Sport
14 January, 2024
Best of 2023: Women’s soccer fever with Gil girls representing
In 2023 women's national soccer success inspired locals
First published in August 2023.
Nine-year-olds Katie Colwell and Regan Godber play for the Dubbo Devils Football Association and tried out for the team to play in the prestigious Kanga Cup.
After making the under 10s Dubbo Devils team, the girls went on to win the 2023 Kanga Cup Plates Championship. The team played so well - they even beat a young Matilda’s development squad in the grand final.
The Kanga Cup was held in Canberra during the school holidays and is a week-long event. The Dubbo Devils played six games over their six days, and were thrilled with their effort, much to their parents’ surprise.
“Given that they were a newly formed team and had limited time together, we were saying early on that no matter what it’ll be a great experience. We were worried it was going to be a bit defeating – if they were getting hammered by all these teams,” said mum of Regan, Katie Godber.
“The other teams probably had a lot more training and preparation than what we had given the girls - because they come from Dubbo, Narromine, and Gilgandra, they only got together once a week for an hour.”
After flying through the first five games, the grand final was against a team from Linfield, Sydney. Mrs Godber said it was a tight match, but ultimately the Dubbo girls came out on top.
“Thank goodness we’ve got a wonderful keeper, because there was a dot shot, like a penalty within the box, and our keeper saved it,” she said. “And then, we went on to get a goal, and we won 1-nil.”
The coach, parents, and the whole team were over the moon with their win, especially considering the limited practice they had.
“It was bewildering for all of the parents, let alone the players. It was pretty amazing feat for them, especially given that these other teams, some of them were training three hours, multiple times a week,” Mrs Godber said.
“We were pretty amazed and astonished. Very, very, proud of all of the girls.”
Regan Godber was given the opportunity to say the players’ oath at the beginning of the cup. She read it while on stage by herself, in front of thousands of people.
“I was shaking when I got up there,” Regan said.
“Mum said that I would be up there with lots of people, but it turned out I was the only one up there. So, I was pretty nervous.”
Further to Gilgandra’s representation success in the Kanga Cup, local Rhyan Hutchison was a referee throughout the week, and even refereed the under 14 girls’ grand final match.
The Dubbo Devils also had teams represented in the Country Cup, held during the school holidays. Once again, two Gilgandra locals made their town proud with their sportsmanship and talent, as they both made their respective representative teams.
Heidi Colwell played for the U12s, and Jacqueline Hutchison played up in the U16s team. This year the country cup was held in Forbes.
Gilgandra’s Heidi Colwell and Regan Godber were part of a Dubbo soccer team that recently won the 2023 Kanga Cup Plates Championship. Photo supplied.
