Emma Main

#20 EMMA MAIN – DOB 19/10/99

> History

Main was Paul Temple’s first signing after taking over as head coach.

The forward trained with the Phoenix women throughout the 2022-23 A-League season and joined the squad as an injury replacement for the final three games of their campaign.

A Wellingtonian, she played all of her junior football for Upper Hutt City.

Main represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan in 2016 before attending the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 2019.

Unfortunately, injuries cut short her time in the U.S. and forced her out of football for a year.

Main returned in 2021 with Wellington United, whom she helped secure the Kate Sheppard Cup. She was named the winner of the Maia Jackman Trophy as the most valuable player in the final in March 2022.

She joined the academy shortly, playing with the women’s team, coached by Temple, on Wednesday nights and training with boys teams.

“It’s been a really important part of my growth as a player,” Main said. “The boys are strong, quick and fast so it really makes you have to think quicker and hold your own in an environment like that.”

> 2022-23 season

Emma Main was named as a Phoenix training partner for the 2022-23 A-League.

“That was awesome to get the opportunity to train with the girls and get a taste for what it would be like if I was in the team,” Main said.

“My training regime didn’t differ much from the squad members, I just didn’t go away with the team.”

She was called up to the first team as an injury replacement in late March 2023 and seized her opportunity.

Main made her club debut as a substitute in the Phoenix’s rescheduled round seven match against Adelaide United and provided an assist for one of Milly Clegg’s two second-half goals in the 3-1 win.

She also came off the bench in the team’s final round match against Melbourne Victory and helped the team come back from 2-nil down to draw 2-2.

In early June Main was announced as Paul Temple’s first new signing for the 2023-24 A-League.