(DEC) Rosie White Impresses at Nationals
Young Springs striker Rosie White has certainly made a good impression at the Perry Foundation NZ National Tournament. Rosie who is still U13 was representing Soccer2 (Auckland) U16 Girls in Napier and capped off a good week by being named joint top goalscorer of the tournament with 4 goals in 6 games. Rosie netted a double against United1 (North Harbour) and another barce against Soccersouth (Dunedin/Invercargill) Rosie also won the teams MVP award voted for by the coaches. It caps off a great season for the youngster who earlier in September become New Zealand's youngest ever player to play in the National Knockout Cup Final. Other Springs players Danielle McFadyen, Nikau Hindin, Chelsey Wood, Bella Bramwell and Holly Jones helped Soccer2 finish second place in the tournament with an un-beaten record of three wins and three draws.


(SEPT) New Zealand U18 NWL Squad
The National Women's League is nearly upon us and for the second year in a row and team representing New Zealand Soccer will take part in the competition. This time last year NZS fielded a U19 Team in preparation for the FIFA U20 World Cup which took place last month. For this years competition NZ U20 Coach John Herdman has selected an U18 Team which will begin preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2008. Western Springs have four representatives named in the squad. Bianca Mori and Helen Collins both return from this years U20 squad while there are two newcomers to the scene, striker Leah Tagaloa and full back Poppy Binning (pictured). All four players will be hoping to stake an early claim for the U20s Team in two years time. Tagaloa and Binning have both had very good seasons with the Premier Team while Binning has also been called up for the NZ Schoolgirls Team and NZ U17 Team this year.


(SEPT) Soccer2 U16 Girls Reps
Soccer2 (Auckland Manukau Soccer) have named twenty four players for their centre of excellence which begins in early October. From the centre of excellence eighteen players will then be chosen to represent Soccer2 at the NZS National ID Tournament in Napier during December. There are a total of seven springs players selected in the centre of excellence. Alex Cooper (Mid) has been chosen from the successful U17 Team while Danielle McFadyen (GK), Nikau Hindin (Def), Chelsey Wood (Mid), Bella Bramwell (Mid), Holly Jones (Fwd) & Rosie White (Fwd) all featured for the Premier Team this season. The Soccer2 U16 Girls Team will be coached by Paul Temple, there will also be assistance from NZ International Maia Jackman and Clive Herbert. For more details on the squad please contact Soccer2 or visit www.soccer2.org.nz.


(JULY) New Zealand U15 Girls Reps
Youngters Nikau Hindin and Danielle McFadyen are on their way to Canberra in September with the New Zealand U15 Girls Team. New Zealand Soccer are taking a 30 player development squad to the Australian capital to play games against tough state opposition. The large pool of players were selected by NZS selectors at the 2005 National ID Tournament. These girls have been training hard at North Harbour every Friday night since the middle of the year and now they get their first International experience. Nikau and Danielle both 15 have made a handful of appearances for the Premier Team this season and this tour will help continue their development. The ultimate aim of the Canberra trip is to view the players in light of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in 2008.


(JULY) New Zealand Secondary Schoolgirls Reps
The New Zealand Secondary Schoolgirls Team has been named for 2006 with the team playing three test matches against Australia Schoolgirls in Brisbane during January. There will also be two warm up matches against Queensland state teams. Western Springs are well represented in the squad. Poppy Binning, Hannah Valentine, Sarah Nelson, Annabelle Bramwell and Helen Collins have all been named in the final squad. Holly Jones and Jessie Verdon have also been named as non-travelling reserves for the tour. The schoolgirl honours are a real indication of the young talent within our Premier Squad and the club would like to congratulate all the girls on their selection for the this team. The tour leaves Auckland on 12th January returning on the 21st with the tests matches played on 16th,18th & 20th January.


(AUG) Rosie White Wins Top Junior Award
Rosie White has won the Western Springs AFC Junior/Youth Female Player of the Year Award beating off competition from girls through all age groups ranging from 10-17. Rosie has made a rapid rise to the top level becoming the youngest ever player to appear in the SWANZ Cup Final at just 13 years and 80 days old. Rosie known as 'Bambi' has been part of the Premier Women's Squad for the whole season and earlier in the year made her debut in the Northern Premier League at 12 years and 345 days . The talented striker has made a real impact on Senior football but has also played for the club's U17 Team for the whole year too. Bambi has scored three senior goals at the top level this season including a double strike in our first round SWANZ Cup game. Rosie has also been included in the NZ U17 Developement Squad that trains once a week at North Harbour Stadium.


(JUNE) New Zealand U20 World Cup Reps
Western Springs had two players who travelled with the New Zealand U20s Team to the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Russia. GK Bianca Mori and striker Helen Collins (pictured) were selected in a 21 player squad for the finals were they played three group games against Australia, Brazil and the hosts Russia. New Zealand finished 16th place from 20 Teams after losing to Australia 3-0, Russia 3-2 and getting a 1-1 draw with Brazil. The draw against the samba nation represents one of the New Zealand best ever results on the world stage as is the first point won at a major finals since the Womens World Cup in 1991. Bianca Mori was an un-used substitute in all three groups games while Helen Collins made two appearances from the bench against Australia and Brazil. The two really enjoyed the amazing experience and are both still eligible to take part in the next U20 World Cup in 2008.


(JUNE) New Zealand U17 Girls Reps
New Zealand Soccer sent a team of U17 Girls over to Coffs Harbour, Australia to compete in the Australian Qantas National Youth Championships. The NZ Team replaced Northern Territory who were unable to field a team in the event. Springs were well represented on the tour. Poppy Binning & Annabelle Bramwell (pictured) were joined by Hannah Valentine, Katherine Robinson and Holly Jones. All five were named in the final squad. The team enjoyed wins against Tasmania 6-0 and Western Australia 6-1. All five Springs girls played in all of the five fixtures throughout the week. Hannah Valentine was also named captain of the travelling team. The squad was selected through player monitoring at the National ID Tournament in December 2005 and the tour is seen as an opportunity for the girls to stake an early claim for a position in the 2008 NZ U20 World Cup Squad.