Diamonds

Wellington United Diamonds
Women's Central League

The Wellington United Women's First team continues to get stronger and grow from season to season and we look forward to continuing this trend in 2016!

Under the fantastic guidance of Guillermo Schiltenwolf; we strive to play attractive, attacking and uncompromising football. No player is above the team; we are a family who work hard for the players around us. Every season under Guille's watch we have grown stronger and stronger gaining more and more wins and more and more points on the board. After just being pipped at the post in 2015, we are aiming for top honours in 2016.

Netherlands Initiative:
In 2011 with the help of Club President John Dow we set up an international initiative with one of Wellington United's founding countries - the Netherlands. We set a target to bring top female players to New Zealand to help develop and grow our players. Through fantastic club stalwarts Guillermo Schiltenwolf, Ken Allen, Anthony Mumby and Sandy Cumpstone as well as continued support from John Dow, we have been able to continue this initiative.

Through this venture we have had the honour of hosting some excellent Dutch players at Wellington United:
2011 - Mariska Kogelman (PEC Zwolle)
2012 - Artemis Bueren (FC Twente)
2013 - Priscilla de Vos (Telstar VVNH)
2014 - Marianne van Brummelen (PEC Zwolle)
2015 - Jorie Schepers and Jolijn Heuvels (PEC Zwolle)

In 2015 we were very excited to be able send two of our Diamond players to the Netherlands for the very first time. They were able to train and play with PEC Zwolle for just under two months (and of course catch up with Ryan Thomas)! This was a fantastic experience for them both and we look forward further strengthening our relationship with PEC Zwolle in 2016 :)

2015 Summary:
Our Women's Central League team the Diamonds had our best season on record. It's scary (in a fantastic way) when you know how young some of them are! This year we achieved our highest placing to date - making us the second best team in the lower North Island... and so close to that top spot! We twice beat the eventual winners Seatoun during the season, unfortunately unable to beat them in our final match to take the title on a typically bogged down Seatoun Park (we LOVE Newtown Park!).

We made the quarterfinals of the NZ Knockout Cup before losing to Massey. We exacted revenge two weeks later by all but ending their Central League hopes.

We hosted the lovely Jorie Schepers and Jolijn Heuvels from PEC Zwolle in our team this season, with Michaela Robertson and Jayme-Lee Hunter catching up with them over in the Netherlands!

We had a huge number of girls named in the Wellington Women's Squad which was great to see; Hope Gilchrist, Francesca Grange, Kenzy Cooper, Ella Wilson, Serena Murrihy, Michaela Robertson, Jayme-lee Hunter, Asha Strom, and Jemma Robertson.

A number of our girls were also invited to attend New Zealand Trials/Camps this year:
New Zealand U17 Camp/Trial - Ella Wilson, Serena Murrihy, Francesca Grange
New Zealand U20 Camp/Trial - Emma Fullbrook, Michaela Robertson and Jayme-Lee Hunter.

Special mention to both Michaela Robertson and Francesca Grange who made the New Zealand U20 and New Zealand U17 Teams respectively. They both travelled overseas to take part in the OFC World Cup Qualifiers. With successful campaigns we look forward to seeing how many of our girls can claim a spot in each team in the World Cup Year!

A huge thank you to Guille who is instrumental to the continued growth and success of this team. Bring on 2016!

Also many thanks to all those who have assisted the Diamonds throughout the season, your support is invaluable; Ken Allen, Henry Tait, John Dow, Anthony Mumby, Mel Gill, Karyn Meade and the Committee, John and Evan from the Carillion Club, Ernie Merrick, Wayne Eichler and the ball kids, the women's side of the club and the best sideline supporters the Elite!

In a broader sense the women's side of the club now also has an established pathway from junior football through to senior football - and importantly this is an internal one.

We have a girls only team, the Nokouts, who play in the 14th Grade mixed league (we believe we are the first ever club to do this!). Then we have our U19 Squad who we take annually to Christchurch! Then we have two very competitive women's teams in both the Diamonds and the Sapphires (both runners up in 2015, with the Sapphires playing and beating a number of 1st teams!). The future is certainly shining brightly for our women and we look forward to seeing what 2016 holds!

2015 WU Diamonds
Runners Up in the Women's Central League
Quarterfinalists in the NZ Women's Knockout Cup

Guillermo Schiltenwolf
Wellington United Women's Central League Coach (2011 - Present)

New Zealand Representatives!
Michaela Robertson and Francesca Grange in action for the New Zealand U20 and New Zealand U17 teams in 2015! Number 15 must be a pretty special number :D