets began to tire as the home side took full advantage.

First Ariella Cabezas doubled the Koalas advantage with a neat finish after a good original save by Susanna Behne-Smith in the 78th minute.

Emma Stanbury made it three in the 83rd minute before another defensive blunder allowed Sophie Harding to make it 4-0 two minutes later.

Stanbury then had her second and the Koalas fifth from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to round off a 5-0 victory.

 

Sydney Olympic 5-2 Blacktown Spartans

They may be the new girls on the block but they sent warning signs across the competition, showing they won’t be push arounds.

It didn’t take long for Olympic to find their first goal in the top tier, courtesy of Panagiota Petratos.

Susan Phonsongkham soon doubled their advantage after a fine team move.

Sarah Yatim had her first goal in the Olympic blue, extending the lead to 3-0 just before half time.

Petratos then had her second just after the break, making it 4-0 for the home side.

And she completed her hat-trick with a fine shot into the bottom corner to have the home side cruising at 5-0.

Two late goals to the Spartans made the score 5-2.

 

Manly United 1-2 Macarthur Rams

It was always going to be a big game at Cromer Park as Manly United welcomed the champions Macarthur Rams.

And they kicked off the campaign in stunning style, with Rosie Galea scoring an absolute screamer after only four minutes.

On the half hour mark though, the home side was level after Claudia Cholakian rounded off a fine team move.

Both sides pushed hard for the winner and United thought they had it but the ball crashed off the cross bar.

In typical Rams fashion, they had the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

And it was another stunning goal, this Time by Elizabeth Ralston as she found the top corner herself, an unlikely goal scorer.

 

Bankstown City 0-5 Sydney University 

Bankstown City hosted Sydney University to Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.

It took until the half hour mark for the away side to hit the front and it was after some fine skill down the left by Julia Vignes who did it all herself, scoring a fine individual goal.

Cortnee Vine continued where she left off from last season, making it 2-0 from the spot.

Just before half time Julie-Ann Russel added a third for the away side.

Mackenzie Hawkesbury had Uni 4-0 up soon after half time, following up on a rebound.

They made it five mid-way through the second period as Nikki Flannery got herself on the scoresheet.

 

Illawarra Stingrays v North Shore Mariners – 13/03/19

-By NPL Women’s NSW writer Nikola Pozder

Rollason wants to go back to back with the Rams

By

NSW’s top tier women’s competition kicks off its 2019 season this weekend and Macarthur Rams Captain Renee Rollason wants to go back-to-back, with the defending champions taking on Manly United at Cromer Park on Sunday.

This season’s Rams look slightly different to last, after losing stalwart midfielder Teresa Polias and last season’s leading goal scorer Georgia Yeoman-Dale, but they have also welcomed some exciting new faces in Canberra United’s Tash Prior and Nikola Orgill.

“Pre-season training has definitely been a hard one, as the majority of our players are coming back from their season at the W-League and have needed time to rest, which Norm (coach Norman Boardman) has allowed,” the veteran said.

“But for those of us who could, we’ve been training with the reserves to get something under our belt.”

Despite the changes in their line-up, the affectionately known ‘Rollo’ believes the Rams have got a mix of experience and young guns to take them to the top for a second season.

“For us personally, we’ve played together for several years so know each other quite well,” she said.

“We always get labelled, ‘the old girls,’ which we are, but we have all played together at high levels, which is an advantage.

“Having the likes of Rosie Galea, Sham Khamis, Liz Ralston, Nikola Orgill and Tash Prior as our youth gives us a good mix, which makes us very competitive,” she continued.

“I’m especially excited to watch Rosie, she’s come off the back of a great W-League season with Canberra United and is looking really good! She’s full of confidence, so watch this space!”

Rollason has dedicated over a decade to the game, but her work extends beyond her defensive prowess on the pitch.

“Giving back to the game is really important to me, and my role at Football NSW really enables me to do that,” she said.

“My role is ‘Game Development’ within schools. I run a futsal competition across 13 regions with over 10,000 primary and high school students in NSW,” she said.

“I am also the Assistant Coach for the under 15’s Football NSW Institute Team.”

Most would find juggling the role of career woman, mum and elite footballer difficult to master, but Rollason says the support of her club and her family makes wanting to ‘do it all’ that much more achievable.

“It’s so important to have that support from our clubs. Unfortunately, women in sport don’t get paid the same way men do, so having your club behind you makes it that little bit easier.

“Also, when you have the support both Kylie (Ledbrook) and I have from our family and friends, anything is possible and it’s an added bonus that our kids love coming to watch.

“Don’t get me wrong it’s exhausting but playing doesn’t last forever, so you need to make the most of it while you can.”

Originally from Bega, Rollason made her youth debut in 2004 when she played for the NSW Sapphires, before joining the W-League in 2008 playing for both the Central Coast Mariner and Sydney FC until 2016.

She also represented the Matildas on eight occasions and has seen some major changes over the years.

“Compared to this time ten years ago, there has been a massive improvement in the women’s game,” she said.

“A lot of work and time that is put in to the game goes unnoticed, but I personally think people like Staj (Alen Stajcic) had a huge involvement in getting it to where it is now.

“Under him, the Matildas were able to reach the highest ranking an Australian national team had ever achieved.

“The players involved now are such great models, they work so hard to promote the game and I believe that has been so important.”

As for her hopes for the future of female football, she says she wants to see more invested in the next generation.

“I hope that as time goes on, we can invest more in the younger generation to develop and improve the future of the game,” she said.

“That could lead to the women’s game becoming fully professional in Australia, with the W-League having full home and away rounds.”

As for her advice on how we, as a football community, can achieve that, it’s simple.

“Just support a team and get to the games!”

-By Liana Buratti