Preparations are already underway for next season’s women’s programme at Hibiscus Coast where Asher Trotter has been re-signed as the club’s head of women’s football.
Trotter, who is also head coach of Coast’s Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League side, has been with the club since 2019, leading the club to four trophy successes, promotion and a win at the national U-19 women’s tournament in Napier.
Main photo: Asher Trotter … preparing for another season at Hibiscus Coast. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Nathan Cranney, Technical Director of Football, told the club’s social media followers:
“We are delighted to continue the journey Asher began with us in 2018 and are ready to start an exciting new chapter for women’s football on the Coast.
“Over Asher’s time with us, our programme has gone from strength to strength. We have been promoted into the NRFL Premiership and retained that position for 2024.
“We have become U-19 national champions and have made huge developments in our junior and youth pathways for 2024 under Asher’s guidance.
“Asher has worked tirelessly to develop a high-performing, supportive environment on and off the pitch, and we are so excited to continue this process as we work towards our goal of becoming a leading pathway of women’s football in New Zealand and our aspiration in becoming Women’s National League contenders.”
Trotter also leads the Māori Football Wāhine (senior women) national programme, has supported NRF on various female advisory committees, and is also supporting with mentoring future coaches as an OFC/NZF educator.
Trotter said: “I’m incredibly passionate about the programme we’ve built and continue to grow, and am excited to see what the next evolution looks like.
“We’re doing things the right way, making players better and developing our talent, which is the most rewarding part of all of the mahi we have put in to this kaupapa over the years.
“2023 was obviously a new challenge point for our programme, the vast majority of our players did not have Premier League experience. But that’s the beauty of our programme — we believe in developing our talent and turning them into athletes that can compete at this level.
“Over the course of the season our entire squad — both firsts and reserves — stuck together and kept working hard, and our second half-season results told that story of real growth and improvement.
“Finishing the season only a few points shy of National League, combined with our reserves firmly in the top four, and then earning national champions in a really competitive Ur-19’s campaign — we have some super positive momentum and belief heading into next season.”
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