The Wellington Phoenix are pleased to announce the signing of five players from the Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP), an initiative run by New Zealand Football to bridge the gaps between domestic football and the world stage.
We’ll work with these girls over the season to help grow their abilities and give them vital A-League experience; providing them a pathway to future success either in New Zealand or overseas – it’s exciting for them and for us. – Gemma Lewis, Head Coach.
FFDP graduates Ava Pritchard, Grace Wisnewski, Kelli Brown, Mackenzie Barry and Saskia Vosper will all join the Phoenix squad for the 2021/22 A-League Women’s season in Australia.
Vosper, a 22-year-old defender, has been capped at both the U-17 and U-20 level. Last season Vosper played for Northern Lights in the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership.
Barry is a member of the bronze medal-winning side at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and played alongside Vosper for Northern Lights. The 20-year-old defender has also been capped at the U-20 level.
18-year-old forward Pritchard made her senior national league debut at 15, playing three seasons at national league level for Northern Lights and has been capped at the U-17 level.
Wisnewski, a 19-year-old forward, grew up playing football and futsal for WaiBop Football. She was a member of the bronze medal-winning side at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and scored the fastest goal in the tournament’s history when she netted against Canada in the bronze medal match after 15 seconds. She was also awarded the Golden Ball for Player of the Tournament at the 2019 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Brown is yet another member of the bronze medal-winning side at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and played alongside Wisnewski for WaiBop Football in the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership. The 20-year-old forward solidified her reputation as a goal scorer after registering 13 goals against Samoa at the 2019 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship, and scoring a goal of the tournament contender at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup against Finland.
Wellington Phoenix A-League Women’s Head Coach, Gemma Lewis, says these five young players are joining the squad to continue developing their respective games.
“Ava, Grace, Kelli, Mackenzie and Saskia are welcome additions to this inaugural squad; although they’re new to the professional football space, they all have experience at national league and age group national team level,” says Lewis.
“We’ll work with these girls over the season to help grow their abilities and give them vital A-League experience; providing them a pathway to future success either in New Zealand or overseas – it’s exciting for them and for us.”
Lewis, who managed the FFDP programme before joining the Phoenix, says that having five players join the squad from the FFDP space is a testament to its success.
“FFDP aims to develop more professional players in the women’s football space and to strengthen the pathways within New Zealand and overseas – so having five players join the Phoenix shows that the programme is definitely working.
“And having the Phoenix Women’s side in place as another pathway means that we’re able to give more opportunities to young women who are serious about football as a career.”
