Lizzie is a stalwart of the football community in the Tairawhiti region, a player, coach, referee and a former employee of Central Football.

After many successful years as a player with Gisborne Thistle, in which Lizzie picked up a number of ‘Player of the Year’ awards along with handful of winner’s medals, she made the move to Riverina AFC, a team she helped to set up as well as coach and play for.

More recently, Lizzie has been coaching and playing at Wainui SC, picking up more league and cup medals and building, arguably, the current strongest female team in the district.

Lizzie has coached in junior, youth, representative and National age group football and many young players, particularly female players, have fond memories of their time working with her. 

A passionate promoter of pathways for female players in the region, Lizzie also goes to great lengths to support the talented young players in the district, patiently bringing young players into her team and taking time to transport and support players at National Women’s and Youth league trials. 

A strong and visible component of the football community, Lizzie can still be found playing, coaching, refereeing and supporting local teams every weekend and is still highly active in the drive to improve women’s football in Tairawhiti.

We caught up with Lizzie to find out abit more about her journey…

When Did your football Journey begin, and what inspired you to play.?

My football journey began in the backyard with my older brother and his mates. He's four years older than me, so I had to work hard to keep up. Then, when I was in primary school, I joined my first team. It was a mixed team, with a few girls who were just as passionate about the game. They decided to put us all together to take on the boys' teams. Our coach, Kevin Fallon, was a fantastic mentor, and his daughter Bianca was on our team too.

Later on, I switched schools and had my sights set on playing for the boys' rugby team. Unfortunately, they didn't allow girls to play at that time. However, one of my teachers approached me and asked if I wanted to join the school's football team.

And that’s how it all started….

I had several influences including my brother and his friends. Gisborne City was a thriving football club that boasted numerous New Zealand players over the years. Whenever I went to watch their matches, the bank and grandstand were always filled with enthusiastic spectators. Meanwhile, us kids would be having a blast playing on the adjacent field. We would take breaks from our own game to catch glimpses of their matches, and then quickly return to our own fun.

Could you share some of the Roles you've taken on as part of your football pathway?

Poverty Bay U19’s team

Poverty Bay Women's team

Moved to Hawke’s Bay for school

Hawke's Bay rep team, played in the U17’s Tournament 

Central  League in Wellington for Wellington Marist 

National women's League for Central Football

Fed Cup Winners - Team Tairawhiti

Worked for Central Football as the Women's Development Officer

Coaching:

Local women's teams 

FTC Girls from U10’s -U16/U18

FTC Boys U16

Coaches National Age Group girls teams alongside Aleesha Heywood.

What challenges have you faced in your football journey?

Well, for starters, being the only girl in a boys' team was quite a hurdle to overcome. It was tough not having any female teammates to relate to or look up to. Another challenge was the lack of awareness about the existence of a women's league until I reached high school. I had no idea that there was a platform specifically for female players to showcase their skills and compete. Additionally, I never really had proper coaching throughout my journey. It was a bit disheartening not having someone to guide me and help me improve my game. Lastly, coming from a small place like Gisborne posed its own set of challenges. Limited resources, fewer opportunities, and less exposure made it harder to pursue my football dreams. Despite these obstacles, I've managed to push through and continue my football journey with determination and passion.

What advice would you give girls/women looking to progress to lead roles in Football?

Always be willing to learn, back yourself, work hard and never give up. Doors will close, others will open.

Make connections, keep up with the game around the world, remember your roots and always be the best version of you! 

What are your proudest achievements or favourite memories along the way ?

I have a few that really stand out to me.

First, I'll never forget when I moved to Wellington and had the opportunity to play in the Central League. It was such an exciting experience, and I felt proud to be a part of such a competitive team.

Another achievement that I hold dear is making it onto the national women's team after having my fourth child. It was a challenging journey, but I worked hard to get back out there and showcase my skills.

Lastly, winning the Fed Cup with Team Tairawhiti. We competed in the competition for three years, and each year brought new challenges and triumphs. The feeling of lifting that trophy with my teammates was incredible.

What part of the game brings you the most enjoyment?

Witnessing the accomplishments of my own children, as well as the boys and girls I have coached, as they progress on their football journey.

What's next for Lizzie Hall in the footballing world?

From a player's perspective, I'm really excited about attending the Bruce McDonald Memorial Master Tournaments held in Hawke's Bay this November. In the coming years, my goal is to advance in my coach accreditations and enjoy every step of the journey.

Article added: Friday 04 August 2023