1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: I've got the massive honor of sitting down today with 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: the captain of the Australian women's football team, Pat, Welcome 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: to the Female Athlete Project. 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me here. Today's beautiful. 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: What an incredible honor it is to sit down and 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: chat with you. You are one of the pioneers of 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: not just women's football, but women's sport overall. 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 3: Take us back to begin. 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: How did it come about that you were selected in 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: the Australian team and as the captain to represent our 11 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: country to travel over to the Asian Cup in nineteen 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: seventy five. 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 4: Well, in nineteen seventy four we run our first national 14 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 4: Championships in Sydney, but at that time we didn't select 15 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 4: a national team or a national coach. And then early 16 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 4: nineteen seventy five I was the Australian Women's Soccer Association secretary. 17 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 4: I received in from the Asian Ladies' Football Confederation saying 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 4: that would you like to enter an Australian team in 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,559 Speaker 4: the first Asian Cup for women and I said, well, 20 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 4: we can't. We didn't choose one, so I said leave 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 4: it with me. So I contact I was living in 22 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 4: Sydney at the time I contacted our president Oscar Matto, 23 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 4: who was living in Perth, and I said, look, you 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 4: know this is happening in August this year. We need 25 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 4: to contact all the states involved and say could you 26 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 4: put forward some girls so that we can do a 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 4: selection criteria for the Asian Cup. He came back to 28 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 4: me a little while later and he said, and nineteen 29 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 4: seventy five national championships are being held at the exact 30 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 4: same time as the Asian Cup this year in August. 31 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 4: And he said, our states believe that our national championships 32 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 4: should take priority, so they really don't want to put 33 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 4: any players forward. We would rather go to our national 34 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 4: championships in August. But if you would like to carry 35 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 4: on and organize the team to go to the Asian Cup, 36 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 4: you have the blessing of the Australian Women's Soccer Association. 37 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 4: If you go to the governing body, who were the 38 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 4: ASF at the time and get their permission. If you 39 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 4: do that, do it all correctly, we're fine, which we did. 40 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 4: We went to the ASF and told them what we 41 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 4: wanted to do. And the good thing about it was 42 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 4: nine of the girls that we took to Asia had 43 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 4: been in the champion New South Wales team of nineteen 44 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 4: seventy four won the tournament, so we had nine great 45 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 4: players there anyway, you know. So we took in four 46 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 4: more girls from different club sides to just get the 47 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 4: numbers together. Went to speak to the ASF and they 48 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 4: said terrific, great idea because they were keen to get 49 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 4: into Asia at the time for the men's side as well, 50 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 4: and we said, well, we want to get the women recognized, 51 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 4: not just here but you know, overseas anywhere. So we 52 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 4: got the team together and started raising funds because in 53 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 4: Asia there was a lovely lady, Veronica Chu, who owned 54 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 4: the League Gardens Hotel along with her husband. She was 55 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 4: president of the ALFC at the time, and she said, 56 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 4: if you girls can raise your return fairs, I will 57 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 4: do the rest. The whole floor of my hotel is 58 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 4: open to all. Paid for everything else, transport to the 59 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 4: field training fields. 60 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 2: We played in the big Hong Kong. 61 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 4: Stadium, which was brilliant, you know. She said, don't worry 62 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: about it, just organize your own fairs return faares. So 63 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 4: we got the girls together and said, look, we can 64 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 4: do this. You know this will be my of this, 65 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 4: so of course you start, you know on the raffles 66 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 4: and the Lamington's and the walker thumbs and his soccer 67 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 4: thums and cleaning cars, you name it. Whatever we could 68 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 4: think of, we did. And you know, the girls are 69 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 4: hanging in the money and we've got a little account 70 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 4: and it keeps building up. And we got there, you know, 71 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 4: we got the money together and eye contact tod Asria 72 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 4: and said we're coming. Australia is on the way. You know, 73 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 4: it's amazing for something at that time just was brilliant, 74 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 4: So off we went. 75 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so you've had to do put in so 76 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: much effort to not only organize the players and apply 77 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: and organize accommodation and fundraise for your return flights. How 78 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: does it feel now getting to watch the Matilda's play 79 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: in front of seventy five thousand people. 80 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 4: Well, when we were in Hong Kong, they really did 81 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 4: just proud. At that time, it's very it was still 82 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 4: under British rule, as they say, and we were transported 83 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 4: to the games. People everywhere, soldiers as we got off 84 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 4: the bus, holding these people back so that we could 85 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 4: walk into the stadium. And you know, we felt so good. 86 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 4: This is fantastic. We never had anything like this before. 87 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 4: So all of this was you know, it took us 88 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 4: by surprise, but we just took it in our stride 89 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 4: and we said, well, you know, we haven't had anything 90 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 4: like this before. 91 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: We don't know if we're ever going to get anything 92 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: like this again. 93 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 4: Come on, girls, enjoy it, do your best and be 94 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 4: proud to wear the green and gold because we were 95 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 4: allowed to wear the official green and gold uniform and 96 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 4: to be called Australia and that meant a lot to us, 97 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 4: absolutely the tops. So we went there, we played well. 98 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 4: Unfortunately we didn't win, but we gave it our all. 99 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 4: We came back and that was it for forty eight 100 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 4: years nothing and now this fantastic Puma company. 101 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: Honestly, I can't thank them enough. 102 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 4: Pancho is my hero, and James Ward and Birstie, the 103 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 4: girls there, the crew magnificent. I mean, it's just a 104 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 4: do income true for us for them to come to 105 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 4: us and say we recognize the hard work you put in, 106 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 4: and that to us means an awful lot. But we 107 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 4: were doing it okay. We enjoyed it ourselves. We had 108 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 4: a great time. We enjoyed playing in front of more 109 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 4: people than we'd ever played a few thousand women there. 110 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 2: That was big for us. But my husband Joe was. 111 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 4: The coach, passed away unfortunately two years ago. 112 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 2: But we could see a future. 113 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 4: We started a little competition in nineteen sixty seven four 114 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 4: teams and two were from the same club. People were 115 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 4: coming to us and saying, you're crazy, it's not going 116 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 4: to work. It's not going We say, look, have faith, 117 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 4: it'll work. It'll work. Women need to be able to 118 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: play this sport. You know, women and girls would love it. 119 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 4: We enjoy it, and look what happened. We gradually built up. 120 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 4: We organized our first metropolitan Ladies' Soccer Association in the 121 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 4: Sydney area. We went on in nineteen seventy four and 122 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 4: organized the new South Wales State organization. Then in nineteen 123 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: seventy four we ran our first championships and we organized 124 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 4: the Australian Women's Soccer Association there in nineteen seventy four. 125 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 4: And you can see it building. You know, we're just 126 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 4: saying to ourselves it's happening. It's slow, it's taken years, 127 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 4: but we won't give up. 128 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: It's happening. 129 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 4: And then last night the atmosphere, I mean what an 130 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,559 Speaker 4: atmosphere seventy five thousand people in this stadium. I believe 131 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 4: it was just about sold out. And our team run 132 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 4: out onto the field. Everybody stands up, the cheers, the 133 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 4: uzzy uzzy. 134 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 3: Response. Yeah you know, And. 135 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: I mean for our girls. 136 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 4: You know, we're all saying, wish she brosh. 137 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: You can't have everything. 138 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 4: You know what we started and worked hard for. 139 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: Look at it now and we're proud. 140 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 3: You know. 141 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 2: I am so so happy. 142 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 4: And for these young girls that we're here today, I 143 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,479 Speaker 4: keep saying to them, and I get so excited for them. 144 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 4: And I said, look, companies like Puma, they're organizing gear 145 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 4: that you're going to keep, you're going to put on 146 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 4: and feel so good in, you know, And that to 147 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 4: me is so it's beautiful. You out onto the field, 148 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 4: you feel good because you look good, You're comfortable, The 149 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 4: balls are perfect, the pitch is perfect. Go and take it. 150 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 4: You know, this is what we tried to build up. 151 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 4: Take it, Grasp it with both hands. Work hard, train hard, 152 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 4: and you could be in the Matilda's uniform out there 153 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 4: in a year or two. Is time you can do it. 154 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 4: It's a women's sport. Now you look at the Matilda's girls, 155 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 4: they're all playing most of them overseas in different teams. 156 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,359 Speaker 2: You can do it, you know. And I think these. 157 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,319 Speaker 4: Girls, I was sort of trying to look at one 158 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 4: or two of them and I thought, they're thinking about it, 159 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 4: and that's what we want, exactly, get them on the 160 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 4: journey because it's all there for them. And I'm really 161 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 4: excited for them because, as I said before, there's nothing 162 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 4: there to stop them. 163 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 2: They can go as far as they want to go. 164 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: There's no ceiling anymore. 165 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: There's no ceiling anymore. They can do it. 166 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: A lot of Australian fans' hearts were in their throats 167 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: last night when they learned the news about Sam Kerr's injury. 168 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: I believe you thought you might actually get the call up. 169 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: There you go with the characterizer. 170 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 4: Someone said to me, some curs injured, and I thought, well, 171 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 4: I've got number ten. 172 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: I'm a striker. You never know. 173 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 4: Unfortunately, they didn't come and knock on the hotel door. 174 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: So okay, that's fine. 175 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: I think next week's game they just lost your number. 176 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 4: Well, I think, yeah, yeah, they were looking for my 177 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 4: number and they got one of the other girls numbers instead. 178 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 4: I mean, unfair, but you got to go with the 179 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 4: avenue you absolutely have to. 180 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: I just wanted to say, Pat, I now get to 181 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: play as a professional athlete. I play AFLW, and I 182 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: really wanted to say thank you for what all of 183 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: you did in paving way. You put in so much 184 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: hard work and didn't get recognized, But I wanted to 185 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: say thank you for what you've done for this current 186 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: generation the generations to come that we'll get to benefit 187 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: off the work and the sacrifice of your incredible women. 188 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 3: So thank you. 189 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 2: You're so kind, Thank you, and I'll give you a 190 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 2: I love it. 191 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 4: I love it. 192 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having a chat with us. 193 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: Very pleasure. 194 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening. 195 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: If you got something out of this episode, I would 196 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: absolutely love it if you could send it on to 197 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: one person who you think might enjoy it. Otherwise, subscribe, 198 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: give us a review, and make sure you follow us 199 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: on Instagram at the Female Athlete Project. 200 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 3: To stay up to date with podcast 201 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: Episodes, merch drops, and of course, news and stories about 202 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: epic female athletes.