Football Fern Ashleigh Ward says her move to full-time professional football this year will help when she’s in camp with the national side and pushing for a starting spot at left back.
The 28-year-old joined English FA Women’s Championship side Southampton in August, landing her first full-time pro contract.
She told Southampton’s YouTube channel that the chance to be a footballer “24/7” had lifted the intensity of her training and she expected that to transfer into her time with the Ferns.
Ward is in the New Zealand squad to meet Korea Republic in her former home town of Christchurch, in a two-match series in November.
READ MORE: Ferns to play two-match series on home soil in November >>>>
Ward says going full-time had one drawback — she discovered she needed something outside of football that provided the chance to refresh.
She found it by registering as a supply teacher, using her time away from football to work with children again, and using her past training as a teacher.
Here’s Ward’s interview:
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday November 12, 2022
New Zealand v Korea Republic
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 2.30pm
Game to be played on Tuesday November 15, 2022
New Zealand v Korea Republic
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 6pm
Ticket information
Adults $10, children $5.