“Courtney! Courtney! I love you Courtney!”
Young girls were bent over the fence, beckoning superstar Matilda and Leicester City defender Courtney Nevin over to sign their jerseys.
Coming off a 5-2 win against West Ham at HBF Park in Perth, the 22-year-old must have been feeling generous. Because in a heart-warming post-match moment, Courtney Nevin took off her boots, signed them, and gave them to a young fan.
The girl was overwhelmed, sobbing into her hands in disbelief.
This is the power of sport and the power of women athletes role modelling for the next generation. Who knows, in 10 years’ time, that young girl might gift a pair of her own signed boots to a fan herself.
It’s been a historic week for women’s football after Perth hosted the inaugural Perth International Football Cup, which saw some of the biggest names in football head Down Under to compete.
Among them were Australia’s own Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler for Manchester City, Katrina Gorry for West Ham and Courtney Nevin for Leicester City.
In the grand final match on Sunday evening, Manchester City were defeated in a nail-biting contest, losing to Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.
The crowd of 15,000 were going crazy for our Matildas, showing just how strong women’s sport is in this country.
It’s the first time these teams have travelled to Australia to play. Rachel Carroll, the managing director at TEG Sports and Experiences, said the tournament will only help grow the game more.
“We’re making history here today,” Carroll said. “This is the first time these four international world class football teams have come to Australia – four of them all in one city, all in one time, a plethora of talent.”
It’s also the first time a professional game like this has been streamed on TikTok Live via Optus Sport, who broadcast the tournament.
“We are giving every Australian access to this content, and that is how we grow the game for women,” Carroll said.
Rita Saffioti, the Deputy Premier of WA and Minister for Tourism, was thrilled to have hosted the landmark football tournament.
“This has been an exciting week. How can I describe it?” the Deputy Premier said.
“It’s been an incredible time seeing four incredible teams here in Perth – global superstars engaging with the community and presenting to the public just what world class football is all about.”
The Western Australian government has recently invested in women’s sport, including the $2.4 million Legacy Grants for Women’s National Premier League Clubs, renaming the State Football Centre to the Sam Kerr Football Centre, and supporting the Perth International Football Cup.
Deputy Premier Saffioti said having events like this is important for the next generation of Australian sportspeople.
“I think it’s been an incredible time for young girls and boys to be able to see these international superstars,” Saffioti said.
Melissa “Bubs” Barbieri, former Matildas captain and goalkeeper, was at the Perth International Cup as an ambassador for the tournament’s commercial partner, Ninja.
“It’s really my first time that I’ve been able to be immersed into the community outside of a football game – usually I’m playing,” Bubs told Women’s Agenda last week.
“It’s an opportunity for me to give back to the football community that has supported us over the many, many years that we’ve been playing.”
More and more people, companies and governments are investing time, support and, perhaps most importantly, their money into women’s sport.
“We know that the product is there,” Barbieri said, “but it’s that endorsement, it’s that backing that really keeps it at the forefront of people’s minds in terms of marketing.”