IT'S ABOUT TIME - 100 GAMES FOR GRANGE
Wednesday 25 August 2021
Words Dave Webster \ WUAFC Media
Poster : TBD Digital
"It's about time" was the comment made, probably in relief, by Francesca Grange when she was informed that her next game would be her 100th for the club.
Francesca has been with Diamonds since 2014 and was on track to make her 100th appearance a couple of seasons ago around the same time as fellow defender Asha Strom. However a series of injuries conspired to limit Francesca's game time over the last two seasons. She says the last injury, rolling her ankle just as she was coming back into the team was the toughest to deal with, but watching the team play each Saturday was the biggest motivation she needed to get back on the field. As it transpired her 100th game came in the penultimate game of the season against Palmerston North Marist. Diamonds won 3-0 and secured their fourth title in a row and their fifth in the last six seasons.
Francesca has been a key member of the Diamonds setup and success since joining in 2014. Wellington United's director of football, Guillermo Schiltenwolf, whom Francesca describes as the biggest influence on her career said "She has been one of the outstanding players in the Wellington region. I think she probably doesn't realise how special she is and what she does and has done for the team and the club. She has and continues to serve the club impeccably". He goes on to say " To coach her has been a privilege and I am humbled to have had that opportunity. Wellington United women's is great because of Diamonds like Francesca, I'm super happy she has finally reached her well deserved 100th game and I hope to see her continue and reach 200"
"An awesome team to be part of" is how Francesca describes the Diamonds, "The number of players who have been around the team for so many years now, shows we have a really special team environment and is also testament to the management and club support we have had over the years".
Francesca started playing football at the age of eight with her step-sister at Onslow Juniors. When she moved to Wellington United, Guille worked with her to help her improve, doing extra strength sessions and got her training with Kaizen academy (where Schiltenwolf also worked as a coach). This paid off in 2016 when Francesca was selected for the New Zealand U20 team and went to the Cook Islands for the Oceania group of the World Cup qualifying. The team won that tournament without conceding a goal and qualified for the U17 World Cup held in Jordan. She says the World Cup was an amazing experience getting to play against some quality teams.
It's not just in the 11-a-side game that she has excelled in. Francesca is also a Futsal Fern and has represented New Zealand in Australia, China and Kazakhstan. She has recently been selected for the latest Futsal ferns training camp and is hopeful of retaining her place in the squad.
Since returning to the team from injury, Francesca has fitted in like she had never been out of the team and has put in some excellent performances and capped off the league season scoring in the game against Seatoun, which now gives her 17 goals in 101 appearances a good start on the path towards 200 games.
Francesca Grange
Defender
Wellington United (101 games, 17 goals)
HONOURS
Central League \ W-League Champion 2016, 18, 19, 20, 21
Kelly Cup 2018,21
REPRESENTATIVE
New Zealand U20
Futsal Ferns
Capital Football
Francesca has been with Diamonds since 2014 and was on track to make her 100th appearance a couple of seasons ago around the same time as fellow defender Asha Strom. However a series of injuries conspired to limit Francesca's game time over the last two seasons. She says the last injury, rolling her ankle just as she was coming back into the team was the toughest to deal with, but watching the team play each Saturday was the biggest motivation she needed to get back on the field. As it transpired her 100th game came in the penultimate game of the season against Palmerston North Marist. Diamonds won 3-0 and secured their fourth title in a row and their fifth in the last six seasons.
Francesca has been a key member of the Diamonds setup and success since joining in 2014. Wellington United's director of football, Guillermo Schiltenwolf, whom Francesca describes as the biggest influence on her career said "She has been one of the outstanding players in the Wellington region. I think she probably doesn't realise how special she is and what she does and has done for the team and the club. She has and continues to serve the club impeccably". He goes on to say " To coach her has been a privilege and I am humbled to have had that opportunity. Wellington United women's is great because of Diamonds like Francesca, I'm super happy she has finally reached her well deserved 100th game and I hope to see her continue and reach 200"
"An awesome team to be part of" is how Francesca describes the Diamonds, "The number of players who have been around the team for so many years now, shows we have a really special team environment and is also testament to the management and club support we have had over the years".
Francesca started playing football at the age of eight with her step-sister at Onslow Juniors. When she moved to Wellington United, Guille worked with her to help her improve, doing extra strength sessions and got her training with Kaizen academy (where Schiltenwolf also worked as a coach). This paid off in 2016 when Francesca was selected for the New Zealand U20 team and went to the Cook Islands for the Oceania group of the World Cup qualifying. The team won that tournament without conceding a goal and qualified for the U17 World Cup held in Jordan. She says the World Cup was an amazing experience getting to play against some quality teams.
It's not just in the 11-a-side game that she has excelled in. Francesca is also a Futsal Fern and has represented New Zealand in Australia, China and Kazakhstan. She has recently been selected for the latest Futsal ferns training camp and is hopeful of retaining her place in the squad.
Since returning to the team from injury, Francesca has fitted in like she had never been out of the team and has put in some excellent performances and capped off the league season scoring in the game against Seatoun, which now gives her 17 goals in 101 appearances a good start on the path towards 200 games.
Francesca Grange
Defender
Wellington United (101 games, 17 goals)
HONOURS
Central League \ W-League Champion 2016, 18, 19, 20, 21
Kelly Cup 2018,21
REPRESENTATIVE
New Zealand U20
Futsal Ferns
Capital Football
