The Western Waves Football Club were a short-lived West Australian women's soccer club that played only one season in the former Women's National Soccer League.

Western Waves FC
Full nameWestern Waves Football Club
Founded2004
Dissolved2005
GroundPerth Oval
Capacity20,500
OwnerFootball WA
ChairmanUnknown
Senior Women's
Manager
Alistair Edwards
LeagueWomen's National Soccer League
20047th (7)

History

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For the first seven years of the Women's National Soccer League the competition had been fielded by the same six clubs, with two in New South Wales and one each from Queensland, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia. It was a welcomed move when it was announced that a seventh club would be joining the competition for the 2004 season, the Western Waves from Perth, Western Australia.[1] However, due to financial constraints with the league, governing body (then Soccer Australia) and with the new club itself, they would only play 6 out of the 11 league games, ruling them out of being able to fight for a position in the finals series[2]

Nevertheless, the Waves set about trying to field the strongest squad they could with the limited resources that they could draw upon. Alistair Edwards (former Perth Glory and Socceroo player) was announced as the coach of the club.[3] On the field, the club recruited Perth local and Matilda Lisa De Vanna, as well as up and coming talented players like Collette McCallum, Hayley Crawford and Nicola Williams.[4]

The Waves' first match of the 2004 WNSL season resulted in a 2–1 defeat to Queensland Sting at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.[5] The only win of their shortened season was a 1–0 win against Canberra Eclipse,[6] with the Waves finishing the season in last place on 5 points.

2004/05 Squad

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Lisa De Vanna was a star member of the squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   AUS Ashley Bennett
3 DF   AUS Nicola Williams
5 DF   AUS Stacey Woodfin
6 MF   AUS Tal Karp
7 MF   AUS Collette McCallum
8 DF   AUS Tanya Oxtoby
9 FW   AUS Kylie Chatto
10 MF   AUS Hayley Crawford
11 FW   AUS Lisa De Vanna
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF   AUS Luciana Colangelo
13 DF   AUS Lindsey Jobling
15 MF   AUS Laura Turnbul
16 MF   AUS Nadia Poulsen
17 MF   AUS Sara Gawned
18 FW   AUS Ciara Conway
19 FW   AUS Kylie Woodhouse
20 GK   AUS Nadia Perica
21 MF   AUS Steph Grant

References

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  1. ^ "The first national women's championships". Football Australia. 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Women's league grows to seven teams". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 September 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. ^ "EDWARDS GETS HOT" (PDF). The Fame Game. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Western Waves". Northern Redbacks.
  5. ^ Esamie, Thomas. "Women's National Soccer League Round 1 Report". Oz Football. Australia Women's Soccer Association. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  6. ^ "WNSL Round 5 report". OzFootball. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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