Phoenix announce partnership with girls’ college to support female academy

The Wellington Phoenix have partnered with the city’s leading independent girls’ school to help grow the club’s burgeoning women’s academy programme.

Queen Margaret College (QMC) is now the official girls’ school of the Wellington Phoenix Academy.

The partnership means young female footballers from throughout Aotearoa will be able to develop their football skills at the academy, while continuing their education at one of the country’s leading schools.

QMC will also provide academic mentors, nutritional support, gym access and transport for its academy players.

“The partnership we have with QMC is built on a shared common interest of wanting to facilitate football greatness by focusing on providing the highest quality of coaching, with the best sports science, medical, education, and well-being support possible for our girls,” Phoenix academy technical director Paul Temple said.

“Together we are ensuring that our girls have the top transport to training and games, optimal equipment on campus, the best conditioning coaches, plus academic mentors to support learning programmes and goals at college, boarding facilities if they don’t live in Wellington, nutritional support from the school as well as financial assistance and fee discounts.

“Together we can support young kiwi footballers to be the finest players.”

Queen Margaret College principal Jayne-Ann Young says they have a similar philosophy and desire for their graduates to succeed.

“QMC is known for providing exceptional education for girls from years 1 to 13 and for our sporting success stories across multiple codes,” Young said.

“Our most recent advertising campaign features nine current students, including a Wellington Phoenix Academy player, who are following their dreams without gender stereotypes, through the subjects they study, the activities they participate in, and the careers they pursue.

“Our goal at QMC is to ensure that every young person who attends our school learns quickly that they can be whoever or whatever they aspire to be – for some that means helping them to be professional players for the top clubs both here and abroad.”